It does not discredit anything God has done. You are creating a caricature.
I had a discussion with a creationist friend a while ago. He told me that to consider that God created using evolution and natural processes "took away from the glory of God". My response was to ask him if God's glory had diminished because we were able to track the natural processes that produced a human being from conception to birth. His response was "of course not", but I could tell that the thought bothered him.
I do understand that ID does not teach nor intend to imply this principle. I am saying that, by way of assigning higher value to the glory of God in the supernatural, you cannot help but assign a lower value to the natural.
The existence of natural law is, in itself, a miracle. The sheer complexity of it all points to a creator. The natural AND the supernatural are both equal testaments to His glory.
Yes, I agreed earlier. My distinction between the natural and the truly miraculous still holds.
Consider this: what is the utility of the natural? What is the utility of the supernatural?
The utility of the natural is that it provides a repeatable basis for discovery and advancement. I'm a firm believer that "subdue the earth" means far more than just living on it. If gravity was supernaturally given and not subject to repeatable law, then travel to distant planets or even our own moon would be impossible. There is so much possible because we can depend on God's natural law to be consistent; nature is packed with God's secrets, ready for us to uncover when we're ready.
What is the utility of the supernatural? It is for our faith. We know what is possible and what is not, and the supernatural shows us that our God is sovereign over all things. The miracles in the bible are, with very few exceptions, done through a human interceder with great faith who credits the miracle to God. A literal creation would be the only miracle listed in scriptures without a human audience. Creation does not need an audience. Scripture only mentions two entities who are able to disobey God of their own free will, fallen angels and man. If creation obey's God's every command, then there is scant need for God to use supernatural force after setting things in motion; they will simply flow as He intended like the dominoes falling. I don't believe God needs to "correct" his path once it's set if there is no agent of free will involved.
God's creating using purely physical means makes absolute sense if one fact is true: God intends for us to discover His creation. I believe this is so. Why did God waste billions of years and use such complicated processes to implement His will? Because He has opened up the universe to us, to be discovered and utilized, and because of that the timeframe and methods were necessary.
Again, we agree. I'm a firm believer in God's omniscient middle knowledge. The fact remains He does intervene with true miracles, and that He has left traces of evidence for those who wish to see. Why? I have no idea why. I just know with no doubt whatsoever that He has both a natural revelation and special revelation. No one, none, have any excuse for not seeing His glory, not the brilliant atheist physicist nor the person who struggles with basic arithmetic.
Well put.
I will not, and never have diminished, the importance of faith. It is a cornerstone of Christianity. Christ requires no scientific or logical reasoning ability whatsoever to be saved. He can't "lest any man should boast". Still, there is evidence for a thinking rational man to conclude that not only does God exist, but that He is a personal God who is involved with His creation.
Again, I agree.
