Re: Cobb County

Edward J. Hassertt wrote in part
So, if God did supernaturally acts, then the assumptions of
methodological naturalism are false and the foundations on which
scientific discoveries are based are nonexistent. If God does or did act
in the events of the universe in a supernatural way and science assumes a
priori that such actions are not present, then if they are present,
science will always miss describing the universe or its history
accurately.

If we a priori exclude the possibility of discovering supernatural
signatures in science, is that really science? How can one claim that
certain types of evidence will always be ignored or interpreted to mean
something else just because of a presupposition of methodological
naturalism?

This is a typical lawyer approach, distort matters so that the unwary are
seduced by nonsense. The exclusion of supernatural acts is scientism, not
science, metaphysical naturalism, not methodological. This is something
every honest scholar recognizes. What scientists qua scientists (for
there are dogmatic materialists among them, as among nonscientists)
recognize is that they cannot deal with supernatural acts. However,
scientists may recognize that God is active in every event. This includes
the natural, as was recognized by Luther who spoke of natural laws as the
masks of God.

Pagans, including Wiccans, could hold a theory whereby the supernatural
could be examined scientifically, for they hold that the powers can be
controlled by charms, incantations, spells, curses, etc. A true theist,
in contrast, cannot scientifically demonstrate the free acts of God.
There are some silly preachers who declare that God must return to the
giver tenfold (or whatever) everything given to them, and there is the
name it claim it gang. But prayer does not control and compel God. It
includes supplication and thanksgiving, to be sure. But it should
emphasize praise and, most importantly, trust. "God, ya gotta" is not
orthodox.

There is no "presupposition of methodological naturalism" involved,
except in a twisted view. There is a necessary restriction to
manipulation of the natural, and that limited. No scientist can turn off
gravity or decrease the entropy of a closed system. She has to work
within the natural parameters. If she's an atheist, she'll claim that's
all there is. A pagan will claim that there are all kinds of spirit
powers behind nature. A Christian will quote Colossians 1:17. The
scientific observations are the same for all, but the philosophy and
theology are different and incompatible.

There is a vital principle that I wish were more widely observed: one
cannot serve God with a lie. A mistake he will pardon and, I trust, turn
to his glory. He knows we are fallible. But repeating a falsehood after
it has been corrected makes one an ally of Satan.
Dave
Received on Sun Jan 23 22:20:36 2005