From: Howard J. Van Till (hvantill@chartermi.net)
Date: Sat Jul 26 2003 - 10:04:14 EDT
>From: "Richard McGough" <richard@biblewheel.com>
> [Abiogenesis] is not required by any scientific theories per
> se, though it is absolutely necessary for the validity of metaphysical
> materialism and RFEP (which seem empirically indistinguishable -- is this
> true Howard?)
In a shallow and useless sense, yes, of course it is true that materialism &
RFEP are empirically indistinguishable. But that proves nothing.
Materialism (maximal naturalism) is a comprehensive statement about the
ontology of Reality, not primarily about the sort of particulars that
empirical investigation would provide.
The RFEP is considerably less comprehensive and is consistent with a
diversity of worldviews from materialism to Christian theism. George has
often expressed the judgment that the RFEP needs more theological
justification than I give it, but I prefer not to narrow it to a statement
consistent with only one theological stance.
Howard Van Till
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