RE: RATE Vol. II

There is, IMHO, a major difference between the miracles that Louise mentions
and the created universe. In the case of miracles, we have no evidence
other than the Biblical record. There is no physical evidence (other than
the written word) that Jesus walked on the water and there is no archived
sample of manna with a certified paper trail. An experiment cannot be
performed to duplicate the event. We can postulate all sorts of theories on
what exactly manna was but that would be to ignore the message inherent in
that event, i.e., that God is in control and that He fed the Israelites. If
God had used UPS to deliver McDonald hamburgers, that would have been a
miracle as well and I doubt if the author of Exodus would have described it
the way we would have.

The created universe, on the other hand, provides us with lots of evidence
and that's the problem because the evidence doesn't fit a traditional or
literal interpretation of parts of Genesis.

Chuck Vandergraaf

  _____

From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of Freeman, Louise Margaret
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 5:51 PM
To: American Scientific Affiliation
Subject: Re: RATE Vol. II

Thank you for the analysis, Randy; please continue to share.

My pastor occasionally brings up various "scientific" explanations for
various Biblical miracles: Jesus walking on ice rather than water, manna as
insect resin, freak lunar tides parting the Red Sea... and his standard
line is that these "explanations" strain credulity so much, it's easier to
believe in the miraculous explanation.

I wonder how he'd react to the RATE stuff...
Received on Sat May 20 20:53:26 2006