From: Howard J. Van Till (hvantill@chartermi.net)
Date: Fri Jul 25 2003 - 08:53:49 EDT
From: "Jim Armstrong" <jarmstro@qwest.net>
> It strikes me that this line of reasoning is not unlike the
> evolution/fossil dialogue with all the same issues. Indeed, I guess it is
> only an extension of that discussion
Skip a large section....
> In the early stages of the evolutionary discussions regarding fossil data,
> there were huge gaps. Those fossil gaps have closed somewhat with the
> discovery of thousands of additional fossils. Yet folks still are divided
> into camps as to whether the fossil data are sufficiently continuous to
> constitute satisfactory evidence of evolution in general and man-evolution
> in particular.
Skip some more
> There is no satisfactory "win" in the biogenesis discussion just as there
> is no forseeable end to the evolution/fossil discussion. There will
> probably always be gaps because this is pretty complex stuff! Those who are
> persuaded that God (or God's direct "form-conferring" action) are to be
> found in the gaps, will do so. Those who are persuaded that the gaps will
> in time be shown to be "closeable" through processes already designed into
> the natural world will draw different conclusions.
>
> It is the same argument - the God-of-the-gaps argument - with the same
> differences in position. The only difference I can see is that the data
> might be a little more complete in the case of the fossil discussion than
> the biogenesis discussion.
Right on target, and well stated.
Howard Van Till
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