Re: The Oldest Homo Sapiens: Fossils Push Human Emergence BackTo 195,000 Years Ago

In a message dated 3/1/2005 2:44:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, "George Murphy" <gmurphy@raex.com> writes:

>----- Original Message -----
>From: <RFaussette@aol.com>
>To: "Dick Fischer" <dickfischer@earthlink.net>; ""ASA"" <asa@calvin.edu>
>Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 12:50 PM
>Subject: Re: The Oldest Homo Sapiens: Fossils Push Human Emergence BackTo
>195,000 Years Ago
>
>
>> Dick wrote:
>> In essence, separating the Adam of Genesis, recognizing that he is first
>> of the covenant, from whatever ancient hominid might have started our
>> species is the only workable solution, and it is the one solution everyone
>> avoids.  Hello ...  Is anybody listening?
>>
>> rich:
>> I don't avoid it Dick. I meet it head on. In fact, I come to that very
>> conclusion in True Religion but no one here is ready to move that fast to
>> embrace evolution by interpreting genesis from an evolutionary
>> perspective.
>
>But please recognize that that doesn't mean a failure to embrace evolution
>simpliciter.  I, & some others, think that the appropriate way of embracing
>evolution is to interpret the scientific understanding of evolution from a
>theological perspective (based on, inter alia, Genesis) rather than vice
>versa.
>
>Shalom
>George
>http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/

You can't interpret the scientific theory of evolution from a theological perspective. That means you intend to maintain your theological perspective regardless of the science because it is your constant, your perspective, your paradigm. You're so afraid you'll render the theology useless you want to look through theological lenses at evolution. You can't. The evolutionary perspective will illuminate and elucidate the theology, but unless you have faith and let go of yourself (literally) to look, you won't see it. My paper True Religion doesn't invalidate the fall. It re-interprets it rationally. No atheist can wage an argument that will stand against it, not because it is my wish but because the Darwinian interpretation is correct. Approach Genesis with a Darwinian eye and see if it conflicts with your theology. Don't look at it with a theological eye. You'll only see your own theology as you understand it and you'll reject anything that suggests a conflict with it. This is!
 ironic, becaue if you try to maintain your theology exactly as you presently understand it, you'll lose it altogether because there are no rational scientific arguments for the theology you are trying to maintain. There is only faith. If you let go of your preconceived theological notions, the theology will come back to you enhanced and rational out of the Darwinian perspective you bring to bear. If faith is sufficient for you, then why are you even talking science, why waste the time? And if faith is not sufficient for you, then why not take the Darwinian look that will get you over the impasse instead of holding onto your theology for dear life?

rich

>
Received on Tue Mar 1 18:21:50 2005