Christopher Benson has a new post called, "The Future of the Science and Religion Debate." (link to post - not recommended) Benson argues that, "Christians can achieve a “synthetic middle ground” in the debate if they get a better handle on the vocations of science and religion and a more robust doctrine of creation." But Benson, in a quotation from Giberson, defines this synthetic middle ground as a position "where one might simultaneously embrace a science shorn of its over-reaching scientism and a faith freed from a simplistic biblical literalism."
Why on earth would I want to compromise Biblical literalism? What good is a synthesis of truth (that God created the world in six days) and error (anything else)?
According to Benson, the apparent reason would be to avoid negative perception from unbelievers: "A Pew Forum poll conducted in 2007 showed that only 25% of evangelicals believe in evolution and 10% in evolution through natural selection––a statistic that puts them at odds with the scientific consensus, reinforcing the cultural perception of Christian anti-intellectualism. The New Atheists have emerged, defining the terms of engagement in the debate on science and religion. And the Intelligent Design crowd has lost its stamina, becoming a scientific embarrassment."
Guess what, there are some other things that are contrary to the scientific consensus:
1) Noah's Flood
2) The Plagues on Egypt
3) The Crossing of the Red Sea
4) Manna from Heaven
5) The Crossing of the Jordan
6) The Battle of Jericho
...
7) The Virgin Birth
8) The Resurrection of Lazarus
9) The Resurrection of Jesus
...
I could list many more. The scientific consensus is that there are no miracles. It's not there are miracles only about things less amazing than creating the world in six days. It's worse than stupid to compromise the truth of Scripture for the sake of being more well-liked by unbelievers.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
-TurretinFan
Saturday, August 07, 2010
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13 comments:
This is one of my favorite posts from you. You didn't hold back this time.
I'm far more embarrassed by the 25% who believe in evolution. I have heard many times the phrase "believe in evolution", with no hint that the proclaimer comprehends the irony in the phrase.
What, TF holding back! Hog wash! :)
TF, you asked: Why on earth would I want to compromise Biblical literalism?
Well, for one thing, I want to be right all the time cause I have a reputation to uphold and if I couldn't compromise it, well, I couldn't be right all the time!
In fact, I could say this isn't Truth then:
Luk 20:16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Surely not!"
Luk 20:17 But he looked directly at them and said, "What then is this that is written: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?
Luk 20:18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him."
One way or the other and there simply is no room for error or a middle of the road approach, I die to self or I am crushed!
Pfft...
The irony is, of course, that the unbeliever can't even do actual science apart from secretly borrowing from the Christian theistic worldview as Van Til and Bahnsen, among others, have proven time and again.
What's being described is idol of scientism masquerading as science.
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; - 1 Cor. 1:27
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. laiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Rom. 1:20-23
They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. - Jer. 2:5b
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. - 1 John 5:21
It sounds like Chris Benson has been spending too much time readint the drivel at BioLogos; with friends like that actual believers don't need enemies!
In Him,
CD
Guess what, there are some other things that are contrary to the scientific consensus:
1) Noah's Flood
I had no idea that the scientific community denied the existence of the last ice age, but let atheists think what they wish...
apparently it's in our genes to be irrational: http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/05/the-limits-of-reason.html?from=rss
"I had no idea that the scientific community denied the existence of the last ice age, but let atheists think what they wish..."
Noah's flood, not some ice age.
NatAmLLC:
Good point. One could take it a step further. One can either build on the Rock, seeking refuge in it, or one will be destroyed by the Rock, either by crashing into it, or being crushed by it.
-TurretinFan
All references to a "Great Flood" world-wide refer to the end of last ice age.
TF,
Didn't you know that we have to care a great deal what unbelievers think about us? I mean, who will hear the gospel if they hate us?
We have to make them like US first, before we can hope to make them like Jesus.
Or have you entirely missed the point of modern evangelicalism?
/sarcasm
Luka,
What a strange idea!
So Lvka, does this mean that you don't believe in a worldwide flood that covered the whole earth, as described in the Bible?
(But you DO believe in things like the "holy fire of Jerusalem" or wonder-working icons...)
(But you DO believe in things like the "holy fire of Jerusalem" or wonder-working icons...)
LOL!
*Sung to the tune of "Nothing but the Blood"'
"What can take away my grief?
Just my wonder-working icon;
What can bring my soul relief?
Just my wonder-working icon.
Refrain
Oh! precious is the face
That I see most everyplace;
No other pic I know,
Just my wonder-working icon.
Take a look it's SO 2-D,
Just my wonder-working icon;
So don't proof-text Deuteronomy,
Just my wonder-working icon.
Refrain
It's nothing like Rome's rags and bones,
Just my wonder-working icon;
It's the face we've always known,
Just my wonder-working icon.
Refrain
Jesus Christ, He gazes at me,
Just my wonder-working icon;
From the walls of the EOC,
Just my wonder-working icon.
Refrain
By a glance I feel set free—
Just my wonder-working icon,
A beatific vision just for me—
Just my wonder-working icon.
Refrain
Glory! Glory! In that visage!
Just my wonder-working icon,
No, it's not a graven image!!
Just my wonder-working icon.
Refrain
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