My Fair Ladies And Gentlemen:
As an avid booster of the U.S.A. I hesitate to admit it, but Canada’s Expo 67 makes the recent New York and Seattle World’s Fairs seem like child’s play. On its refreshing St. Lawrence River site, the Montreal extravaganza offers scores of imaginatively designed pavilions filled with fascinating creations that make the mind reel at the genius of man.
The most impressive exhibits are Czechoslovakia’s almost poetic blend of national treasures, technological advancements, and intricate crafts; the Telephone Pavilion’s 360-degree film, “Canada 67”; and the Labyrinth, a unique combination of film, sound, and architecture that summons man “to slay the beast within himself.” The most disappointing: the U.S.A.’s collection of hokey memorabilia (old movie excerpts and props, guitars, branding irons, hats, pop art), the Soviet Union’s hard sell of its material achievements, and, alas, the Christian Pavilion.
The ecumenical Christian Pavilion attempts to present the Christian message in modern idiom. Visitors hear the sound of a thumping heart as they traverse three levels: (1) the everyday world of man’s life, (2) the broken world he has made, and (3) the new world of hope in the making. Level one accurately depicts life through many superb photographs: a crowd on Fifth Avenue, a child on a merry-go-round, a pianist performing under a conductor’s baton, a stripper displaying her wares. Level two movingly shows the horror of man’s sin in filmed records of war killings and bombings, emaciated corpses from concentration camps, book burnings, Ruby’s murder of Oswald, a self-immolation, and the destructive power of an A-bomb. Unfortunately, level three falls flat as it ambiguously combines scriptural fragments and contemporary scenes to present the Gospel. Designed to leave the visitor with more questions than he had when he entered, it accomplishes this. But it unfortunately does not call non-Christians to commit themselves to Jesus Christ. Once again “relevant” churchmen fail to communicate clearly the Bible’s message and thereby show their irrelevance. Christians can be thankful, however, that a filmed message by Leighton Ford at the “Sermons from Science” pavilion is reaching record-breaking numbers of people.
Fare-thee-well, EUTYCHUS III
Men, Monkeys, And Darwin
Many thanks for obtaining and printing the superb article, “Darwinism and Contemporary Thought,” by A. E. Wilder Smith (May 26). We need a continual flow of these technical truths stated in layman’s language to counter the contrary flood.
ROGER D. CONGDON
Professor of Bible and Theology
Multnomah School of the Bible
Portland, Ore.
While many of his comments were thought-provoking, others appear to be misleading. In particular, thermodynamic laws do not rule out the possibility of a spontaneous origin of life, contrary to the implication found at several points in the article. It is true that a closed system tends toward a net increase in disorder (entropy). But there is nothing to prevent part of a system from becoming more ordered if, simultaneously, another part becomes disordered. And the earth—with the sun a source of energy and empty space a heat sink—is not a closed system in the thermodynamic sense; herein lies the fallacy in the author’s argument.
I think Dr. Smith has made some cogent criticisms of the “spontaneous origin” position. These criticisms are not, however, strengthened by an improper attempt to ground them on the laws of physics. He criticizes certain scientists for stating their speculations as observed facts. I agree, but the rule should apply to the creationist as well as the Darwinist!
ROBERT B. GRIFFITHS
Assistant Professor of Physics
Carnegie Institute of Technology
Pittsburgh, Pa.
As a student in engineering, I especially appreciated the article. Thermodynamics may be beyond the grasp of some, but it speaks to me. I have a high regard for your magazine.
ALLEN HATCH
Columbia, S. C.
We find Dr. Wilder Smith’s article more provoking than provocative. While we share his concern that current biological principles not be misused in an attempt to disprove the existence of God, we feel that his argument is based upon a misunderstanding of the second law of thermodynamics.…
We hope that we shall not be construed as anti-theistic. Our concern is rather that, when a Christian bases his theism on what turns out to be an erroneous interpretation of physical principles, he tends to alienate rather than to evangelize the knowledgeable scientific community. We do agree with Dr. Wilder Smith to the extent that we firmly believe that God did create the world we scientists now seek to know, and above all we heartily concur in his joy that such a divine Intelligence should invite us “to know and love him by making himself understandable to us in God incarnate.”
DONALD H. STEVENS
JAMES H. VELLENGA
Cambridge, Mass.
Enjoyed particularly the article “Darwinism and Contemporary Thought.” Bravo!
I wrote a sixteen-page paper on “T. H. Huxley and Darwinism,” because I found that one of the chief factors in the rapid victory of Darwinism in England was Huxley’s persuasive tongue. The humanist motif of nature and freedom is extremely clear in his writings; on the one hand he believed nature’s mechanical character and on the other hand was religious “without theology.” Thus the ascent of nature—“progress”—needed “laws” governing its direction. This is precisely what natural selection did. Nature “herself” (he used the pronoun) guided life, onward and upwards, like the Alps, out of molten rock to glorious Man.
JOHN M. BATTEAU
Cambridge, Mass.
