Re: [asa] Van Till

When Howard gave a convocation address at Berea College around 1999, he spoke briefly about the attacks upon him in the address, but in more detail to me in private. I also learned later from a former student at Calvin, who was there at the time and spoke sympatheically about Howard, what a terrible ordeal it was for him to be publically attacked repeatedly in the local newspaper and to be brought in judgment before a CRC board. No one deserves such treatment; the church, as Wayne implies, should not be a place one suffers affliction for following where truth leads one. Perhaps there few things worse for one's spiritual health than odium theologicum.

(BTW, if memory is correct, I read several years ago a report that Duane Gish had brought a charge of heresy against Howard, Davis Young, and Charles Menninga; why was not stated, but probably for what they said about YEC in Science Held Hostage. The accusation was thrown out.)

I am glad that Ted made the point that accepting evolution does not necessarily lead to process theism. Also, I would add that on whatever pathways his spiritual odyssey has and will lead Howard, he will go as he always has with honesty, integrity and courage. I with Ted and others of you whom Howard has mentored know that he deserves our respect. He has my admiration and affection.

Bob

----- Original Message -----
  From: Dawsonzhu@aol.com
  To: igd.strachan@gmail.com ; asa@calvin.edu
  Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 4:18 AM
  Subject: Re: [asa] Van Till

  I agree with Iain, I cannot find anything one way or the
  other about Howard's position as a Christian.

  Like others have expressed, I think Howard was helpful in
  pulling me out of the need to hang on to a concordist view.

  On the process theology, I can definitely understand why
  he would find it attractive, though I certainly see there
  are serious problems reconciling that with Calvinist
  traditions. Those of us who walk the way of physicists
  suffer these issues exactly because we question. So my
  sympathies are deeply with his difficult journey.

  What surprised me most in his essay was the resistance he
  receive over his publishing the fourth day. I have heard
  before from somewhere about the full page diatribe against
  him.

  Whatever one's view of Howard's place, we as the church are
  to take our example for scripture. On that model we should be
  waiting and hoping for our brother's return, not folding our
  arms in contempt for his choices and carrying out the decisions
  of salvation in our own abysmal state. If the world inflicts
  harm on us, then we come to the church for healing and a will to
  always do good. We should welcome the sinners because each
  of us has been bought for a very high price that we can never
  fully compute till the day we stand in the heavenly court.

  by Grace we proceed,
  Wayne

    There have been posts to the Christians In Science newsgroup to suggest that Howard Van Till is no longer a Christian, based on the talk referenced on Dembski's weblog here:

    http://www.uncommondescent.com/archives/1358

    However, on reading Van Till's article, albeit given to a "freethought" conference, I was unable to say whether he was or was not a Christian - it is clear that his views have altered recently, but I'm not sure how radical the change is. I consider it extremely bad form to question someone else's faith unless they have explicitly denied they have that faith. Can anyone else comment on how radical a change this is. If he has indeed rejected Christianity, from having been a leading spokesman for Theistic Evolution, then it is going to give the ID people quite a bit of propaganda among Christian circles, sadly.

    What is also clear from the article is the abysmally shoddy way Van Till was treated by his Christian associates, who tended to respond with "knee-jerk" reactions.

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Received on Wed Jan 31 07:35:42 2007