Re: [asa] Believing Scripture but Playing by Science’s Rules

Ted wrote:
List members may recall that I mentioned Ross some time back, in connection
with talking about Kurt Wise and Paul Nelson as YECs with a new attitude--an
attitude not appreciated in many YEC circles. I noted his contribution to
the DVD on the Cambrian explosion that he did with Steve Meyer, esp the fact
that he apparently accepted the earth's great age for purposes of doing the
DVD.

ted
<<
>>And though his dissertation repeatedly described events as occurring tens
of millions of years ago, Dr. Ross added, “I did not imply or deny any
endorsement of the dates.”<<

I don't see how stating a date in a dissertation can *not* imply endorsement
of that date! Is the same true of his central conclusion? Can you actually
write a 197-page scientific thesis and *not* believe what you've written to
be true?

I can imagine Ross being a liability in a Dover-style trial, if he stated in
a thesis (or peer-reviewed publication) that mosasaurs went extinct 65
million years ago, but is forced to say under oath that he believes the
earth didn't exist then!

He'd probably counter that he said that it *appeared* from the evidence that
the mosasuars went extict 65 million years ago, (though I'd be surprised if
he made that qualification every time he stated a fact in conflict with YEC
in his thesis). But in a way, that "apparent age" arguement frees you up to
do science like any other researcher. After all, what "appears" to you is
what you "observe," putting you back in the realm of methodological
naturalism, i.e. basing your research only on observable features of the
natural world.

The only difference I can see, is that you'd be spending your time, energy
and possibly a lot of other people's grant money investigating what you
believe is a completely fictional ancient world, which hardly seems like the
act of a good steward. That and you might not get support from ID types who
want to overthrow methodological naturalism.

Louise
.

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Received on Mon Feb 12 11:34:13 2007