Posted on 08/23/2009 11:49:00 AM PDT by neverdem
THE “war” between science and religion is notable for the amount of civil disobedience on both sides. Most scientists and most religious believers refuse to be drafted into the fight. Whether out of a live-and-let-live philosophy, or a belief that religion and science are actually compatible, or a heartfelt indifference to the question, they’re choosing to sit this one out.
Still, the war continues, and it’s not just a sideshow. There are intensely motivated and vocal people on both sides making serious and conflicting claims.
There are atheists who go beyond declaring personal disbelief in God and insist that any form of god-talk, any notion of higher purpose, is incompatible with a scientific worldview. And there are religious believers who insist that evolution can’t fully account for the creation of human beings.
I bring good news! These two warring groups have more in common than they realize. And, no, it isn’t just that they’re both wrong. It’s that they’re wrong for the same reason. Oddly, an underestimation of natural selection’s creative power clouds the vision not just of the intensely religious but also of the militantly atheistic.
If both groups were to truly accept that power, the landscape might look different. Believers could scale back their conception of God’s role in creation, and atheists could accept that some notions of “higher purpose” are compatible with scientific materialism. And the two might learn to get along.
The believers who need to hear this sermon aren’t just adherents of “intelligent design,” who deny that natural selection can explain biological complexity in general. There are also believers with smaller reservations about the Darwinian story. They accept that God used evolution to do his creative work (“theistic evolution”), but think that, even so, he had to step in and provide special ingredients at some...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
More from your discovery.org.
The two most prominent creationist groups, Answers in Genesis Ministries (AIG) and Institute for Creation Research (ICR) have criticized the intelligent design movement (IDM) because design theory, unlike creationism, does not seek to defend the Biblical account of creation. AIG specifically complained about IDM’s “refusal to identify the Designer with the Biblical God” and noted that “philosophically and theologically the leading lights of the ID movement form an eclectic group.” Indeed, according to AIG, “many prominent figures in the IDM reject or are hostile to Biblical creation, especially the notion of recent creation….” (4) Likewise, ICR has criticized ID for not employing “the Biblical method,” concluding that “Design is not enough!” (5) Creationist groups like AIG and ICR clearly understand that intelligent design is not the same thing as creationism.
Whatever his beliefs he's written about God and various beliefs so how is he replacing God with I.D. in our language?
Would a true Christian write that the designer need not be a deity?
"All the design could therefore have emerged through a cosmic evolutionary process that started with the Big Bang. What’s more, the designer need not be a deity. It could be an extraterrestrial or a telic process inherent in the universe."
Your ID friends use the term “agnostic”.
“Creationism is focused on defending a literal reading of the Genesis account, usually including the creation of the earth by the Biblical God a few thousand years ago. Unlike creationism, the scientific theory of intelligent design is agnostic regarding the source of design and has no commitment to defending Genesis, the Bible or any other sacred text. “
If you ever wonder if your friends are true Christians, see if they pass the test.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2306526/posts?page=17#17
Hint. Check IDGunsGuts reply.
I.D. belief alone would be indifferent to who the Intelligent Designer is, God, The DemiUrge, no one at all.
In brief: The formal I.D. movement has not wanted to be identified with creationism since they don't wish to be identified with a religious belief. That doesn’t make every word they utter false or germane to intelligent design in the generic sense.
Creationists as a whole have no reason to reject the idea of an intelligent designer as God is most certainly viewed as intelligent and a designer by creationists. That is NOT agreement with the I.D. movement's pronouncements of agnosticism, atheism, or who knows-ism.
Ir's not my discovery.org and it's not IDGUNSGUTS either.
The question remains how I.D.ers are removing God from the language, in spite of your disgorgement of material irrelevant to the point.
Are you saying the ID is God?
BTW, where did I read something about assigning human qualities to God....
My point in using 'your' is that you put it up as your example of ID movement. Just to be clear that it was you, not me.
Sorry. I somehow thought that showing examples of how ID'ers were distancing themselves from God and creation was relevant.
You are right. IDGunsGuts works for another site.
Since the I.D. movement was about design and not designer and intelligent design and not who the intelligence originated with there doesn't seem to be any closeness to turn into distance between them, God, and creationists, so yes, your pettifogging is irrelevant.
Here's a hint: In the English language capitalization can change the meaning of a word or words. Think about it.
Is that why the 'creationists' run away when asked if they believe that the ID'er is God? It should be a simple answer to a simple question. Even you did not answer.
Ok. Do you, absolutely, believe that God is the Intelligent Designer?
Of course...of course
more silliness
“Are you saying the ID is God?” No.
Why ask me what you have read? or where?
Then you are starting to see my point about the ID movement pushing to remove God from our lives?
I have to go now. I will look forward to seeing your answer to #94 when I log in tomorrow. A simple yes or no will be adequate.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.