From: douglas.hayworth@perbio.com
Date: Tue Oct 28 2003 - 17:31:21 EST
Now that I have the question more clear in my mind (is there a YEC who's
written an honest book?), I'll propose an answer: Paul Nelson, co-author
(with John Mark Reynolds) of the section on "Young Earth Creationism" in
the
Zondervan book, Three Views on Creation and Evolution. Paul, a personal
friend, is speaking on our campus tomorrow evening; details are attached.
Perhaps not coincidentally, the book section I just identified has been
strongly attacked by other YECs for its honesty.
I respect Paul highly. His dissertation, in evolutionary biology at the
Univ of Chicago, is expected to be published as a monograph in an important
series edited by a Chicago faculty member. Paul understands the issues
very
well, openly states his bias on the subject, and engages people who
disagree
with him. If anyone's looking for an honest creationist speaker, I
heartily
recomment Paul. He won't demonize you for taking another view.
Doug's comment:
I "sparred" with Paul about monophyly and common descent on this list back
in 2000. I was new to the list and didn't know who he was from Adam.
Needless to say, I disagree with his ID/YE views, but you are absolutely
right that he is a man of character and he knows his science. Although I am
nearly as qualified on the subject as he, I couldn't find any folk or
pseudo-science in his arguments - only different perspectives on the
knowledge that is missing. As for character, he was the one who diffused
the heat out of our "debate" with a friendly comment; only then did I
realize how worked up I had become, and returned with an apology. We
exchanged a couple of friendly e-mails after that.
From my perspective, folks like Paul are the most difficult to understand.
Most YECs clearly don't know how to do or understand science, so it is no
braintwister to comprehend why they are so passionate about their ideology.
People like Paul can't be written off like that, and I am (we are) forced
to realize that well-educated, God-fearing scientists of good character can
have diametrically opposing views about such things. In light of such
differences, one wonders how we as a community can move forward in
science/theology while being unified as Christians.
It is humbling, indeed. O Lord, have mercy on us!
All of us on this list ought to keep this in mind. Let's not lose our
patience with one another and resort to petty accusations. I know it can
get tiring when no one seems to grasp, much less be convinced by, your
points. Nevertheless, everyone on this list has useful things to contribute
- whether you are Howard Van Till or Allen Roy, George Murphy or Vernon
Jenkins - and we can display Christian unity if we care to. There are a
couple of people (Ted Davis is one) who set the best examples for us in
this regard.
Douglas
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