As if there could ever be "super-naturalistic" and "im-materialistic" science
by declaring that everything evolved solely through naturalistic random chance occurances makes a theological statement.
That's a very shaky statement of what evolution says. And it is NOT a theological statement. It is no more theological than is chemistry when it explains -- naturalistically (gasp!) -- how elements combine into compounds.
It [Naturalistic, materialistic science] trys to exclude God from the mix (rather than humbly admit that there are some things beyond the realm of science)and explain everything according to the wisdom of man.
I truly shudder to think what a "proper" science book would look like if it met your standards. What do you want? A humble declaration of ignorance? A prayer for wisdom? A confession of sin? That's science?
It [Naturalistic, materialistic science] also does a very poor job of explaining much of everything and expects the world to take as facts that man is the gradual result of chance. It does not adequately explain intelligence, ignores known things (the impersonal creating the personal), and otherwise pushes what in reality is an unproven hypothesis. Examples of "missing links" are heralded before the public as fact, even though each link is highly speculative and debated (even by evolutionists). And, yet, evolutionary science expects to be lauded for its objectivity.
Hard to know where to begin there. Difficult to respond, because all you've said amounts to nothing more than a hard-core anti-science rant. So, no rebuttal there. I accept that as your emotional response to science.
It [Naturalistic, materialistic science] sees what it wants to see and discounts everything else. Whether or not God can be measured, His presence is witnessed in everything around us. Some are willfully blind to it, but it is there.
Earlier, I had asked you how science could deal with (measure, see, test, etc.) the supernatural world. You have no answer, except to continue to bash science for not doing what it cannot do. I may as well beat my dogs because they can't fly.
First of all, the comment [about bias influencing results] was on Darwin.
My comments about worldwide peer review and verification of lab results applies to evolution as well as everything else. My point was that a Hindu or Japanese biologist would have none of the alleged bias that you ascribe to Darwin
Second, would you send an agent of Osama Bin Laden before a jury of Al Qaeda for judgment? The peers reviewing the evidence also have a highly evolutionary bias.
Okay. Everyone is in on the conspiracy. I gotcha.
[The anti-scriptural solar system doesn't bother me] Because the Bible is not purporting to be a science book, and none of the supposed "geocentric" passages are purporting to be a statement of God's design.
That's a very superficial dismissal of one of the most dramatic events in the intellectual history of western civilization. If only the church fathers had listened to you, ol' Galileo would have had no problems at all. Yet, as lenient as you say you are about the once blasphemous solar system theory, you are astonishingly harsh on those who advocate evolution. I still don't understand your double standard.
I will just be criticized for posting another AIG link, but AIG and Christiananswers.net among other links have plenty of information regarding the Galileo controversy as well as the supposed geocentrism of Scripture.
Right. Don't bother.
However, Galileo's problems were more with the Aristotelian thinking of the churchmen of his day as opposed to Copernican thinking - and the Bible would have been used out of context to back up those assumptions.
Sorry. I just can't take your word for it. The learned churchmen who persecuted Galileo were undoubtedly more skilled in their scripture than even you are. And consider this ... if they could, as you claim, erroneously take scripture out of context to persecute the solar system theory, isn't it just possible that you are doing the same thing in attacking evolution theory? I mean, it's possible, right?
Give me a break! First of all, the "latest scientific research" changes with the wind. It will continue to change with the wind.
No. It doesn't change with the wind. But it does change to be consistent with newly-discovered data. This is not a weakness, as you believe. It's the reason science is so successful.
It is inadequate to explain what we see and furthermore presents a worldview that is downright dangerous.
Scientific theories to a very adequate job of explaining what we see. That's the very definition of a theory. "Dangerous?" Yeah. I suppose the discovery of fire was dangerous too. Sorry, that's a terrible argument.
With that said, I do find it important as a seminary educated theologian (also have a secular Masters and Bachelors) to stay on top of what is going on in the world of science, but hardly look to it as some sort of authority which can change the truth of the Word of God.
We're back to the original question I posed. It's the same question Galileo posed. If you can see something that is contradicted by scripture, what do you believe? Scripture or the evidence of your senses. This question is at the core of all our other issues.
I made the argument before, but just think about it. If the Genesis account of creation is only an allegory, then you have no foundation (other than some fairy tale) for marriage, for families, for sin and salvation, or a need for a Savior. If Genesis is untrue, what basis do you have to trust any more of the book?
That's exactly the kind of argument that was leveled at Galileo. "If the Bible were wrong in so many places about the immovability of the earth, then it all comes unraveled, the people will lose faith, and there will be chaos everywhere." That's what they feared. As I've been saying, the struggle you're waging against evolution, for the very same reasons, has been waged 400 years ago. But we all accept the solar system, and our religion survives anyway.
I do not desire to get into a Catholic church debate on this thread. Suffice it to say, that I believe the Pope is completely wrong on this [the 1996 statement on evolution] and disagree that this is an "enlightened" attitude at all. It is apostacy, and I shudder for the damage it will do to the members of the Catholic faith.
Well, we shall see.
;^)