Re: [asa] Greetings from a new member

Hi Christine. I think lots of people whom you'll meet here can relate to
your journey -- a journey that will not stop this side of heaven!

If you're like me at all, what helps most in these times of doubt is not so
much "answers" but "perspectives" -- ways of thinking about hard questions
rather than pat responses. Here are a few books I've found helpful. These
are just my quirky selections:

*On doubt generally*: Alister McGrath, "Doubting: Growing Through the
Uncertainties of Faith" -- doubt is not necessarily the enemy of faith! *(*
http://www.amazon.com/Doubting-Growing-Through-Uncertainties-Faith/dp/0830833528/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176085946&sr=1-1
)

*On evolutionary psychology and the soul*: Nancey Murphy, "Bodies and
Souls, or Spirited Bodies". (
http://www.amazon.com/Bodies-Spirited-Current-Issues-Theology/dp/0521676762/ref=sr_1_1/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176085743&sr=8-1)
Murphy argues for a "nonreductive physicalist" position. Not everyone will
accept Murphy's position (we've debated it a bit here on this list before),
but for me at least, it helps to know that there is such a position -- that
materialism doesn't explain everything even if physicalism is true.

In addition, on the more philosophical side, see Angus Menuge, "Agents Under
Fire: Materialism and the Rationality of Science" (
http://www.amazon.com/Agents-Under-Materialism-Rationality-Science/dp/0742534049/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176086558&sr=1-1)
One caveat with this book: Menuge devotes a section to intelligent design
theory based on irreducibly complexity, which might not be as convincing as
the rest of the book. The philosophical survey of "strong" and "weak"
determinism, however, is very helpful, IMHO.

Also, check out Stephen Barr's "Modern Physics and Ancient Faith," as well
as several essays Barr has published in First Things (
http://www.firstthings.com) (
http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Physics-Ancient-Faith-Stephen/dp/0268021988/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176086057&sr=1-1)
Barr makes some interesting observations about quantum indeterminacy and the
mind in relation to the traditional notion of the soul.

And see Alister McGrath, "Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of
Life" (
http://www.amazon.com/Dawkins-God-Genes-Memes-Meaning/dp/1405125381/ref=sr_1_1/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176086448&sr=8-1).
While not strictly dealing with sociobiology, McGrath deals very effectively
with a similar sort of materialist determinism represented by memetics.

*On historicity of the Bible*, for me, the most important thing here is
developing a carefully thought out theology of scripture along with an
equally carefully thought out epistemology and a feel for hermeneutics.
I've found Donald Bloesch's "Holy Scripture" extremely valuable in this
regard (
http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Scripture-Inspiration-Interpretation-Foundations/dp/0830827528/ref=sr_1_1/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176086803&sr=1-1)

In addition, concerning the New Testament, check out NT Wright's "Christian
Origins" series, particularly "The Resurrection of the Son of God" (
http://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Son-Christian-Origins-Question/dp/0800626796/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176086180&sr=1-2)
and "The New Testament and the People of God" (
http://www.amazon.com/Testament-People-Christian-Origins-Question/dp/0800626818/ref=sr_1_1/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176086274&sr=1-1).
Concerning the Old Testament, check out Peter Enns, "Inspiration and
Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament" (
http://www.amazon.com/Inspiration-Incarnation-Evangelicals-Problem-Testament/dp/0801027306/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176086339&sr=1-1
)

In addition to all this, I'd suggest some reading in historical theology and
Christian history. For me, it helps to know that there were deep thinkers
in all eras of history who wrestled with similar doubts and challenges, and
who developed nuanced and varied ways of approaching them. Pelikan's "The
Christian Tradition" is a good survey (
http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Tradition-Development-Doctrine-Medieval/dp/0226653757/ref=sr_1_1/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176087227&sr=1-1),
and nothing beats reading directly from luminaries such as Augustine and
Aquinas. Also, reading devotional / philosophical literature from great
Christian minds, such as Blaise Pascal's Pensees, can be a beautifully
enriching experience (
http://www.amazon.com/Pensees-Penguin-Classics-Blaise-Pascal/dp/0140446451/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176087402&sr=1-2
)

