Monday, November 06, 2006

Call Me a Dinosaur III




Hi John,
Thank you for your encouraging words. Did you catch the comics this week? I attached one that you might enjoy...coincidence? I think not.

So, what did you think about Elser's arguments against creationism being called science?


Natalie

~*~


Hey Natalie!

You are certainly welcome : )

And thank YOU for the comic - it sure demonstrates one particularly luney side of evolution.

As for Dr. Elser's arguments, listening to him in lecture and reading his posts on discussion board can be quite aggrevating, to be honest. But I've noticed that he rarely answers a question directly, but he rather "intelletually sidesteps" the issue by blurting out a lot of nonsensical and circular arguments. For example, he is correct in stating that Creationism is not science - but only according to HIS definition of science. He even pointed out that one of the philosophical assumptions about science is that it tries to explain everything naturally. If we are to define science by "the study of what can be observed," then the starting point of Creationism is NOT scientific. However, when we apply the same line of argument, neither is macroevolution. Neither can be observed or repeated ;)

So then, both the Creationist and the evolutionist have a "non-scientific" starting point. Therefore each has its own framework of assumptions when viewing the facts (the data is always the same - granted that it's accurate - so only the interpretation differs according the presuppositions).

And so the problem the evolutionist runs in to is that since he believes that EVERYTHING in the universe can have a scientific explanation, he runs into a wall of faith that then forces him to twist the data into his framework of assumptions. It's like trying to jam a jigsaw puzzle piece into another one that does not fit - but you try anyway you don't like the picture on the box, thinking it doesn't fit with your beliefs about how it should look and work .

I believe it was G.K. Chesterton who said that modern man has battered his head against that wall to knock it down with his "superior" intellect, yet he has succeeded only in cracking his skull. ; )

Ok, I'll stop rambling now. But I'd love to talk to you about these issues sometime. Stay strong in your faith! See you Thursday!

Have a great week,

-John


"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying 'where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.'

For when they maintain this it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of a water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men...

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

-2 Peter 3:3-9

4 comments:

Amy said...

Wow John!
I loved her reply back to her. and you're right...macroevolution and creationism both cannot be science according to his definition. Thanks for posting this!

Amy said...

I mean YOUR reply back to her! SORRY!

rustypth said...

You are a Dinosaur

rustypth said...

and ... great exchange with your Prof =)