Darwinists are continually pointing out the several rough spots in a “Creation-idea,” some of which, I must admit, are somewhat valid. They, though, must be constantly reminded of the many gaping holes in an organic evolution proposal. One of these greatest inconsistencies was pointed out in your fine article. Anyone who falls hook, line, and sinker for organic evolution has to have as much “faith” (in something) as someone supporting Creation. You pay your money and take your choice.
JAMES R. NICHOLS
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Of Seminaries And Students
While Dr. Harold Lindsell’s article “Tensions in the Seminaries” (May 12) undoubtedly reflects a disturbing trend in seminaries across the country, I cannot help but feel that there is another side of the story which he left untold. There are theological schools (and Western Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary, on whose staff I serve, is by no means the only one) that are enjoying steady growth in enrollment, facilities, faculty competence, and curriculum development and are uncompromisingly committed to the integrity and authority of the Holy Scriptures as the deposit of God’s truth for the Church in every age.… God’s hand of blessing is so evident among us we do not have time for discouragement over “image identity” or “brain drain.” It is all we can do to keep up with the incomparably exciting challenge of training committed young people for the ministry of the Gospel of our living Lord.
W. ROBERT COOK
Dean of Student Affairs
Western Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary
Portland, Ore.
The major thrust of “Tensions in the Seminaries,” at the point where the seminaries were mentioned, appears to be that the university relationships have contributed to the confusion and seminaries are “in trouble and in transition.”
“Transition” they are in. But rather than disparage the conscience of the seminary students, as the writer appears to do, I find the students honest, creative, and willing to engage in sacrificial ministries and creative ministries in ways that go far beyond previous student generations.…
We are all re-forming theological education. The present dynamic situation presents an unparalleled opportunity for the seminaries. In this process I hope to see consolidation of facilities and programs within and across denominational lines (e.g., the Interdenominational Theological Center at Atlanta and the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley); more attention to spiritual formation of students; greater stress on learning in involvement (action-reflection) and utilization of educational resources of major universities.
American Baptists on the West Coast have made decisions, in the month of May, as the result of several years of study and planning, to develop a single board of control and a single administrative unit for the Berkeley Baptist Divinity School and California Baptist Theological Seminary.
LYNN LEAVENWORTH
Director, Department of Theological Education
American Baptist Board of Education and Publication
Valley Forge, Pa.
Are the six Southern Baptist Seminaries in this country, who enrolled 5,034 students in the 1965–66 year, so far [removed] from the theological scene that they do not even merit one jot or tittle of consideration either in your article or in your editorial?
L. ARTHUR NUNN
Coloma Way Baptist Church
Roseville, Calif.
[You say] that “the University of Southern California eliminated its seminary and started a graduate school of religion.” This is correct as far as it goes. But now one has to add that in 1966 USC also eliminated its graduate school of religion.…
What now exists under the name “school of religion” is neither a seminary nor a graduate school. It is headed by the university chaplain and seems to be preoccupied with such things as urban ecology.
ROBERT P. SCHARLEMANN
Associate Professor
School of Religion
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Theological Theatrics
Your editorial comment on the mockery of the Episcopal Theological School students (“Down, Jesus, Down,” May 26) was most appropriate and needful.… Many of us Episcopal priests, graduates of other seminaries, have often referred to ETS as the “Episcopal Theatrical School”; our facetious appelation has now been justified and vindicated beyond all expectation!
Although I am firmly opposed to COCU as set forth in “Principles of Unity,” it is indeed on much different grounds than those of the pusillanimous actors of ETS. I would like to forward a vicarious apology to the delegates of COCU in behalf of the Episcopal Church.
GERALD L. CLAUDIUS
St. John’s Episcopal Church
Kansas City, Mo.
Let us hope that the dean of the school had the grace to apologize for such irreverent behavior to the delegates and also, I should think, to God, who I am sure is offended by the action of those who claim to be called by him to shepherd the flock.
Such students will someday, undoubtedly, be turned loose to ravage the Church, but let us hope that the faithful laity will refuse to put up with such childish, blasphemous, and disrespectful behavior.
WILLIAM D. WHITE
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
Wickenburg, Ariz.
From New England With Thanks
For some time I have been receiving CHRISTIANITY TODAY from a friend. This has bothered me, and after picking up a free copy at the Park Street Missionary Conference (with application) I could wait no longer.
For many years I was a run-of-the-mill New England Congregationalist wallowing in the liberalism which has so nearly engulfed the churches of the Pilgrim heritage. All this changed when I started reading your journal. I cannot praise it enough! It is pure joy to read each issue and rejoice in your forthright stand for biblically based historic Protestantism.
RICHARD H. MAC KAY
Watertown, Mass.
Displaced Town
Although I really enjoyed David Coomes’s news item (“From Oberammergau to Britain,” May 26), I think it should be pointed out that Oberammergau is not in Austria but is in Germany, or rather in Bavaria, as many people would prefer to say.… So far as I know, it has always been here, nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Mr. Coomes came close, as just a few kilometers to the south and over the high ridges lies Austria and the breathtaking snow-capped peaks of the Austrian Alps.
JOHN A. CLARK
Chairman, Department of
Mechanical Engineering
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Mich.
