Re: [asa] Saving Darwin -- On the "Fall"

> 1. Is this notion of the fall theologically adequate?

To me, it seems from the information given to be theologically
vague-i.e., it is not unambiguously heterodox nor orthodox. The
critical issue is that all humans are fallen and in need of redemption
(of course, these need to be defined-e.g., redemption is acheived by
Christ's work, fallenness is not merely "nobody's perfect" but
"everyone is fundamentally turned away from God", etc.)
Unfortunately, it's popular to claim that evolution conflicts with the
fall, meaning that evolution entails that people aren't fallen (not
sure where it comes from-misidentifying evolution as progress?? the
fallacy that evolution conflicts with the existence of absolute moral
standards?? wishful thinking??). Obviously this isn't what he
intends, but he'll have to spend time distancing himself from that in
order to get a hearing.

I'm also unclear why the fact that our sinful inclinations can have
deep evolutionary roots requires rejecting more conventional pictures
of the fall. There are two components to being sinful-the inclination
for or against God and the ability to understand. A weed does not
intentionally grow where I do not want it. The enemy in the parable,
however, clearly intended to cause trouble. Selfish inclinations,
which often (though not invariably) manifest themselves in sinful ways
in humans, clearly have deep evolutionary roots. Exactly at what
point does the capacity for a moral sense appear? How exactly does
one define it? There are parts that are present in various primates
or even other organisms, but at what point can something or someone
make a meaningful moral decision? It's a lot less inclusive than the
set of things that can be considered selfish.

> 2. Is this notion of the fall open theism or process thought?

It neither requires nor rejects it.

> 3. Does accepting biological evolution require the acceptance of open
> theism or process thought?

Absolutely not.

-- 
Dr. David Campbell
425 Scientific Collections
University of Alabama
"I think of my happy condition, surrounded by acres of clams"
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