Re: [asa] public response

On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 5:10 PM, Randy Isaac <randyisaac@comcast.net> wrote:

> Rich,
> It looks as if at least one person wants to continue an "open and honest
> debate." I think portions of Jeff's review would be quite relevant here.
> http://deltackett.com/
>
> How can we convey the point that it is not that doubts about evolution, per
> se, are not acceptable but that it is the quality and method in which those
> doubts are brought forward. The scientific community would be extremely
> interested in any data that would alter our understanding in any way. But
> those skepticisms and questions must go through the same rigor of scientific
> review and methodology as anything else. And until they do, the doubts are
> just that, and not legitimate scientific results. Most of all, any attempt
> to insert such claims that bypasses the normal process is bound to gather
> pushback.
>
> Randy
>

Here was my response.

Del, thanks for your considered response. Due to the length I will address
only a couple of points.

"This kind of survey is extremely interesting to me and I would love to see
the data. How many "scientists" hold to theistic evolution, atheistic
evolution, or have serious doubts about evolution?"

A grad student, Whitney Gray, decided to contact the list of skeptics of
evolution from DI's list. He limited himself to the biologists and
bio-chemists. He asked them all a simple question.

Do you believe in common descent?

All but two answered yes.

Michael Behe gave the following more extended answer:

"Yes, I think we share an ancestor with other primates. However, I don't
believe that the process leading to the appearance of humans was Darwinian."

Clarifying question: Would it be correct to say that you feel we share a
common ancestor and through guided mutations and natural selection, humans
arose?

Answer: Yes, that's right.

Dr. Fred Sigworth denies rejecting Common Descent and recommends TE Ken
Miller's book Finding Darwin's God.

Dr. Dan Kuebler denies rejecting Common Descent and evolution and asked
unsuccessfully to be taken off the list.

Professor Paul Koval said in the many public lectures he has given in the
last 15 years he recalls never saying evolutionary theory is wrong.

You continue, "Then correlate those answers with their various views of God,
the Bible, etc."

The major books that go against the New Atheism are all by theistic
evolutionists (Keller, McGrath, D'Souza, and Collins). Yes, Alister McGrath
from Expelled is a Theistic Evolutionist as well as John Polkinghorne. Here
is what Polkinghorne has to say about evolution and intelligent design:

"Evolution clearly happens and there is very strong genetic evidence for the
evolutionary connection of most animals including man. …
Similarly, the idea proposed by some ID advocates that certain biological
systems couldn't possibly have evolved is almost certainly wrong."

The new Evangelical Manifesto says the following:

"All too often we have disobeyed the great command to love the Lord our God
with our hearts, souls, strength, and minds, and have fallen into an
unbecoming anti-intellectualism that is a dire cultural handicap as well as
a sin. In particular, some among us have betrayed the strong Christian
tradition of a high view of science, epitomized in the very matrix of ideas
that gave birth to modern science, and made themselves vulnerable to
caricatures of the false hostility between science and faith. By doing so,
we have unwittingly given comfort to the unbridled scientism and naturalism
that are so rampant in our culture today."

For further historical information concerning evangelical support of
evolutionary biology I would recommend the book by David Livingstone called
"Darwin's Forgotten Defenders".

You have asked a very important question because at the heart of who we are
as evangelicals is fidelity to both the living and written Word. As brothers
in the Lord we must always challenge each other to find the truth as iron
sharpens iron. So, in that spirit, my question to you is why do you promote
the work of Jonathan Wells who is a Moonie?

Your Brother,
Rich

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Received on Mon May 19 21:33:53 2008