The Reasonable Minority

This week I read two books which I found both enlightening and well
reasoned. The first was "The Language of God" by Francis Collins and
"The Design Revolution" by William Demski.

While Collins accepts evolution and an old earth he is also an
evangelical christian and a consumate scientist educated in physics,
chemistry, biology, and medicine. He has little respect for people
like Dawkins.

Demski likewise has significant credentials in math, philosophy,
information theory and yes theology.

These two men are not in agreement intotality but certainly have
respect, honesty, sincerity and good scholarship on their side, as
well as being fine wrtiters and presenters.

Dr. Collins was kind enough to email a very civil and warm response to
me concerning certain questions I have regarding his positions.

As a formal student in the History of Science and associated
discliplines of philosophy, critial thinking and such I am chagrined
that people ignore the history of the last 500 years in which religion
and science were quite well behaved one toward the other in majority,
great thinkers and practioners were integrated in both endeavors and
quite accomplished in both.

The poles apart, cynical, rabid, outliers which dominate public debate
presently are quite the opposite and not in the strict tradition of
open inquiry, critical thinking, rational debate and mutual respect
that history presents.

For my part I admit to losing my cool in these sorts of forums and
succumbing to a sort of lowest common denominator rhetoric at times.

I hope to do better.

If B.B.Warfield, Asa Grey, and Francis Collins can find common ground
with their faith and evolution, I should at the least remain open and
well read.

If Remine, Demski, and several others can present well reasoned
arguments for ID I want to consider sincerely those as well.

I expect the closed minded ones in the extreme endpoints of each side
to remain as they are and I can certainly deal with them, hopefully
with respect and understanding...life is rather complex and personal
experiences do shape us all.

I anticipate a day when public discussion is more civil, science and
theology return to the mainstream of history, positions are not set in
concrete, not so self assured, not closed to the possibility that they
may not have all the truth and that some truth is in the other camp.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: The Reasonable Minority
    ... "The Design Revolution" by William Demski. ... essential to understanding evolution and evolutionary processes. ... As a formal student in the History of Science and associated ... If B.B.Warfield, Asa Grey, and Francis Collins can find common ground ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: The Reasonable Minority
    ... "The Design Revolution" by William Demski. ... While Collins accepts evolution and an old earth he is also an ... As a formal student in the History of Science and associated ... If B.B.Warfield, Asa Grey, and Francis Collins can find common ground ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: The Reasonable Minority
    ... "The Design Revolution" by William Demski. ... While Collins accepts evolution and an old earth he is also an ... As a formal student in the History of Science and associated ... If B.B.Warfield, Asa Grey, and Francis Collins can find common ground ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: The Reasonable Minority
    ... "The Design Revolution" by William Demski. ... While Collins accepts evolution and an old earth he is also an ... As a formal student in the History of Science and associated ... If B.B.Warfield, Asa Grey, and Francis Collins can find common ground ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: The Reasonable Minority
    ... "The Design Revolution" by William Demski. ... While Collins accepts evolution and an old earth he is also an ... As a formal student in the History of Science and associated ... If B.B.Warfield, Asa Grey, and Francis Collins can find common ground ...
    (talk.origins)