Re: The Reasonable Minority

Evopeach wrote:

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.

Really? Does he actually say that? I can see how he might not like
Dawkins' theology, but how could he not respect Dawkins' scientific work?

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

So? And what are his significant credentials in information theory, exactly?

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.

I doubt that. Who respects Dembski? Who claims he is honest, sincere,
and/or scholarly? Does Collins have an expressed opinion on Dembski?

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

What did he say?

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.

Are you really a formal student in the history of science? I would
interpret that to mean that you're enrolled in a degree program
somewhere. Mind saying where?

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.

I wonder whether Collins would consider Dembski as one of the rapid
outliers. Do you have any evidence on that?

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.

If.

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 generally find that "extremists" are always defined as people who are
far from your position. Everyone, to himself, is apparently in the
rational middle ground. Is there any reason to pay attention to the
"extremist" label in itself? Or should one perhaps be prepared to argue
for one's position on its own merits?

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.

All very nice, but some positions are indeed true. How will we tell
which they are? How do we recognize the reasonable minority? Oddly, I
would count myself in that group, and Dawkins too. What argument do you
have that I'm wrong?

.

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