Evolution Sunday, Febraury 12

[Loudmouth]

At the Clergy Letter Project website they are advertising Evolution Sunday. They give the following statement about the intentions and goals of Evolution Sunday:

On 12 February 2006 hundreds of Christian churches from all portions of the country and a host of denominations will come together to discuss the compatibility of religion and science. For far too long, strident voices, in the name of Christianity, have been claiming that people must choose between religion and modern science. More than 10,000 Christian clergy have already signed The Clergy Letter demonstrating that this is a false dichotomy. Now, on the 197th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, many of these leaders will bring this message to their congregations through sermons and/or discussion groups. Together, participating religious leaders will be making the statement that religion and science are not adversaries. And, together, they will be elevating the quality of the national debate on this topic.

If your church would like to join this national event, please send a note to mz@uwosh.edu. We welcome your participation.

 

[GoSeminoles!]

A Huzzah! for all 10,000 clergy who support this project.

 

[HeWhoSearches]

Am I dreaming?

 

[Janus]

Am I dreaming?

I'll second that.

I only hope the media will cover this event honestly and thoroughly.

 

[Hydra009]

Am I dreaming?

lol, no. There's far more support for evolution among Christians and non-Christians than one might realize at first from the vocal minority of creationists, or a flare up here and there regarding the dreaded e-word. Science and religion are important to most people, and they aren't about to cut off the nose to spite the face.

I'm just suprised that many Christians decided to deal with it in the church in an organized event like this. That takes a lot of guts. The funniest part - something like this probably wouldn't have happened without the efforts of creationists in the public school system.

 

[truth above all else]

participating religious leaders will be making the statement that religion and science are not adversaries.

Absolutely,there can be no conflict between religion and science provided each is true and remains in the sphere which belongs to it by nature.

 

[FreezBee]

I'm just suprised that many Christians decided to deal with it in the church in an organized event like this. That takes a lot of guts. The funniest part - something like this probably wouldn't have happened without the efforts of creationists in the public school system.

Yes, you might be right - the decision may have come about as a way to prevent something even worse

Anyway, I think it's an ok initiative, and thanks to Loudmouth for informing us.


- FreezBee

 

[Opethian]

Damn. Our debating adversaries count will get lower and lower .

 

[Donkeytron]

Absolutely,there can be no conflict between religion and science provided each is true and remains in the sphere which belongs to it by nature.

I am going to go ahead and guess that you think science's "sphere" should be making DVDs look sharper and such, rather than anything having to do with the origins of life?

 

[Hydra009]

Yes, you might be right - the decision may have come about as a way to prevent something even worse

Definitely. Thomas Aquinas wasn't just blowing smoke when he said, "The truth of our faith becomes a matter of ridicule among the infidels if any Catholic, not gifted with the necessary scientific learning, presents as dogma what scientific scrutiny shows to be false."

 

[gluadys]

Definitely. Thomas Aquinas wasn't just blowing smoke when he said, "The truth of our faith becomes a matter of ridicule among the infidels if any Catholic, not gifted with the necessary scientific learning, presents as dogma what scientific scrutiny shows to be false."

Beautiful quote. I have just made it part of my signature.

 

[Late_Cretaceous]

Standard creationist response: Quote from Revelation that "many will be decieved" (then sit back and wait for Rapture).

 

[DailyBlessings]

Definitely. Thomas Aquinas wasn't just blowing smoke when he said, "The truth of our faith becomes a matter of ridicule among the infidels if any Catholic, not gifted with the necessary scientific learning, presents as dogma what scientific scrutiny shows to be false."

And Catholics and many other Christians do take this to heart. This meeting is an example, and there are others. Examine for instance how carefully the Vatican has distanced itself from the "Intelligent Design" movement- they have the sense not to attach their reputation to a so-called theory destined for ridicule. I wish more Christians had the same good sense... I remember once in a discussion with some friends in a crowded cafeteria, I remarked that "Scientific Creationism is easily the gravest threat to the future of Christianity". I must have been speaking louder than I realized because several of the tables around me started clapping... and this was at a Christian high school! There are at least some nonfundamentalist Christians who take this very seriously.

 

[ImmortalTechnique]

i can't wait to see how Fox new covers this

 

[Hydra009]

My old church (United Methodist) is very much the same way. They aren't on the list, even though other churches in the area are, but from my impression there, they're very much TE, to the point of YEC being virtually unheard of.

I agree, I don't understand how some people think that creationism doesn't hurt Christianity. When someone attaches their religious beliefs to an idea about the nature world which has already been disproven, it's like tying oneself to an anvil and then tossing the anvil off a boat. It's just setting oneself up for huge problems down the road: either eventual deconversion or a perpetual fear of science and ignorance about it. Who would seriously want that for oneself, let alone encourage it in others?

 

[ImmortalTechnique]

deconversion may not have been so easy for me if I hadn't been indoctrinated with YEC garbage... ugh, I still remember arguing with my High School biology teacher with Hovindisms

 

[Dale]

Donkeytron in post #9:
<< I am going to go ahead and guess that you think science's "sphere" should be making DVDs look sharper and such, rather than anything having to do with the origins of life? >>


Naw. Making DVD's look sharper is just engineering.

 

[MemeBuster]

Absolutely,there can be no conflict between religion and science provided each is true and remains in the sphere which belongs to it by nature.

But these two spheres do overlap and that's where science can scrutinize religions, which often leads to undermining religions' credibility and plausiblity.

For example, just like Christians use the teleological argument to point out that there must be a god, we can use science to study the plausibility and rationality of god's existence.

Science does not care about religion in one way or another. Science is not for or against religion. However, we live in a universe that does not have much room for supernatural and omnimax gods. Science simply enables us to see this.

Science is not out to get religion, but the problem is that many contemporary gods are at least in part gods-of-the-gaps. Science shrinks these gaps and this is were the friction between science and religion comes from.

But my point is that there is in fact a friction between science and religion.

MB.

 

[DailyBlessings]

But these two spheres do overlap and that's where science can scrutinize religions, which often leads to undermining religions' credibility and plausiblity.

And religion can criticise science as well, especially when scientists in their objectivity unwittingly aid in unethical actions.

 

[truth above all else]

But my point is that there is in fact a friction between science and religion.

MB.

I expect from science that knowledge it is capable of giving- not a philosophy of life