RE: [asa] E.O. Wilson "Baptist No More"

I think this gets back to the long-standing discussion over whether
evolution = "change over time" or something more specific. I don't think
the process of history from Genesis to Revelation (though representing a
change over time) could be classified as evolution in any but a vague sense,
certainly not the biological sense that Wilson has in mind.
 
What I think is sad that as a Baptist, or even as a former Baptist, he
thought (thinks) that biological evolution is "the most important revelation
of all". This certainly might be true in a small sense for a person who
makes his living as a biologist, but this is really the core of the dilemma.
Wilson either never apprehended, or has summarily dismissed, the most
important revelation of all time, certainly of all scripture, which is a
covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.
 
It seems the height of arrogance to suggest that the most important issue
for one 21st century biologist should have been the most important
revelation for people throughout Biblical history, nay, for God himself to
have made (or omitted making) as a key component of the narrative. When it
comes down to it, this elevation of science and modern rationality as being
more important than what God himself chose to reveal as the primarily
important revelation, is truly idolatry. Dare I say it, after some weeks of
discussion about Romans 1 on this list? Is this not changing God "into an
image made like to corruptible man", by thinking that God should think the
things important that we 21st century intellectuals think?
 
 
Jon Tandy
 <http://www.arcom.com/>

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of Alexanian, Moorad
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:42 AM
To: John Walley; _American Sci Affil
Subject: RE: [asa] E.O. Wilson "Baptist No More"

One cannot say that the Bible does not bring up the notion of an evolving
universe. Surely, there is a beginning in Genesis and a clear end in the
Book of Revelation. Thus, I do not know what Wilson means by "But most of
all, Baptist theology made no provision for evolution. The biblical authors
had missed the most important revelation of all!" Perhaps Scripture skipped
over details but certainly, there is "evolution."

Moorad

  _____

From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of John Walley
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 11:01 PM
To: '_American Sci Affil'
Subject: [asa] E.O. Wilson "Baptist No More"

Here is a relevant and chilling quote from E.O. Wilson from "Consilience".

http://www.cnn.com/books/beginnings/9805/consilience/index.html

On a far more modest scale, I found it a wonderful feeling not just to taste
the unification metaphysics but also to be released from the confinement of
fundamentalist religion. I had been raised a Southern Baptist, laid backward
under the water on the sturdy arm of a pastor, been born again. I knew the
healing power of redemption. Faith, hope, and charity were in my bones, and
with millions of others I knew that my savior Jesus Christ would grant me
eternal life. More pious than the average teenager, I read the Bible cover
to cover, twice. But now at college, steroid-driven into moods of adolescent
rebellion, I chose to doubt. I found it hard to accept that our deepest
beliefs were set in stone by agricultural societies of the eastern
Mediterranean more than two thousand years ago. I suffered cognitive
dissonance between the cheerfully reported genocidal wars of these people
and Christian civilization in 1940s Alabama. It seemed to me that the Book
of Revelation might be black magic hallucinated by an ancient primitive. And
I thought, surely a loving personal God, if He is paying attention, will not
abandon those who reject the literal interpretation of the biblical
cosmology. It is only fair to award points for intellectual courage. Better
damned with Plato and Bacon, Shelley said, than go to heaven with Paley and
Malthus. But most of all, Baptist theology made no provision for evolution.
The biblical authors had missed the most important revelation of all! Could
it be that they were not really privy to the thoughts of God? Might the
pastors of my childhood, good and loving men though they were, be mistaken?
It was all too much, and freedom was ever so sweet. I drifted away from the
church, not definitively agnostic or atheistic, just Baptist no more.

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Received on Tue Nov 27 12:05:28 2007