Evangelical Evolutionists Meet in New York
The most sobering moment for attendees of the Biologos "Theology of Celebration" conference in New York City, March 20–22, came when David Kinnaman of Barna Research presented findings on what U.S. Protestant pastors believe about creation. More than half profess a 6-day, 24-hour creation of life. Fewer than one in five, on the other hand, follow Biologos in affirming an evolutionary process as God's method of creation.
Knowing that they are in a minority among Protestants did not limit the gathering's enthusiasm. About 60 participants came by special invitation, with the proviso that their names would not be publicized without permission. This was intended to encourage open conversation on sensitive topics. Attending were such luminaries as N. T. Wright, Alister McGrath, John Ortberg, Tim Keller, Scot McKnight, Os Guinness, Joel Hunter, and Andy Crouch. Prominent scientists included Ian Hutchinson of MIT and Jennifer Wiseman, senior project scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope. Forty-one pastors and parachurch leaders participated.
Two previous meetings had focused primarily on scientific evidence for the evolutionary process, and on interpretations of the biblical Adam. This year's program centered on concerns for the church—especially for young people who feel torn between science and the Bible.
Few Christian colleges or seminaries teach young earth creationism (YEC), participants noted during discussion groups. But less formal, grassroots educational initiatives, often centered on homeschooling, have won over the majority of evangelicals. "We have arguments, but they have a narrative," noted Tim Keller. Both young earth creationists and atheistic evolutionists tell a story tapping into an existing cultural ...
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robert puharic
If radioactive dating is inaccurate, then Hiroshima never happened. Sorry, its the same physics. Creationists didn't even know atoms existed, let alone they could decay. Creationism had no role in the modern scientific revolution at all. Notice how the creationists drop out of the discussion as soon as you start talking science. ALL creationists are religious fanatics. ALL of them. It's a strange science that depends on your religion
Roger McKinney
vic, right! And if macro evolution were true, why aren't there billions of bones of transition animals and transitional animals alive today? Most text books devote a chapter to why the evidence doesn't exist, a bait-and-switch technique to distract students from the fact that the evidence doesn't exist!
Roger McKinney
Rick, the answer lies in a discussion of dating technologies. Y0u'll find a good scientific analysis in Walt Brown's book. Roger Lewin (an evolutionist and editor of a British journal of science) wrote in "Bones of Contention" about how unscientific the dating methods are. In summary, Lewin showed that labs will arrive at dates for rocks ranging from a few thousand years to several million and the paleontologist simply chooses the date closest to his assumptions.
RICK DALBEY
So Roger, we have a report today of evidence of early humans cooking 1 million years ago. We've found the man made tools and burned animal bones in a cave in South Africa. The previous early date for evidence of cooking was 400,000 years ago. I'm curious how YEC people like yourself explain this? http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/02/scientists-find-signs-o f-ancient-man-made-fire/?hpt=hp_bn13
vic jones
Evolution means change. No one denies that life evolve/change, young/old earth creationists and darwinists all believe this. What is suspect are fantastic claims by "evolutionists" - 1) No one has seen a rock turn into a toad. Such event would be considered miraculous or magical. But evolutionists say this has happened in the past. Show us a rock turn into a toad (or any animal). No magic tricks or illusions. 2) No one has seen a snake turn into a goat. Such event would be considered miraculous or magical. But evolutionists say this has happened in the past. Show us a snake turn into a goat. No magic tricks or illusions. 3) No one has seen a dog that can sing, dance and write like a human. Such event would be considered miraculous or magical. But evolutionists say human mental capacities have evolved. Show us a dog (or any animal) that can sing, dance and write poetry like a human. No magic tricks or illusions.