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Science in the Light of Faith: A Valuable Perspective
BreakPoint with Charles Colson ^ | Charles Colson

Posted on 03/08/2004 1:33:06 PM PST by Mr. Silverback

One subject I enjoy reading about is the intelligent design movement and its arguments against natural origins. And believe me, there's a lot to read. Recent years have seen an explosion of books, articles, and websites on the subject of intelligent design. Scientists, philosophers, and theologians have all contributed valuable insights to the debate.

But I think I can safely say that, with all of this reading, I've never read a book by an eminent scientist and intelligent design advocate that ended with a presentation of the Gospel -- never, that is, until now.

Henry F. Schaefer's book SCIENCE AND CHRISTIANITY: CONFLICT OR COHERENCE? does exactly that. As his book's title indicates, Schaefer, a five-time nominee for the Nobel Prize, has spent a lot of time studying and teaching about the relationship between science and faith. So his writing is clear and compelling not just on intelligent design, but also on a whole range of other issues that are of interest to both people of faith and people of science. But I think his treatment of the intelligent design issue is one of the best parts of the book, because it shows Schaefer meeting nonbelieving scientists on their own ground and using their own observations to undermine their arguments.

Schaefer quotes the brilliant scientist and agnostic Stephen Hawking, who wrote that a good theory "must accurately describe a large class of observations" and "must make definite predictions about the results of future observations." While acknowledging the strengths of the "standard evolutionary model" in the first area, Schaefer points out that it has serious weaknesses in the second area. He writes, "Over the past 150 years evolutionary theorists have made countless predictions about fossil specimens to be observed in the future. Unfortunately for these seers, many new fossils have been discovered, but the interesting ones almost always seem to be contrary to the 'best' predictions." Schaefer then contrasts the theory of evolution with other theories, such as the atomic theory and the theory of gravity, which are able to make precise predictions of future events, such as when Halley's Comet would appear -- predictions, Schaefer says, that turned out to be true in his lifetime.

So, contrary to what many believe, the theory of intelligent design isn't just something people believe because the Bible tells them so. It's something we believe because it makes sense and describes the real world far better than the alternative theory.

As passages like this demonstrate, Schaefer's book is a wonderful resource for the high school or college student interested in studying science. In fact, it's ideal for parents to go through with their high school or college-age kids. Schaefer's own story of coming to faith in Christ, his descriptions of many other prominent scientists who are Christians, and his desire to share his faith will be an encouragement to kids who are wondering if their love of science is compatible with their commitment to God. And his exploration of issues like intelligent design will not only demonstrate to them how God has manifested Himself through nature, but also provide them with an excellent example of how their own gifts can be used for God's glory.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: bookreview; charlescolson; christianity; crevolist; science
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Comment #21 Removed by Moderator

To: Silas Hardacre
Some things are inherently unknowable Welcome to the world of Agnosticsm, or is it your supposition that you know everything God knows, or do you just believe God can make things he can't understand? Careful now, you opened that door :-)

Some things are inherently unknowable by man without divine intervention, if there is such a thing.

So9

22 posted on 03/08/2004 3:39:05 PM PST by Servant of the 9 (Goldwater Republican)
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To: Mr. Silverback
"Over the past 150 years evolutionary theorists have made countless predictions about fossil specimens to be observed in the future. Unfortunately for these seers, many new fossils have been discovered, but the interesting ones almost always seem to be contrary to the 'best' predictions."

This is just false. Creationism continually predicts that there will be no more new transitional forms found. (At least, that's the implication of all the creationist jeering about "Where is the missing link?") Evolution predicts that intermediates outlining a phylogentic tree of life must have existed and that more and more parts from this real phylogenetic tree will be found. Evolution has been right, creation wrong, since 1859.

With this kind of misrepresentation, Henry F. Schaefer shoots himself in the foot before anyone with any scientific literacy, not that I'd expect Colson to know the difference. One gets the same old bad pennies all the time from these people. ID is not on the level and will never be good science or good education. It's a fabric of lies.

23 posted on 03/08/2004 3:53:50 PM PST by VadeRetro
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To: PatrickHenry
But not in serious scientific literature.

But that just proves that it's all a vast-World-Wide-Conspiracy by evil elite scientists and their minions to thwart the study of paradigm-shattering ideas, and to corrupt our precious bodily fluids.

</ lunatic mode>

24 posted on 03/08/2004 4:24:11 PM PST by longshadow
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To: longshadow
But that just proves that it's all a vast-World-Wide-Conspiracy by evil elite scientists ...

Yes. If ID ever gets some serious work published in a reputable journal, that will be heralded as proof that it's arrived as genuine science. Meanwhile, with no serious work published, that too is heralded as proof of its being such potent science that everyone is afraid to publish it.

