Re: Report: Francis Collins presentation

I don't think Collin's statement is over-dogmatic at all. The evidence from all branches of science are overwhelming FOR evolution and I cannot think of one argument from either the YEC or ID camp which has any validity.

Without being disparaging to Francis Collins his views are not new and are simply how most wise Christians have dealt with evolution since 1858. However like sermons on the resurrection they need repeating with freshness every year.

All YEC and ID do is to damage the progress of the Gospel and make life harder for Christians in science as the rude email Steve Schimmerich received indicates (look at the Assoc of Christian Geologists listserve)

I do wish George or Denyse would give me some reasons why evolution is wrong instead of speaking hot air.

Regards

Michael
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Cornelius Hunter
  To: asa@calvin.edu
  Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 10:10 PM
  Subject: Re: Report: Francis Collins presentation

  Loise:

  "And, though I would nt presume to speak for Dr. Collins, my best guess if that he would say that there are actually not that many problems with evolution as a theory (or unifying principle) and that virtually no one is challenging it on a pure scientific basis. He described evidence in support of evolution as "rock solid" and made it clear that it is not something at the fringes of science. A serious challenge to evolution would require the overturning of major principles in a variety of scientific fields."

  It is this sort of dogmatic overstatement that is troubling. Rock solid? No one is challenging on a scientific basis? A challenge would require overturning major scientific principles? The only major principles that would be overturned are those within evolutionary theory. Folks, the scientific evidence simply does not lend itself to this kind of certainty.

  --George

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Freeman, Louise Margaret
    To: asa@calvin.edu
    Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:23 AM
    Subject: Re: Report: Francis Collins presentation

      I'm unclear what "truncated" means in this context. Also, it appears from your report that Collins avoided the many problems with evolution. Think of someone arguing for geocentrism without mentioning retrograde motion.

      --George
       To the best of my recollection, "truncated" meant "broken off" and the point was that the genes were broken at the exact letter.

      And, though I would nt presume to speak for Dr. Collins, my best guess if that he would say that there are actually not that many problems with evolution as a theory (or unifying principle) and that virtually no one is challenging it on a pure scientific basis. He described evidence in support of evolution as "rock solid" and made it clear that it is not something at the fringes of science. A serious challenge to evolution would require the overturning of major principles in a variety of scientific fields.
Received on Tue Oct 25 17:59:46 2005