Back on line

Finally our move to the Ipswich area is behind us. That wasn't an easy task but we're glad to be here. Verizon didn't come through with all their promises on DSL so we've had a good deal of problems but we're now back on line with Adelphia.

I was glad to see a rather significant amount of activity this past month though it took a long time to work my way through it all and get caught up. Glenn, we're delighted to hear the good news about your wife and that you were able to get back to China.

Just a couple of brief comments on a few of the threads:

Glenn, I like your approach on the defense of theism. As for the discussion on the eternal universe vs the universe with a beginning, I was reminded of Mortimer Adler's comment that the argument for the existence of God would be too easy if the universe had a beginning so he decided to assume an eternal universe. He felt if he could get that one to stick, it would be sound. WIth his subsequent conversion to theism and then Christianity, I guess it did stick for him.

In the recent lively posts, it seems that George Murphy may have missed the note that Cornelius G. Hunter may also be known as George--or did I get that mixed up? It's good to have the views of both George's on this list.

As for the question of whether or not there are serious scientific questions with the evidence for universal common descent, it seems to me that the more we learn about the details of biochemistry, the more we realize how complex macrodevelopment really is. It's no surprise that we continue to uncover surprises about the detailed mechanism of evolution. I would ask:
1) Is there any indication that common descent could not have occurred or are the "controversies" solely connected with the current thought about the mechanism of descent with modification?
2) What would be the implication (scientifically, not theologically) if evidence were found that common descent did not or could not have been a reality?

Finally, I hope many of you are able to make it to the annual meeting at Messiah College next weekend. It would be good to associate a face with many of your names.

Randy
Received on Sun Jul 31 17:45:45 2005