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[Phys-L] Re: god friendly science



-----Original Message-----

From: John Clement [mailto:clement@HAL-PC.ORG]

Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 10:59 PM

Subject: Re: god friendly science

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There was an article about 20 years ago by the Vatican's astronomer=
in


which he explains evolution, and states that there is no conflict=
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between the Roman church and either cosmology or evolution. I thin=
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that you will find that all of the mainline churches, RC, Episcopal=
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Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran (non Missouri Synod), and even so=
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Baptist churches have made peace with science, and also take a non=
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literal view of the non historical parts of the bible (Genesis to=
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after the flood). However within each of these churches there are=
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groups which may take a more literal view.

Unlike

the first 5 churches mentioned Baptists are very congregational wit=
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weak centralized authority and the theology actually can vary from =
one


church to the next.

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Among Baptists (I am one), theology usually varies somewhat from one
_person_ to the next. But conservatives and moderates have been
separating themselves into distinct congregations for many years now,
especially in southern border states. The most vocal in our faith
community have argued that without a literal Adam, Eve, serpent, and
fall from grace, the central message of the gospels (that Jesus died =
for
our sins) is obviated. This interesting question has, of course, bee=
n
asked outside Baptist circles and troubled many.

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My favorite discussions of Christian belief from a scientific
perspective and of science from a Christian perspective, come from
physicist John Polkinghorne. He is a fellow of the Royal Society, an=
d
an ordained priest in the Church of England. Some of you may enjoy T=
he
Faith of a Physicist, if only to see how one can wrestle with the
questions raised by the interaction of faith and science.

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If I may, an excellent forum for religion/science questions is
soc.religions.christian. This is a moderated group that you can reac=
h
through Google's usenet interface. Conversations there are usually
respectful and intelligent, although only a few lurkers have a strong
background in science.

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--

Rodney Dunning

Assistant Professor of Physics

Birmingham-Southern College

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