Re: [asa] Quoting Darwin out of context

Hi, Wayne

You wrote:

If this is only blind electrons and pitiless genes, then
why should justice matter. If we have the power, we should
use it, in fact, it would be wrong not to. And if we can
cheat and steal and spray our genes everywhere, why not?

Actually, if I recall what I read in "The Selfish Gene", Dawkins actually
advocates that we should "rebel against our selfish genes". In fact his
view is quite moral - our brains have evolved to an extent that we have
become intelligent enough to realise what is going on, so we can oppose it,
and choose not to be the puppets of our selfish genes.

Not that I'd want to defend Dawkins, but perhaps (unlikely though it may
seem) Dawkins is quite close to Vernon who said that evolution is "the
antithesis of the Christian gospel". In many ways, this is right, and
Dawkins would agree - I seem to recall an article where Dawkins says "If I
were God, I wouldn't have done it (creation) by evolution".

But I think Dawkins is missing quite a subtle point here. Maybe we are
placed in an evolving creation, where a ruthless struggle for survival is
going on, so that we can see the difference when God reveals himself - with
a gospel that is the antithesis of evolution - how directly opposite of
evolution to sacrifice your life, not to ensure the survival of the fittest,
but of the weak (ie imperfect sinners like you and me)? Maybe the reason
the creation is evolving is to show us that we can CHOOSE to do the right
thing. If everything was nice and kind ... if Dawkins were God and chose a
method of creation that was a recipe for happiness for all creatures, then
we wouldn't know right from wrong. In order to love God and know what it
means, we have to choose between loving Him and not loving Him.

Iain

On 8/12/06, Dawsonzhu@aol.com <Dawsonzhu@aol.com> wrote:
>
> Iain wrote:
>
> So from the context, Paul, I don't think Dawkins is contradicting
> himself. WE can care, be horrified by the amount of suffering in the world
> that goes beyond all decent contemplation. But what's really going on all
> the time is the passing on of DNA, which is a blind, pitiless, and
> indifferent process.
>
>
>
> You're main point about quotation is fine, and Dawkins is
> clear on his views. But I would echo Paul's observation.
> If this is only blind electrons and pitiless genes, then
> why should justice matter. If we have the power, we should
> use it, in fact, it would be wrong not to. And if we can
> cheat and steal and spray our genes everywhere, why not?
> Submit to God...., what an utterly asinine idea!
>
> errrr NOT
>
> by Grace we proceed,
> Wayne
>

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