[dan1123]

This seemed to be a fairly well-balanced take on the metaphysical underpinnings of the creattion-evolution debate. Since evolution debates on this forum usually do not address this issue, I think this is worth reading.

[metmom]

Getting out the popcorn.....

[Kevmo]

B4L8r

[Red Badger]

If an ape falls in the forest, did it evolve?.........

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

I understand that most of us want to say much more than this, but then again, most of us are not enlightened: "To let understanding stop at what cannot be understood is a high attainment. Those who cannot do it will be destroyed on the lathe of heaven."

[JamesP81]

it seems as if they begin with different metaphysical assumptions about the nature of reality.

That's actually true. The reason the two sides can't debate is because the two sides hold views of the universe that are entirely different and mutually exclusive.

We recognize that our unjustified commitment to naturalism has determined our answer to these questions.

IOW, he has faith that his side is right. Much the way I have faith that my side is right. In short, evolutionism is essentially a religious belief.

[mjp]

If asked whether or not our world-view is “true” we can say, “Yes, in a sense, but only against my theoretical or metaphysical background.” If asked whether or not creationism is “true” we can say “No, in a sense, against my theoretical or metaphysical background.”

Or just be a pragmatist and say that there is no objective truth.

[r9etb]

How handy ... this is the abstract, and according to the link you provided, the full text is not available.

As a result, we do not know how the author "will define creationism," and thus we cannot discuss what he has to say about it.

Sorry, Dan, but your post is nothing more than an invitation to ignorant finger-flapping.

[wow]

Before I lived in the Bible belt, I was firmly convinced that man had evolved from the apes. Now I am of the opinion that the degree of evolution is too small to waste time in argument.

Paraphrasing Descartes, I think, therefor I am evolving.

[11th Commandment]

I am intrigued at the idea the Naturalism “evolved” from Theist thinking.

[11th Commandment]

I am intrigued at the idea that Naturalism “evolved” from Theist thinking.

[metmom]

Evolutionists never seem to fail to make the debate between the evolutionists and *Bible literalists*.

I wonder why they never seem to be willing to just make it *creationists* instead instead of forcing it into such a narrowly defined segment that few indeed (if any) fall into it?

[RightWhale]

The science of metaphysics was completely developed and resolved about 1780.

[LiteKeeper]

read later