RE: RATE Vol. II

  
> I suggest we devote one issue of PSCF to old earth evidence submitted
> by
> all the members with the best articles selected by Roman Miller. Make
> it a special issue where we can order hundreds of copies each and hand
> them out to whoever we think can best benefit from them. The numbers
> of
> new members we can recruit from that alone would more than make up for
> any lost from taking a stance in the first place.

A special journal issue with public access (print or online) could be a great idea, even if
ASA is not ready to take a formal old-earth position. I am reminded of a scientific journal
who devoted some extra space to Peter Duesberg's "HIV doesn't cause AIDS" idea a few
years ago. As I recall, Duesberg and supporters contibuted a few articles, ands responded
to ones from the other side, but there were many more from the HIV causes AIDS camp
(reflecting their overwhelming numerical majority) and they were invited to write responses
to Duesberg articles. The staff editorial for this issue, signed by the majority of editiors,
said that they felt the bulk of the evidence supported an HIV-AIDS connection.

The key is to take the wind out of the "we can't get a fair hearing" sail. Many would argue
that the "ID is a valid scientific theory" camp got a perfectely fair hearing in Dover; they
simpy didn't convince the judge. The claims of RATE II could be given a similar treatment.
I wonder if ASA and ACG couldundertake a joint project?

It would take an editorial team with the wisdom of Solomon to keep the scientific
disagreements from becoming name-calling fests, but Christians, of all people, should be
able to manage that.
Received on Mon May 22 08:01:21 2006