Re: RATE Vol. II

----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy Isaac" <randyisaac@adelphia.net>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 3:28 PM
Subject: Re: RATE Vol. II

> George Murphy wrote:
>> IMO we've reached a point with the age of the earth at which ASA's
>> position of not taking an official stance on disputed matters no longer
>> applies.
>> There is no scientific dispute about the order of magnitude of the age of
>> the earth. The ASA should take the stance - & take it forcefully - that
>> the earth is billions of years old, and that supposedly scientific claims
>> to the contrary are without merit. Of course this does not mean that a
>> position would be taken on biological evolution.
>
>
> I'm not convinced that we need to take any stand on a scientific result.
> Once we start, where does it end? Do we also need to endorse quantum
> mechanics? Newton's laws? plate tectonics? anything else that isn't
> disputed in science but is disputed by some religious organization?
>
> Rather, I think it is incumbent upon us to aggressively insist on a
> "commitment to integrity in science." That means we need to take a stand
> against the dishonesty of representing that science has shown the validity
> of a young earth when, in fact, the opposite is true. We'll look for an
> appropriate way to do that. And then, where will this lead us? We must
> also stand against the dishonesty of representing that evolution has shown
> the validity of atheism.

Where it ends is with clear-cut scientific results which are denied &/or
distorted by some people in the name of Christianity with the result that
Christian laypeople are misled, the gospel is conflated with falsehood, the
dialogue between science and Christian faith is muddied and non-Christians
are given reason to think that Christians are stupid &/or dishonest.

If we're gong to "take a stand against the dishonesty of representing that
science has shown the validity of a young earth when, in fact, the opposite
is true" then we have to be able to say that the opposite IS true. ASA is
the only organization that has the potential to counter young-earth claims
among the people who believe them &/or are likely to be convinced by them.
If we say "We insist on integrity in science" the RATE people will fall all
over themselves to agree & we will have accomplished nothing. There are
times to be subtle & pussyfoot & times to be utterly blunt & this is one of
the latter cases.

Shalom
George
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/

 
Received on Sun May 21 16:18:48 2006