[betty boop]

Much of Professor Heller’s career has been dedicated to reconciling the known scientific world with the unknowable dimensions of God.... In doing so, he has argued against a “God of the gaps” strategy for relating science and religion, a view that uses God to explain what science cannot.... Professor Heller said he believed, for example, that the religious objection to teaching evolution “is one of the greatest misunderstandings” because it “introduces a contradiction or opposition between God and chance.”

It seems to me that the entire universe exists in a tension between that which does not change (God's Will and Word) and that which does (i.e., "chance"). Ultimately, God is not "of the gaps"; He is the foundation of everything that exists, the ultimate source of the order of the changeable things....

I'm thrilled that Professor Heller has been honored with the Templeton Prize.

Thanks so much for the ping to this excellent article TXnMA, and to Iowahawk for posting it!

[Alamo-Girl]

It seems to me that the entire universe exists in a tension between that which does not change (God's Will and Word) and that which does (i.e., "chance"). Ultimately, God is not "of the gaps"; He is the foundation of everything that exists, the ultimate source of the order of the changeable things...

Indeed. Thank you for sharing your insights, dearest sister in Christ!

[metmom]

In doing so, he has argued against a “God of the gaps” strategy for relating science and religion, a view that uses God to explain what science cannot....

God explains everything.

Science being able to offer its own non-God explanations for things doesn't mean that they are correct explanations, nor that we don't need God any more, nor that He isn't what's behind everything any way.

Following that line of reasoning, when we are finally able to explain everything, then God will not be relevant because He's not needed anymore to explain what we don't understand.

God is far more than a handy catch-all excuse to explain what we don't understand. People who think that have a very warped and incomplete view of who God is and what He's about.

[hosepipe]

[ a tension between that which does not change (God’s Will and Word) and that which does (i.e., “chance”). Ultimately, God is not “of the gaps”; ]

Things that are thingly and things that are not thingly dancing with each other. Amazing how magnetism, heat, and light and even conductance morph into electricity and electricity morphs into them.. I suspect these other scientific variations of “dance” have been considered also..

Charleston, bob*, boogie, boogie down*, bunny hop, caper, careen, cavort, conga, flit*, foot it*, foxtrot, frolic, gambol, get down*, hoof it*, hop, hustle, jig, jitter*, jitterbug, jive*, jump, leap, one-step, prance, promenade, rhumba, rock, sambo, shimmy, skip, spin, step, strut, sway, swing, tango, tap, tread, trip, truck, twist, two-step, waltz, whirl

Amazing what “matter”(whatever that is) can do ain’t it..

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html

[TXnMA]

Professor Heller said he believed, for example, that the religious objection to teaching evolution “is one of the greatest misunderstandings” because it “introduces a contradiction or opposition between God and chance.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of "chance"...

In my discussions with anti-evolutionists/ID adherents, I have often heard/seen them say, "God is a god of perfect, planned order; He does not do things randomly -- like the (eeevil) evolutionists claim things happen."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To them, I answer, "au contraire!

Random processes {or, as Keller says,"chance"} are some of His greatest and most vital creations!"

Without random processes, you would surely die.

Consider the air in the room where you are: its molecules are in continous, rapid, random motion.

The energy of their random movement, we call, "Heat". The velocity of their random movement, we call, "Temperature". Their random impact on surfaces we call, "Pressure".

If their random motion suddenly stopped, you would freeze instantly. (Temperature = "Absolute Zero".)

If they suddenly ceased their random motion and headed off in a single, "orderly" direction, the walls of your room would explode, and you would find yourself in the most vicious windstorm possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indeed, randomness ("chance") makes our very existence possible. Aren't you thankful that God designed His Creation so randomly for us?