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10th November 2003, 08:15 PM
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An OpEd piece in the Detroit News by Rabbi Aaron
Bergman titled "Embrace God's creation, but not creationism"
http://www.detnews.com/2003/editorial/0311/08/d07-319204.htm
starts out like this:
"I believe with all my heart and soul that God created the world. I
believe the Hebrew Bible is God's word to the world. I do not believe
the Bible is a science book describing God's literal process of
creating the world, nor do I believe God ever meant for it to be taken
that way. "
"In short, I accept the idea of creation, but reject the
pseudo-science of creationism as bad science and even worse theology."
It ends like this:
"All this being said, I do not want to give the impression that I
think evolution is the entire truth, either. I believe evolution
should be taught as our best current understanding of how the world
works. As we learn more, then the theories should evolve as well. If
it is true that God created us from apes, then so be it. It is not for
me to tell God how to create the world. Maybe God is teaching us a
lesson in humility. "
"God created an extraordinary and beautiful world. I cannot prove it,
and neither can anyone else. I do not want to force anyone else to
believe. All I can do is share my appreciation with my family and my
faith community. I do not want anyone else, including my public
schools, to tell me what I have to believe. "  |
10th November 2003, 10:11 PM
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10th November 2003, 11:00 PM
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Reps: 295,212,687,427,838,720 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by Drotar When it comes to OT Hebrew studies, I think twice about going against what they say.
But I'm sure someone "Filled with the spirit" is going to come in and tell us why this Rabbi is all wrong... :rolleyes: |
10th November 2003, 11:34 PM
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Reps: 307 (power: 0) | | | Vance-Excellent article! Thanks for sharing it with us.
__________________ None of the gods love wisdom or desire to become wise, for they are wise already -- nor if someone else is wise, do they love wisdom. Neither do the ignorant love wisdom or desire to become wise; for this is the grievous thing about ignorance, that those who are neither good nor beautiful nor sensible think they are good enough, and do not desire that which they do not think they are lacking.
Plato, Symposium 203E-204A
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10th November 2003, 11:40 PM
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Reps: 183 (power: 0) | | | I agree wholeheartedly about not going against Jewish scholars when talking about the OT.
Just a general point, but I have always been impressed by Jewish and Catholic theological scholarship and very unimpressed with modern day fundamental Protestant scholarship. They may be louder but the fundamentalists seldom seem learned. |
10th November 2003, 11:49 PM
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Reps: 2,759 (power: 0) | | | Very well written. The part about a lesson in humility was especially funny. I'll think of this rabbi everytime some fundy takes a "holier than thou" attitude with evolution. |
11th November 2003, 08:13 PM
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Reps: 18,396 (power: 33) | | | Yes, since humility is one of the great Christian virtues, YEC's should not need to be reminded of it by a Jewish Rabbi . . .
But, then again, wasn't the promoter of this humility 2000 years ago a Jewish Rabbi? |
11th November 2003, 09:32 PM
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Reps: 207 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by Chi_Cygni I agree wholeheartedly about not going against Jewish scholars when talking about the OT.
Just a general point, but I have always been impressed by Jewish and Catholic theological scholarship and very unimpressed with modern day fundamental Protestant scholarship. They may be louder but the fundamentalists seldom seem learned.
Yes, but *fundamental* protestant scholarship is a rare breed in theological circles. They just get alot of attention since they like to broadcast their contraversial opinions so loudly.
Many moderate protestant theologans have put forward *brilliant* insights on interpretations of scriptures along similar lines to this Rabbi. |
11th November 2003, 10:51 PM
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Reps: 18 (power: 0) | | Good piece, but the Rabbi isn't a scientist: Carbon dating works. It is verifiable and reproducible, if not for a thousand-year time span, then certainly for a million-year one.
Actually, no. Carbon dating is not at all verifiable on a million-year time span. Carbon-14 drops to undetectable levels in once-living things after 50,000 years or so. |
11th November 2003, 10:54 PM
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Reps: 207 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by DrLao Good piece, but the Rabbi isn't a scientist:Actually, no. Carbon dating is not at all verifiable on a million-year time span. Carbon-14 drops to undetectable levels in once-living things after 50,000 years or so.
True. Of course there are other radiometric and geological methods for dating older things.
At least he has the right attitude. | | |
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