Thank God for evolution?
That was part of a press release in an e-mail I received at the office just a few minutes ago regarding an upcoming appearance by Rev. Michael Dowd, author of the new book "Thank God for Evolution."
Scheduled appearances include the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro in Jamestown on Nov. 16.
"Grounded in mainstream science and preached with pentecostal fervor, the former anti-evolution fundamentalist turned evolutionary missionary shares a Gods eye view of everything from microbiology to supernovas," according to the press release. "His provocative program is inspiring evolutionary epiphanies among believers and non-believers alike, and liberating literalists left, right, and center."
Of course that is from a press release so take it for what it's worth, meaning this is his spin of course. I had never even heard of him, although I don't follow trends in religion that closely.
So what do you make of it? This guy the real deal, and, if so, do you buy what he's selling?
Comments (7)
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"So what do you make of it?".................
in the beginning God created...............
i think that covers it................................
Posted on October 31, 2008 6:34 PM
I think the author conceded that point. I think what he's driving at is not whether God created the universe, it's how God created the universe.
Posted on October 31, 2008 7:13 PM
"is not whether God created the universe, it's how God created the universe.".......................
"And God said"........... He spoke it into existence
Posted on November 1, 2008 6:23 PM
Re: "....He spoke it into existence."
What I find interesting is even the Catholic Church over the years has shied away from the debate.
It has taken a neutral stance, perhaps because arguing about the ingredients in a supreme being's cook book and how long God put the universe in the oven and at what temperature misses the point.
It took 6 steps to bake the universe and then God took a nap during the seventh step?
Or is it that God used so many steps it's inconceivable for us mere mortals to fathom?
Posted on November 2, 2008 8:05 AM
I checked the book out a few weeks ago and found it long on enthusiasm but short on science. The guy sounded distinctly new-agey to me. Going to his pep-rally to find support for evolution is like expecting the cheerleaders to play football instead of the athletes.
As for God "speaking the world into existence," God is a spirit according to John 4:24. What larynx did he use to make sounds? And how could they be heard in the vacuum of space? The Bible talks about his outstretched arm and the breath of his nostrils; do you really think God had a flesh-and-bone body when he "spoke it into being"? Haven't you heard of anthropomorphism (attributing physical characteristics in a symbolic way to a nonmaterial being)?
Posted on November 2, 2008 9:13 PM
"What larynx did he use to make sounds?"
first you limit Gods abilities.
are you stating that spirits cannot talk?
now let's look at what the scripture says in luke 4...."And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread." are you saying that the devil (satan) here is a flesh and blood entity? if you concede that satan is a spirit then your above argument doesn't make sense. any Christian who has studied scripture would tell you God is a Spirit.
and what do we make of matt. 17 where moses and elias came talking to Jesus not to mention in vs. 5 we see that God is speaking and when the disciples heard it they fell on their faces and were afraid. do you contend that mose , elias and God are spirits, if so then you argument is not valid
"anthropomorphism ".....big word......most probably used to throw us off the real word of God. i would ask you have you ever heard of faith. have a wonderful day :-)
Posted on November 3, 2008 7:01 AM
"Anthropomorphism" means metaphorically attributing human features or qualities to a non-human being. When Donald Duck is drawn with a sailor suit, or the animals in The Wind in the Willows wear clothes and serve each other tea, that's anthropomorphism. Presumably, Christians might say, a God of infinite power can shape air into sound waves which we can hear as words, but have you ever considered how a spiritual being -- that is, one not composed of atome -- can act upon the physical world at all? It takes an outside force to move an object at rest, Newton showed, so a force capable of moving the molecules of air so as to form words would have to exert some sort of force on the molecules; what would a being not composed of atoms use to do this?
As for whether I have heard of faith, don't assume things about people you don't know.
Posted on November 6, 2008 10:40 PM