Posted by mntzion [mntzion] on November 26, 1999 at 12:14:59 {2lTH7z2znEi1Us5iQnLw9dahiI6DLo}:
In Reply to: *****Evolution Test posted by Cygnus on November 25, 1999 at 18:46:22:
Well I can't speak for "most" but I've read so much stuff on both sides of the issue and find that it is still a matter of "faith". Those who have faith that there is an "uncaused cause" and those that have equal faith to the contrary. I just finished an article by a mathematician who concluded there is a "god" that is omnipotent and demonstrated it by discussing and diagramitically debunking a previous mathematician who concluded the opposite using the same logic. So eventually it seems we beleive what we want to in the face of conflicting evidence.
I'm not a fence sitter on this one but acknowledge that there are many that find the idea of an old testament god unacceptable and rejecting this cosmology do not want to get into "believing" again as it would take something away from them. I think we have to get past the biblical sand box description of the universe and look for more inclusive ideas.
Perhaps the idea of Continental Drift is a possible metaphore. Most of the scientific community dismissed this idea as lunacy, yet over time not only did a variety of diciplines support the idea but once accepted as possible it began to explain many phenomena that were "mysteries" before. I am confident that as we abandon the idea of having to choose between the Old Testament Jehovah and atheism, there will be more acceptable constructs both theologically and scientifically.
mntzion