Reason in the Balance and why Fundamentalists are Beyond Reason

sullivan-county.com ^ | Unknown | Lewis Loflin

[taxesareforever]

This quote from the Pope's Message:

"Consequently, theories of evolution which, in accordance with the philosophies inspiring them, consider the mind as emerging from the forces of living matter, or as a mere epiphenomenon of this matter, are incompatible with the truth about man. Nor are they able to ground the dignity of the person."

I do not believe that this lends any proof to saying that the Pope agrees with evolution. Matter of fact, this states that he does not agree with the theories which supposedly support evolution.

[balrog666]

You recall wrong. Newton remained a deeply commited Christian for his entire life.

Nope, he was a heretic, concealing his extensive religious writings until his death.

And please check that out yourself because his works are freely available online to anyone.

[Skooz]

You are only partly correct.

Though he probably wrote as much on Biblical subjects as scientific ones, Newton never published any of his Biblical writings. Though he outwardly conformed to the church of England, Newton privately was an Arian Christian. He believed Jesus Christ was the Savior of the world, but he did not believe He was very God. Newton believed the Athanasian creed and the doctrine of the Trinity diminished the sovereign dominion of the Almighty and corrupted the purity of the church for centuries. But Newton largely kept these heretical beliefs to himself.

Newton was a deeply committed Christian (an Arian Christian is in every way a "fundamentalist" as described by the author of this article), but he did not conform to the Church of England. Very few fundamentalists do.

Nice try.

[balrog666]

Just what did you think heretic meant? He despised what he considered the corruption of the Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant theological doctrines and wrote extensively on the essential meaning of early theology.

[Skooz]

Yep. And he was also a deeply committed Christian who loved and believed the Bible: EXACTLY the kind of person this writer says is too stupid and ignorant to understand "reason."

[Liberty Valance]

I get the distinct impression that Lewis Loflin's septic tank has overflowed and it is really pissing him off.

[balrog666]

Yep. And he was also a deeply committed Christian who loved and believed the Bible:

Um, no, he didn't. He did his own research from other ancient sources.

EXACTLY the kind of person this writer says is too stupid and ignorant to understand "reason."

Again, no. The author attacks those fundamentalists whose minds are closed to evidence, logic, and reason. Exactly the opposite of Newton.

[Xenalyte]

I'm a pretty foundational Christian, and I see good science as only increasing my understanding and appreciation of God.

Why not call yourself a "fundamental" (not "fundamentalist") Christian, which is what the made-up word "foundational" means?

[Skooz]

Um, yeah. he did. He was a distinguished biblical scholar. He never hid the fact that he believed the Bible to be the Word of God. He was, in every way, a Christian fundamentalist.

The author attacks those fundamentalists whose minds are closed to evidence, logic, and reason.

The author's premise is that ALL fundamentalists' "minds are closed to evidence, logic, and reason."

That would include such morons as Pascal, Copernicus, Dostoevsky, and, yes, Newton. Along with many, many others. These men would have to speak baby language for the author of this hit-piece to understand them.

[Theo]

... because the words "fundamental" and "fundamentalist" have connotations beyond the denotation. "Foundational" is not a made-up word.

Not sure I understand your point....

[Kerberos]

"I get the distinct impression that Lewis Loflin's septic tank has overflowed and it is really pissing him off."

Gee, I certainly don't know how you would have got that impression. Perhaps you were thinking of another article.

[js1138]

The Church persecuted Galileo not because of his discoveries, but in his insistence on spreading the news before the Church thought the masses were ready.

And the church's authority for suppressing truth is...?

[js1138]

My point being, why does the 2nd law (at least in anti-evo circles) only apply to evolution; doesn't every living thing violate it?

I've often intended to post this question myself, but the supply of peole stupid enough to argue second law is, alas dwindling. All the easy targets committed FReepercide last year.

[Skooz]

And the church's authority for suppressing truth is...?

UUhhh.. None.

Happy?

[Varda]

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