RE: [asa] a theological exercise

Sometimes I find it amazing that Star Trek (TOS) addressed so many of
society's peculiarities, for lack of a better word.
http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TOS/episode/68790.html

In this episode, the crew of the Enterprise reveals to an ancient society
that worship their Oracle, that for centuries, they have actually been
inhabitants of an asteroid-sized spaceship that is not guided by an Oracle,
but rather a super computer, that was programmed by an even more ancient
civilization, to flee the destruction of their solar system. Their entire
reality was blown wide open.

To respond to the objection of altering one's theology to meet scientific
facts, I would say, "Why not, it has been done before and you engage in it,
as well. If you didn't, you would count yourself among the few holdouts for
Geocentrism." If they respond that the Bible no where teaches Geocentrism, I
would say, "well, we can say that now, and we pretty much have to, otherwise
the Bible would be in error."

=========================================

  -----Original Message-----
  From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
Behalf Of drsyme@cablespeed.com
  Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 2:31 PM
  To: 'ASA list'; 'George Murphy'
  Subject: Re: [asa] a theological exercise

  My difficulty with your analogy of the scientist changing a theory in the
face of new evidence, is that most of the evangelicals that I have talked to
about this, claim that altering one's theology to meet scientific facts is
not acceptable. To them, there would be no possible scientific evidence
that would get them to reconsider. They understand the implications of
evolution, the most difficult being those David O mentioned, and most are
not at all interested in even trying to see if there is a consistent
Christian theology because the only revelation that they are concerned about
is biblical. In other words they will criticize because you have changed
your views based on science, and the conversation stops there.

  On Tue Jun 3 14:07 , "George Murphy" sent:

    The first book we were assigned when I started seminary was a small
volume by Helmut Thielicke, A Little Exercise for Young Theologians. I'd
like to propose here what I think is an important little exercise for
Christians, young & old, who want to engage in theology-science discussions,
& especially those relating to evolution.

    Let me begin with a scientific preliminary. One of the tasks of a
scientist, & especially a theoreticians, is to try to see how well some new
discovery fits in with what he/she has up until that point regarded as the
best theory in the relevant field. E.g., are the data generated when a new
particle accelerator comes on line consistent with current theories of high
energy physics? If they are consistent without any tinkering with the
theory then they can be regarded as predictions of noverl facts by that
theory. Perhaps some relatively minor adjustments of secondary aspects of
the theory are required. Or maybe there's just no natural way in which the
new data can be understood within the theory's framework - in which case all
but diehards will decide that a new theoretical framework is needed.

    OK, assume now that somehow - & "how" is not something I want to debate
now - it has been demonstrated scientifically, beyond any reasonable doubt,
that present-day human beings have descended from pre-human ancestors
without any unexplained gaps - physical or mental - in the process. (Some
might claim that that's already been done but again that isn't the point
now.) The exercise is to see how well this could fit in with your
theology - with the way that you understand God, creation, sin, salvation
and other aspects of the faith. Does the evolutionary reality flow
naturally from your theology, does that theology require some modification
in its secondary aspects, or is there just no way to make human evolution
part of your theology without changing it (the theology) totally? A really
serious effort should be made to accomplish the task in some detail. It
need not produce a dissertation but has to be more elaborate than "Evolution
is how God creates" or "The Bible rules out evolution."

    & now the point of the exercise. Only a Christian has honestly tried to
do this - not necessarily succeeded but tried - has any business criticizing
the views of Christians who do accept human evolution.

    Shalom
    George
    http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/

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Received on Tue Jun 3 16:59:49 2008