RE: tsunami impact on animals

If the conditions each of us faced in the world every day were not perfect
for our survival, we would not have lasted this long. Man has repeatedly
caused large scale destruction, through war and spreading of diseases, etc.
Yet we survive. I guess an atheist would say that we, begin a product of
our universe, are best suited for the conditions of our planet. I believe
our universe is best suited for for human existence. Half-full, half-empty.
As for struggle, without this what would man be. Like many of our young
today, laying around mooching of their parents. Our struggle physically
does influence our spiritual self, but while all animals suffer physically,
only man takes extra effort to allow these things to affect his
spirituality. And I am the same, as are most. I have met a few people in
my time that defy this, but they are far and few between. One woman I knew,
while still in the Army, had a sense of glow and love that was unshakeable.
No matter what happened, she saw only the good side of it.

As for mine and your last statement, if the earth travelled in a "perfect"
circle around the sun, on a "perfect" access, we would not have seasons. To
me this is not perfect, because life would not exist under those conditions.
That is why I opened my comments with the idea of ones view of perfection.
Perfection to me is what must be, in order for something to function at its
perfect state. The chaos involved in the process of achieving this state is
neither "perfect" nor "imperfect". It is simply a must. This is why all
things are good (perfect or not). And only that which is in a "perfect
state" are perfect. Man fell not in some physical way, but a spiritual one.
That is why we are not perfect. And now require Christ to bring us back to
perfection. Adam needed Eve physically and spiritually. Without her, he
would not procreate. But more important, he would not have had a spiritual
bond with anyone in the physical world.

Don P
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Charles Carrigan [mailto:CCarriga@olivet.edu]
  Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 9:12 AM
  To: asa@calvin.edu; donperrett@genesisproclaimed.org
  Subject: RE: tsunami impact on animals

  Don,

  The problem is that scripture never declares creation to be perfect, and
good does not equal perfect.

  I really dont' understand your final statement - the current set of
conditions I face in the world every day is NOT perfect for my survival.
Survival is a constant struggle for every creature that exists, and most
creatures on the planet attain survival by exploitation of other creatures -
taking food/resources, killing infants, destroying or taking over
nests/homes, etc., not to mention predation.

  Perfection of Adam, for instance, certainly implies (even defines) that he
was complete and whole, without fault or defect. But Adam clearly needed
Eve (not to mention God), hardly a characteristic of a perfect individual.

  All the Best,
  Charles

>>> "Don Perrett" <donperrett@genesisproclaimed.org> 1/11/2005 4:26:54 AM
>>>

  Charles,
  It depends on what one considers perfect. I see it as perfect as it is.
Do you believe that the world would be what it is if the force of gravity
were different? If even one of the natural laws were different, then so
would the entire universe. We're not talking a perfect circle or square,
like dark ages. We're talking about each an every chaotic element working
in "perfect" harmony with each other to create a set of conditions "perfect"
for our survival.

  Don P
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Charles Carrigan [mailto:CCarriga@olivet.edu]
    Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 10:36
    To: donperrett@genesisproclaimed.org
    Subject: RE: tsunami impact on animals

    Don,

    What reason is there to believe that the creation was created perfect,
and beyond that it still is?

    Regards,
    Charles

    <><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><
    Charles W. Carrigan
    Olivet Nazarene University
    Dept. of Geology
    One University Ave.
    Bourbonnais, IL 60914
    PH: (815) 939-5346
    FX: (815) 939-5071

>>> "Don Perrett" <donperrett@genesisproclaimed.org> 1/8/2005 10:49:50
PM >>>
    If one believes that the universe was created perfect, and that it still
is (regardless of man's fall), then one must also submit that all natural
acts regardless of the level of destruction and death are good from God's
perspective.

    Don P
Received on Thu Jan 13 01:34:50 2005