Publishing in the journals is good; being "frozen out" is even better.

25 posted on 03/08/2004 4:36:38 PM PST by PatrickHenry (A compassionate evolutionist.)
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To: PatrickHenry
Publishing in the journals is good; being "frozen out" is even better.

"Heads" they win; "tails" we lose? Neat trick.

26 posted on 03/08/2004 4:42:16 PM PST by longshadow
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To: longshadow
corrupt our precious bodily fluids.

Evolutionists are behind fluoridation?? COMMIE SWINE!

27 posted on 03/08/2004 4:45:18 PM PST by Shryke
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

To: Shryke
Evolutionists are behind fluoridation?? COMMIE SWINE!

You mean you don't get a copy of the anti-Evo "talking points" memo every morning? I assumed Darwin Central distributed a copy to the membership as soon as our mole forwards it....

29 posted on 03/08/2004 5:20:12 PM PST by longshadow
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To: PetroniusMaximus
So, there are, what, maybe four or five "real" Christians?

Considering how subjective "miraculously changed in their heart" is...
30 posted on 03/08/2004 5:24:17 PM PST by orionblamblam
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To: orionblamblam
So, there are, what, maybe four or five "real" Christians?

No, I would say that down through history there have been many millions. But Jesus himself said...

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matt 7 



Considering how subjective "miraculously changed in their heart" is...

Yes it does sound subjective - that's because they are my own weak words. Jeremiah said it infinitely better when he said...

"The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah... This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them o­n their hearts. I will be their God,  and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Or even Ezekiel when he said...

" For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.  I will sprinkle clean water o­n you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." - Ezek 36

And Paul put it very clearly...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you o­n Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. - 2nd Cor. 5

Have you ever experienced anything like these writer are writing about?


31 posted on 03/08/2004 6:13:37 PM PST by PetroniusMaximus
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To: Mr. Silverback
Henry F. Schaefer's book SCIENCE AND CHRISTIANITY: CONFLICT OR COHERENCE?

Beware, it's not unheard of that great thinkers make logical errors in resolving scientific doctrine in the face of religious ideology. It is reasonable for a scientist to use intelligent design ideology as a bridge between science and religious ideology in order to resolve personal conflicts between the two. But it's entirely unethical to substitute ID for science for such a resolution (which, in fact, it doesn't provide). There are many areas of life where one has to learn to live with paradox or conflict. Chipping away at one (science) to accommodate the other (ideology) is not the right solution for a scientist.

32 posted on 03/08/2004 8:00:43 PM PST by Nebullis
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To: Silas Hardacre
... the symbol for atheism was most commonly the atom,

Huh? Show me where "the symbol for atheism was most commonly the atom" - I've never seen or heard of such a thing. In fact, I never heard of atheism having any symbols at all.

33 posted on 03/08/2004 11:03:14 PM PST by Virginia-American
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Comment #34 Removed by Moderator

To: Silas Hardacre
A suitable next step for you is to accept the notion that it is more likely the world was made than randomly generated from nothing for no purpose,

There is no way to prove which of these two possibilities is more likely.

God made the world, the manner in which it goes on it's way is his work, and that we call that part of that process, the part that does not separate man from the animal kingdom, Natural Selection.

The majority of Christians in the world agree with this statement, certainly.

35 posted on 03/09/2004 6:12:53 AM PST by Modernman ("The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must." - Thucydides)
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To: Silas Hardacre
Thanks for that link.

There is an interesting talk radio transcript there in which ICR's Duane Gish is, for once, forced to be on the defensive. Instead of his usual slick "Here are 30 completely unrelated, wide-ranging ideas on why I don't accept evolution," the debate is, "Is creationism science?"

Read his miserable failings here:

http://www.atheists.org/bone.pit/zindlergishdebate.html
36 posted on 03/09/2004 6:51:08 AM PST by whattajoke
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Comment #37 Removed by Moderator

Comment #38 Removed by Moderator

To: PetroniusMaximus
> I will put my laws in their minds and write them o­n their hearts.

Ouch. Sounds painful. Maybe use a woodburner or a Dremel tool?

>Have you ever experienced anything like these writer are writing about?

Nope. Never experienced a hysterectomy or an acid flashback, either.
39 posted on 03/09/2004 3:12:17 PM PST by orionblamblam
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To: orionblamblam
***Ouch. Sounds painful. Maybe use a woodburner or a Dremel tool? ***

You treat these things very lightly, as if it were all something to be made fun of...

Do you have any beliefs as far as spiritual things go?
40 posted on 03/09/2004 7:12:30 PM PST by PetroniusMaximus
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