Re: Conflicts and confrontation

The same images of creation spoke to me in much the same way.
In our experiential realm, nothing "poofs" into existence or metamorphs
instantaneously at other than perhaps at subatomic levels. Instead,
there are temporal processes involved. Even the Genesis descriptions of
creation have a temporal flow. Against this, the now-you-don't-see-it,
now-you-do instantaneous creation process corresponds to neither
experience nor scripture description. So the "how-to" description of
evolution, awesome in its simplicity and power, enhanced my (personal)
faith, even though I was pretty sure that it was at variance with the
positions of many in my then denomination. Fortunately, for whatever the
reasons, my worldview was flexible and asking for consistency, even in
those college days. I cannot know for sure whether the fact that the
course was taught by a vocational Baptist pastor was a factor or not. I
don't recall leaning on that consideration much. It was more the
wonderful explanatory process itself (and the implicit plan) that
impressed me.

As I've learned more about the cosmology of our universe, I've been only
further impressed with its marvelous unfolding and the seeming
simplicity of the underlying forces and dynamics (and again, the "plan").

I think the same somewhat relaxed hold on my understanding of how the
physical universe began and unfolded, is the same relaxed hold that has
held me in good stead as the historical realities and inconsistencies of
the canon began to be evident to me. I had to make adjustments on some
things, but the effect was to lend strength to the core principles and
truths that remained steady and unmarred by the process.

To speak to Burgy's recent post, that process (and its extensions) was
and is not without experiencing feelings of loss, isolation or even
desolation and grief at times at the loss of a more naive framework of
understanding. However, the clarification of understanding that I am,
and always have been, alive and with a future that is wholly at the
pleasure and mercy of the One who made me is not a bad thing. The growth
in trust that accompanies a lessening of certainty is another reality.
All in all, I count that as strengthened faith, not weakened or lost.

That's the way it seemeth to me. JimA

mansar@hushmail.com wrote:

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> | With regard to the impact of the evolutionary theory on faith -- I
>
>
> Speaking personally I found the concept (?) of evolutionary science
> enhancing to my faith as I found it suggested (IMNSHO) a God of more
> complexity and intricacy than "Let it be and it was".
>
> Thats just me but I see evolution as unfolding creation...creation in
> progress. Does that mean that at every evolutionary juncture God steps
> in or does it mean that the process is built in and operates
> accordingly... it doesn't matter. It beautiful and awe inspiring it its
> complexity. And to me that suggests an intimacy with His creation that
> the simple act of "I said it and there it is." seems to lack.
>
> I think the threat to faith comes when people are raised in a more rigid
> or conservative mode of Christianity. When confronted by a new system of
> thought or belief that contradicts what they previously held to be true,
> some remnant of doubt instilled by the challenge is left behind. ...even
> if they are able to make the adaptation and blend the new idea into
> the old.
>
> Even as a child I used to struggle with what I was being taught in
> sunday school and what reality and science were teaching. I got a lot of
> hassle for that - God forbid a Christian consider evolution! I had soooo
> many questions to which the answer was "Have faith". Evolution (while I
> still have questions and doubts about) has provided a working framework
> for my beliefs that not only do not challenge my faith but enhances it.
>
> And that was a lot to say from someone whose opinion is perhaps not as
> weighty as my more learned brothers and sisters on this list. :)
>
> The Other Iain
>
> - --
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Received on Tue Jun 6 01:26:15 2006