Re: [asa] On Darwin the secular saint

I went straight through a geology course and cant remember much on Darwin! I
was brought up 10 miles from his house and never went there despite a
scientist father. I did much of my mountaineering in Cwm Idwal in Snowdonia
(see picture on next post) and never realised Darwin loved the place.

For various reasons as Christians we do have to take note of Darwin this
year, not because what he was - one of many great scientists - but the way
he is used both by some atheists as an argument for atheism and the devil in
the culture wars which were spawned by the RR etc.

Some of the coverage is absurd whether from YEC or atheist polemicists.
However the bicentenary is here and we need to use both to try to defuse the
culture wars , which are now worldwide and to emphasises that good science
is not inimical to Christianity.

That is why I wrote my piece Michael Roberts, Charles Darwin: a Fulcrum
Appreciation
http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/page.cfm?ID=342 which has got around.
Today a CIS member asked to print off 150 copies for his church.

I am cashing in on the bicentenary. I did a slide show to a women's group in
my church which many found helpful and a double act at a local university
with Paul Marston. From the comeback it has helped some spiritually. There
is more interest in the secular world.

If all we (that is ASA , fellow travellers and "alien counterparts) can do
is to make Jesus more acceptable to some then that will be a good thing.

I am probably making more of it than many, but my knowledge of Darwin's
geology (and published papers) has given me some good entries and
invitations. Often people change the "g" to "th" !

I will also deal with the 500 years of Calvin, but only in a small way in my
churches. I hope Calvin scholars go a bundle on him for his many insights.
Centenaries have their uses and apologetic opportunities.

Michael

----- Original Message -----
From: <kbmill@ksu.edu>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:45 PM
Subject: Re: [asa] On Darwin the secular saint

Quoting Douglas Hayworth:

> I agree. As you said in a previous post, Darwin deserves recognition
> as one of the finest scientists ever, and I think he is also a good
> example of humility with regard to science/religion issues. But that
> is no reason to venerate him in church. The church has never given
> that sort of special honor to other men, and to do so in this case is
> more likely to confirm to conservative Christians that liberal
> churches have compromised on faith in Christ alone than it is to
> build
> bridges of understanding.

Here is another angle on this topic. Perhaps the church should make a
concerted effort to honor fellow believers in the sciences (from their
own congregations as well as more broadly). Perhaps the church has
failed to affirm vocations in the sciences. Perhaps the church needs
to recognize and honor all vocational service (sciences, arts,
humanities, engineering, etc, etc) as divine callings. We do so honor
pastors and missionaries -- why no others?

Keith

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Received on Fri Feb 13 16:29:49 2009