Greg, My problem with your concern is your implicit theology of prayer. You say that Gulley's concern has substance because one would not want to pray to a God who creates in evolutionary ways. Why not? I guess if you are praying to an intervening God who could deliver all the good things you need but for some reason, which escapes our thinking processes, chooses not to do so, you could then dismiss God with contempt. But if you are praying to an evolutionary God who works at keeping creativity, love and freedom as a single reality, then prayer is not about what God delivers and whether it is of benefit to the one praying, it is about communing with that Spirit who sustains us in our microcosm of the divine being. So Jesus prays as he journeys to the cross, "Father, if it be thy will, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but thine be done." (luke 22:42)
Jim Winn [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 23:25:01 +1000, you wrote: >Having a passionate interest and involvement in astronomy I have little time for >the theories of Creationists. Nevertheless, I was interested to read an article >in a Seventh Day Adventist magazine sent free to pastors of all denominations >called "Ministry". The magazine contained an article by Norman R. Gulley >entitled, "Is the Genesis Creation account literal?" > > > >Gulley raises some points which I easily dismiss as symptoms of Biblical >fundamentalism. However, he makes a point about the nature of a God who would >create in evolutionary ways. Gully quotes Northwestern University scientist, >David Hull, as saying that the evolutionary process is "rife with happenstance, >contingency, incredible waste, death, pain and horror. . The God implied by >evolutionary theory and the data of natural history . is not a loving God who >cares about His productions. He is . careless, indifferent, almost diabolical. >He is certainly not the kind of God to whom anyone would be inclined to pray." >Gulley himself later writes, "Why would God use an unjust "survival of the >fittest" method to create when justice is the foundation of His throne (Ps. >89:14)?" > > > >>From the point of view of science, I would have problems not accepting an >evolutionary development over billions of years. However, perhaps Gulley raises >an important theological point. So I would be interested in the points of view >of list members in response. The view of God as creator which we have is >important because redemption "in Christ" is understood as a new creation, >another creation ex nihilo, in the New Testament. > >Greg Crawford > > <http://www.nelsonbay.com/~gc/observatory.htm> >http://www.nelsonbay.com/~gc/observatory.htm > > ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/insights-l-information.htm ------------------------------------------------------
