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To: PatrickHenry
the only theological conclusion I've ever seen that flows directly from an understanding of the theory of evolution is that a hyper-literal reading of scripture, mostly Genesis, is going to be contradicted by the observable facts. Similarly, geology (the age and shape of the earth) and astronomy (the solar system). No one is cagy about it.

Sure they are.

Some religious folks look at the conflict and conclude Creationism, while some non-religious folks look at the same conflict and conclude atheism.

Each finds solace, unsurprisingly, in their respective comfort zones, while claiming that they are interested in "just the facts" and only "looking for the truth."

It's my general observation that theologians make bad scientists and scientists make bad theologians. There are exceptions, sure, but all humans are prone to seeking confirmations of their assumptions and presumptions, even scientists. None are immune.

Before there are any howls of protest from the scientific side about their method, we need to understand that while application of the scientific method is an effort to aproach certain areas of inquiry in ways that are atypical of human nature, the method itself doesn't enable scientists with the capacity to escape human nature.

Scientists who think otherwise are fallen into hubris, which is, of course, only human.


54 posted on 10/18/2003 11:03:49 AM PDT by Sabertooth (No Drivers' Licences for Illegal Aliens. Petition SB60. http://www.saveourlicense.com/n_home.htm)
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To: Sabertooth
Some religious folks look at the conflict and conclude Creationism, while some non-religious folks look at the same conflict and conclude atheism.

Yes, you have "all or nothing" people out there. Some of them look at the conflict and decide that all of science is wrong, therefore Creationism (which is about as un-scientific as it ever gets). This is foolish attitude, in my opinion. Others look at the conflict and conclude that if some scriptural passages are metaphorical, the entire bible is hogwash. This too is a foolish attitude (again, in my opinion).

Most of us can deal with the conflict in the way that I said earlier, and the problem vanishes. There will always be the extremes, at both ends of the spectrum. Such is life.

57 posted on 10/18/2003 11:11:57 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
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