Sunday, May 22, 2011

College, Christianity, and Change Part 2

Prior to college, I read The Case for the Creator by Lee Strobel, so I'd have a good response for the godless evolutionists. Also, since I was home educated, all my science textbooks were filled with YEC dogma. I mention this only to emphasize that I was well-grounded in Creationist pseudoscience prior to my time in college.

However, as I mentioned in my last post, my own observations started to conflict with YEC dogma. I couldn't find a satisfying answer to this conflict in YEC resources. I, therefore, decided to investigate the other side. After reading a number of blog posts on this issue and the bookWhy Evolution is True by Coyne, I became fully convinced of common descent and an 4.5 billion year old earth.

Although the evidence for evolution is impressive (esp, the genetic evidence), my rejection of Creationism was based more on the critical study of the Bible. I find it incomprehensible that an individual can read Giglamesh or Enuma Elish and still cling to the claim that the Bible is scientifically accurate.

Now, even with the rejection of Creationism, I was still fully convinced that theism is not disproven by evolutionary science. I did and do find scientific reductionism to be philosophically shallow and incompatible with reality as I experience it.

However, over time, I began to see the extent to which Christian theology (esp. the typical Evangelical understanding of the Bible) must change in order to accommodate modern science. This lead me to the exploration of higher criticism and the issues of inspiration and inerrrancy, which will be the subject of my next post.

5 comments:

  1. Wow, you have come a long way from when I first started chatting with you on this blog. And I think it is important to understand that your beliefs 10 years from now will be different from today.

    That alone, should make it clear that a religion based on belief is fundamentally mistaken.

    Peace bro. Good to see ya posting again.
    Glad you weren't raptured.

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  2. Sabio,

    I'm not sure you'll even read this, but I apologize for my delayed response.

    This blog ranks rather low on my priority list (although I do hope to change that).

    "That alone, should make it clear that a religion based on belief is fundamentally mistaken."

    Not tracking with the logic of that comment.

    Anyway, thanks for stopping by!

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  3. You are welcome. Maybe my comment will make more sense 10 years from now. :-)

    You were daydreaming of living abroad -- is that going to happen?

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  4. Hey Sabio,

    I'd still love to experience another culture, but currently I'm not aware of any feasible opportunities.

    Thanks for asking!

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