Re: Biblical Interpretation Reconsidered

On Tuesday, December 23, 2003, at 04:26 PM, George Murphy wrote:

> Michael Roberts wrote:
>>
>> I agree with what George says. You cannot say that belief in a young
>> earth
>> is heretical as the bible is not unequivocal on the age of the earth
>>
>> BUT BUT BUT
>>
>> YEC is heretical for a variety of reasons;
>> 1. It causes division among Christains
>> 2. tends to demonise those who dont accept YEC
>> 3 Uses a plethora of subchristian methods to make its case -
>> misrepresentation etc etc.
>> 4 Uses bad philosophical and scientific argument so that it is
>> pseudo-science in the common sense of the word.
>> 5 totally unwilling to listen to counter-arguments
>> 6 Claims that it is the only possible interpreetation for a Christian.
>>
        (snip)
>
> ......................
> There are differences between heresy, schism, & just bad behavior
> like bearing
> false witness. YEC isn't in itself heretical. _Some_ YECs (the
> qualification is
> important) are schismatic, misrepresent facts &c.
>
> Shalom,
> George

To George's response I would add that many YEC's would make the same
accusations of those of us who accept
an old earth and evolution. I have heard 5 of the 6 accusations above
made by YEC's of us.
The accusations may be correct or incorrect, but they are fervently
believed by many in the YEC community. Since ASA's aim includes
educating Christians about science, and doing it in a loving Christian
way, I don't think accusations of
heresy are very helpful (except in cases where heresy is really being
practiced of course)
>
>
> George L. Murphy
> gmurphy@raex.com
> http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
>
>
Bill Hamilton Rochester, MI 248 652 4148
Received on Tue Dec 23 17:44:26 2003