Paul: > I hope that you didn't get the impression that I > was saying something like that -
Not at all. I have for the most part very much enjoyed this thread. It has been refreshing to discuss these issues in a more collegial manner. > However, I don't think that the question of > whether or not "there is a higher supernatural > force behind the process" is really outside the > realm of science. Science is in the business of > explaining natural phenomena. It has been spectacularly > successful at doing so, and in a remarkably short period > of time. If we've got a good natural explanation, then the > task of explanation does not also require us to invoke > a "higher supernatural force". I wonder, though, if supernatural and natural forces are mutually exclusive or if both could coexist. When I see lightning, I don't assume that some God up in the clouds is expressing his anger. I recognize and understand the various physical laws that govern meteorological phenomonenon. In other words, I know lighting is caused by a natural force. That explanation doesn't negate, however, the possibility that a higher supernatural force created (and I'm not using the term "created" in a creationism sense) these natural forces. But again, this to me is a theological issue and not something that belongs in a science classroom. > Scientific sorts (like most of us here, I suspect) are so > caught up in our curiosity and our drive for explanation > that we often forget that there are people - perhaps the > vast majority of people - who are far less curious and far > more interested in having neat, understandable, final answers. And I hope you weren't thinking that those with a theological bent can not also be scientific. I don't think you were. I too am very curious for explanations of the world around us, particularly explanations regarding human behavior. > in a battle for attention between the difficult answers offered > by science and the nicely wrapped up easy answers (to questions > about natural phenomena) offered by religion, science doesn't > stand a chance. It's like offering children apples and milk on > the one hand, and candy and soda on the other hand. The preprocessed > stuff, packaged up intentionally to "sell" is going to win out every > time, in this case at the cost of the ongoing progress in understanding > that has made so much of life so much better. I agree with you to a point on this topic. I would hope that the church would not stick its collective head in the sand in light of clear scientific evidence. Unfortunately I know that they often do this, particularly on issues related to creation versus evolution. But again, religion does not always have easy answers. The whole situation of 9/11 is an example of that. I think some people might dogmatically try to blame that tragedy on one or two factors (as Robertson and Falwell tried to do), but I think most of us who profess a theistic worldview recognize that those types of situations are much more complex and multidimensional that some would have us believe. Even the comments of President Bush, who blamed the event on "evildoers," offered an overly simplistic answer to the problem. Faith-based communities have been wrestling over the question of evil since the beginning of time. And I don't think our religion offers us any more satisfactory answers today than we did back then. Just my ramblings on a rainy morning. Paul, I have enjoyed your comments on this thread! Rod ______________________________________________ Roderick D. Hetzel, Ph.D. Department of Psychology LeTourneau University Post Office Box 7001 2100 South Mobberly Avenue Longview, Texas 75607-7001 Office: Heath-Hardwick Hall 115 Phone: 903-233-3312 Fax: 903-233-3246 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage: http://www.letu.edu/people/rodhetzel --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.325 / Virus Database: 182 - Release Date: 2/19/2002 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