I'd make a few other suggestion to you: (1) stay away from the Internet
Infidels and other such sites for a while, at least until you have a chance
to digest some more serious Christian approaches to these questions.
(2) Spend quality time in prayer. God isn't afraid of these questions --
He's heard them all before. and (3) spend quality time in worship and in
listening to great works of worship. Take in, for example, Rutter's Requiem
(
http://www.amazon.com/Requiem-Magnificat-Rutter-Cambridge-Singers/dp/B00000DI06/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176087601&sr=8-1)
and Arvo Part's Te Deum (
http://www.amazon.com/Arvo-Part-Kaljuste-Estonian-Philharmonic/dp/B000024ZDF/ref=sr_1_9/002-0130225-1466461?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176087645&sr=1-9).
It's amazing what someone like Arvo Part can do for the hurting soul.

Blessings,

David Opderbeck

On 4/8/07, Christine Smith <christine_mb_smith@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Hello everyone! I just recently joined ASA, and wanted
> to take the time to introduce myself and my journey...
>
> I've always been a Christian (Lutheran), as has my
> family for generations; my scientific background
> consists of a minor in geography (emphasis in
> meteorology and environmental issues), a B.S. in
> geology (emphasis in geophysics/seismology) and an
> M.S. in Environmental Management (with main interests
> in environmental policy). Right now, I'm working as an
> air quality planner for a government entity, although
> previously I did work seismology work as an
> undergraduate researcher, and I did professional
> environmental site assessements while I was still
> working on master's.
>
> I must confess that finding ASA seems to me to be an
> answer to prayer. Just recently being out of school, I
> decided to take some time to more thoroughly explore
> my faith (not to say that previously I'd never thought
> about it or studied it); in doing so, one of the books
> I started reading was Lee Strobel's Case for a
> Creator. Only into Chap. 3, I started to get the sense
> that it didn't feel as rigorous as it should, so I
> went on-line to find a critique of the book. I ended
> up at infidel.org (I'm sure you all know that's an
> atheist site), and from there, I started looking at
> atheists' arguments more broadly. I had something of a
> "crisis of faith" (read: complete meltdown) if you
> will, and since then, I've been obsessively gobbling
> down every (intelligent) book/website out there
> discussing Christianity and Atheism. I've essentially
> been living in the verses "I believe, help my
> unbelief!" and "for we walk by faith, not by sight"
> for the past 2 months as I've tried to come to a new
> understanding of my faith in light of some of the
> atheists' arguments. In the process, I've thoroughly
> worn out my poor husband, to whom I then remarked -
> "ya' know, scientists have such a unique mindset and
> encounter such unique challenges to their faith,
> wouldn't it be great if we had our own special
> ministry/support group that helps to navigate both
> science and religion in a rational, yet faithful
> way?". God was listening to such prayers/needs I
> think, and I not long after that, I found ASA. (Thank
> you for being here!!)
>
> Anyway, what it all boils down to, is that my "crisis
> of faith" essentially stemmed from two primary
> challenges, to which I would be grateful to any
> thoughts/resources you could share with me regarding
> these:
>
> 1. I long ago made peace with the idea that God could
> use evolution to form our physical bodies. What was
> new to me, from the atheists' perspective, was the
> idea that the intangible aspects of us, like feelings,
> emotions, consciousness, etc. (which I had equated
> with the God-given, eternal soul) could also arise
> (ala emergent properties) naturally. Thus, I've
> acquired a new-found interest in the fields of
> pyschology, neurology, and computer science as I try
> to reconceptualize the idea of a "soul".
>
> 2. The historicity of Biblical events also remains a
> challenge. Although I've never taken the Bible
> literally, or have assumed that it was 100% accurate
> in terms of historical events, the atheists raise good
> questions (they claim that temporary burials were
> common back in Jesus's time, and that Jesus could have
> been reburied without his disciples knowledge), and
> even some Christians seem to take the Bible much more
> figuratively than I do (i.e. Jesus was in the desert
> for a long time, not necessarily 40 days, etc.); thus,
> I'm not quite sure through what eyes I should read the
> Bible at this point.
>
> Anyway, I have to get to church, but I look forward to
> joining you all for discussions in the future. Happy
> Easter!
>
> In Christ,
> Christine
>
>
>
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Received on Sun Apr 8 23:26:38 2007