On Feb 2, 2008 5:04 PM, Gregory Arago <gregoryarago@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
> So my earlier question still humbly remains:
> "Please, can you or anyone else explain to me how a person can accept the
> notion of 'non-process evolution'? This seems to me a blatant contradiction
> in terms! Evolution by definition simply must proceed."
>
> Warm regards,
> Gregory A.
>
>
Gregory,
Well, for my part I cannot offer any explanation for how a person could
accept the notion of 'non-process evolution'. I would agree that such a
thing is a contradiction in terms. Evolution, by definition, implies
process. It is a series of events in history real time with real
contingencies and outcomes, which are determined in their physical sense by
the state of being of creation (i.e., dependent on real structure of the
physical universe as God created it). The doctrine of creatio continua (as
an added Christian doctrine to creatio ex nihilo) is something that is
supported by scripture but was/has been overlooked in most Christian circles
until recently with the help of the recognition that evolution
(cosmological, geological, biological) is an accurate description of the
history of the physical universe in which we live (the only universe we
actually know). For a primer and brief introduction to the biblical concept
of creatio continua, see Robert J. Schneider's essays on evolution/creation
at http://community.berea.edu/scienceandfaith/essays.asp.
Pattern and process: these are interrelated and utterly dependent aspects of
our creation that exists in space-time. We cannot even imagine a world
otherwise. The process determines the pattern that results, and the pattern
of things determines the processes that can occur. Biological evolution
occurs because there is an overall pattern of relationship of organisms in
their environment (think distribution of breeding individuals in a
population in their environment) and there is a process of continual change
(mutation, inheritance, survival, etc.).
The real tough question to answer in any exact sense is "How does God
interact with such a creation?" Does he intervene to override or tweak the
process or pattern? Does he intervene at all (deism)? Does he predetermine
and directly cause every event (strong Calvinism)? Or is there something
inbetween? Polkinghorne would describe God's means of interaction as an
input of information. If God chooses among quantum indeterminacies, I think
one could regard that as either process or pattern input, depending on how
one thinks about the physics. But I'm no physicist, so don't quote me on
that.
Douglas Hayworth
Rockford, IL
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Received on Sun Feb 3 09:01:35 2008
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