Re: [asa] Timaeus--ID isn't "god of the gaps"

Voila! Well said, David. If all evolution is teleology, this is theology piggybacking on natural science rather than either vice versa (i.e. natural science piggybacking on theology) or an integrative viewpoint existing wherein teleology is legitimately recognized (and even celebrated!) in its relevant fields, while both natural science and theology play second fiddles (let that not sound blasphemous to the theologians on the list!) in a holistic discussion.
 
Isn't the idea itself of 'no discontinuity' a rather utopian and unrealistic one?
 
It has been a wonderful experience for me living in a country where apophatic theology still thrives, in contrast to the kataphatic theology seemingly present in the apologetics of much of the 'western' Christian (but secular) world. Perhaps this goes some distance to explain how opposed some people are to a 'science that would admit of mystery' or of 'gaps' (even legitimate ones). - G.A. 

--- On Tue, 11/4/08, David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com> wrote:

From: David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [asa] Timaeus--ID isn't "god of the gaps"
To: "Nucacids" <nucacids@wowway.com>
Cc: "Randy Isaac" <randyisaac@comcast.net>, asa@calvin.edu
Received: Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 8:31 PM

A significant problem I have with all this is that, from a Christian perspective, all "negatives" are "false" negatives, and all evolution is teleological.

David W. Opderbeck
Associate Professor of Law
Seton Hall University Law School
Gibbons Institute of Law, Science & Technology

On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 11:57 PM, Nucacids <nucacids@wowway.com> wrote:

Hi Randy,
 
I don't use the explanatory filter. 
 
"What happens to the argument if there is NO discontinuity?"  It depends on the score for the other three criteria - analogy, rationality, and foresight.  If they score strongly positive, then I'd score the thing in question as an example of teleologic/guided evolution.
 
Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: Randy Isaac
To: asa@calvin.edu

Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 10:28 AM
Subject: Re: [asa] Timaeus--ID isn't "god of the gaps"

Mike,
  I must be missing something since I don't comprehend. This link doesn't provide all of the relevant text so I clearly need the additional information. But this snippet is still significant: "But the most significant aspect of this analysis is that it demonstrates that our design inference for the genetic code is not rooted in a " god-of-the-gaps" argument. Such an argument would have a defining pattern of gray-white-gray-gray, where the only indicator of design would be an argument for discontinuity."
 
If I understand you correctly, you are saying that the "god of the gaps" critique doesn't apply because "discontinuity" is not the "only" indicator. But I'm asking a different question. What happens to the argument if there is NO discontinuity? I don't know what your scale is but what happens if there is no discontinuity and the explanatory filter criteria are not met?
 
Randy __________________________________________________________________ Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/

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Received on Tue Nov 4 15:20:50 2008