Re: "Hidden" Theological Issues with Theistic Evolution (was Re: [asa] E.O. Wilson "Baptist No More")

I agree that we may not need to swallow the whole package, but for a slightly different reason.? I think that some of the issues David raises are not addressible in science today, although they very well may be in the future.? We need to embrace that new science when it comes and deal with the theology at that time.? But we need to leave future issues to the future.? "The future will take care of itself.? There is enough evil for today."? Until we know where the science is going, any attempt to do the theology would be premature and probably lead to incorrect conclusions.

For example, we really don't know what directions consciousness research will take in the future.? I was surprised twice in the past week to find out (first) that Paul Davies is operating under a Copenhagen-type view of quantum mechanics -- that he thinks somehow consciousness is a fundamental essence in the universe and?was involved in collapsing the universe to a fine-tuned state -- and (second) that Lawrence Krauss is thinking in a Copenhagen-type framework?along the similar lines as Davies.? I thought Copenhagen was on the outs for the reason that it promotes consciousness to metaphysical status and because Everett's view was gaining in popularity as the alternative.? But what did I know???

Phil

-----Original Message-----
From: Rich Blinne <rich.blinne@gmail.com>
To: David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com>
Cc: Steve Martin <steven.dale.martin@gmail.com>; asa@calvin.edu
Sent: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 2:31 pm
Subject: Re: "Hidden" Theological Issues with Theistic Evolution (was Re: [asa] E.O. Wilson "Baptist No More")

On 11/29/07, David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com> wrote:

Steve said:? And even if Natural selection *may* have *some* explanatory power for levels above biology, I don't think that necessarily means we are being reductionist.

Yes, I agree, and I'm?ok with that notion.? But what I wonder is whether this is really being consistent in how TE's, at least evangelical TE's, approach the science.? Isn't the truly consistent view to swallow the whole package?? Maybe another way to put it is, why posit a "gap" in evolution at the level of the human mind / soul?? Isn't that imposing an a priori theological view, drawn from special revelation, onto the science?

?

?

I don't think it is necessary to swallow the whole package. If you compare and constrast the TE's gap with ID's gap the one thing that sticks out is the TE's gap is immaterial and thus beyond the explanatory capabilities of science. It is possible to get reductionistic here like Descartes did who said the place where the soul and body merge is the Pineal Gland (because it formed a point and thus appealed to Descartes' reductionism.)? But, I don't believe reductionism is necessary and given the anthropology found in Scripture if you find that you are being reductionistic that should be a warning sign that your?variety of TE?may be on the wrong track. To do so is to as the saying goes is a foolish consistency and is thus the hobgoblin of little minds.

?

One other thing that differentiates the two gaps is one is an argument from silence while the other one is based on a positive statement of Scripture. Gaps are not per se the problem with ID but rather the argument from silence. We should oppose something merely because there are "gaps" -- and I am afraid Collins does this while not seeing his own "gaps". ?If you believe in First Causes like evangelicals do, then there will be gaps. But, because there are also Second Causes some apparent gaps are not really so. If Scripture posits supernatural causation for something -- like it does for the creation of the human soul -- then you are more likely to be correct about your gap then if it does not.

?

Rich Blinne (member ASA)

?

________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003

To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.
Received on Fri Nov 30 15:06:40 2007