Episode 24: Origins Debate: General Categories (Continued)

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Del curso dictado por University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

25 calificaciones

University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

25 calificaciones

This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary. Topics include: Science and Religion Categories and Foundational Principles, Definitions of Science and Religion, Science-Religion Models and Relationships, Intelligent Design and Natural Revelation, the Galileo Affair, Geology and Noah’s Flood, Evolution and Darwin’s Religious Beliefs, the Modern “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate, the Problem of Evil, and Interpretations of the Biblical Accounts of Origins in Genesis 1-11. The course employs a Constructive Teaching Style in order that students can develop their personal views on the relationship between science and religion and on each of the topics listed above. St. Joseph's College is a Catholic, undergraduate, liberal arts college on the University of Alberta campus. It is an independent institution that is affiliated with the University of Alberta.

De la lección

Categories & Principles II & III

In this final section on Categories and Principles, we will consider foundational and religious epistemological (theory of knowledge) categories. In particular, does a belief in God, or a lack of belief in God, impact the step of faith or intellect jump in the Metaphysics-Physics Principle? This week also introduces the second foundational principle of this course termed “The Message-Incident Principle.” This is a hermeneutical principle for interpreting religious texts dealing with statements about the natural world. In order to develop a peaceful relationship between Science and Religion, it is critical to understand that religious texts like the Bible feature an ancient understanding of nature (i.e., an ancient science). During this week we also outline the basic positions on the origin of the universe and life—Young Earth Creation, Progressive Creation, Evolutionary Creation, Deistic Evolution, and Dysteleological Evolution.

Episode 14: Philosophy: Epistemological Categories4:54

Episode 15: Philosophy: Epistemological Categories (Continued)6:16

Episode 16: Philosophy: Epistemological Categories (Continued)6:01

Episode 17: Hermeneutical Categories5:40

Episode 18: Eisegesis, Exegesis & Hermeneutical Horizons8:46

Episode 19: Hermeneutical Gaps & Biblical Inerrancy5:33

Episode 20: Categories of Biblical Statements7:16

Episode 21: Categories of Poetic Language & Phenomenological Perspective4:57

Episode 22: Categories of Biblical Concordism & Correspondence6:45

Episode 23: The Message-Incident Principle & Origins Debate: General Categories6:25

Episode 24: Origins Debate: General Categories (Continued)6:39

Episode 25: Origins Debate: Specific Categories5:34

Episode 26: Practical Considerations5:43

Episode 27: Conclusion: Categories & Principles 1-35:08

Episode 28: Conclusion: Categories & Principles 1-3 (Continued)3:11

Hebrew Alphabet8:34

Conoce a los instructores

Denis Lamoureux
Associate Professor
St. Joseph's College

Episode 24.

Our next general origins category is evolution.

The common definition of this term means a natural process of

molecules to humans through blind chance only.

This is another regrettable conflation,

whereby atheism is blended with evolution and passed

off as THE evolutionist position and the scientific position.

The academic definition of the term evolution refers to

a scientific theory that describes natural processes that produced the heavens,

the Earth, and all living organisms including humans.

In your notes, you have a short summary of the evolution of animals and plants,

beginning from simple molecules.

It's important to note that science does not deal with whether or

not there is a God behind the evolutionary process.

This is because metaphysical why questions are not part of science.

Darwinism is another problematic term.

The common definition of this word is that it means atheistic evolution.

But again, this is another conflation.

Atheism is blended with Darwin giving the impression that Darwin was an atheist.

However, Darwin never was an atheist.

Late in life, only a few years before his death,

he writes in Quote 21:

"I have never been an atheist in the sense of denying the existence of God."

So we need to set the record straight on Darwin's beliefs, and in particular,

we need to correct this misguided term 'Darwinism'.

It's also worth noting that the term Darwinism is not often used in biology.

For example, a computer search of biological abstracts between 2011 and 2015

reveals that the word evolution appears over

93,000 times while the term Darwinism, only 151.

That's a ratio of 620:1.

So my suggestion is this: don't use

the term Darwinism, because it misrepresents Charles Darwin,

and it only causes confusion.

Now that we're equipped with some academic categories,

it is possible to start re-categorizing origins.

And we can begin by asking some questions to move us beyond

the origins dichotomy in the so-called evolution versus creation debate.

For example, is evolution teleological or dysteleological?

Is it possible to be both a creationist and an evolutionist?

Please turn to page 9 in your class handouts.

The common assumption held by

both religious and non-religious people is that evolution is necessarily dysteleological.

But let's think outside the box.

Why couldn't evolution be a teleological process,

in that there is a creator who ordained and sustained

this natural process to create everything around us?

If someone believed this,

they would be both an evolutionist and also a creationist,

and they would hold to a teleological view of evolution.

This is my view of origins.

Here's a little tip for religious people who might be struggling

with the idea of God using evolution as his creative method.

Think about when God created you in your mother's womb.

Did God come out of heaven and attach an arm or a leg to your developing body?

I don't think so.

Most religious people believe that God created us through his

ordained and sustained natural process of embryology.

So, clearly, God uses natural processes to create.

Well then, why can't there be another natural process which scientists call evolution?

And God ordained and sustained this process to create the entire world, including us.

Let's now consider this re-categorization of origins paradigm,

in the light of the Metaphysics-Physics Principle.

As we noted in episode 13,

there are reciprocal steps of faith between

our ultimate metaphysical beliefs, and our scientific theories.

In taking an upward step of faith from the evolutionary evidence,

we can arrive at the belief that evolution reflects either teleology or dysteleology.

Inversely, by holding a belief in either teleology or dysteleology,

we can take a downward step of faith and view

evolution through the eyes of these metaphysical beliefs.

Most importantly, whether a person views evolution as either teleological

or dysteleological, a step of faith is needed.

Therefore, we are believers in some sort of belief.

In continuing with the origins debate,

we can now introduce some specific categories.

There are three basic evolutionary sciences.

Cosmological evolution is the scientific theory that has

discovered that 3.8 billion years ago,

there was a massive explosion which is termed 'the Big Bang',

from which emerged space,

time and matter and eventually led to the evolution of stars,

planets, moons, and galaxies etc.

Geological evolution is the theory that 4.5 billion years ago,

planet Earth was formed.

Natural processes such as erosion, volcanic activity,

and the movement of continents have caused the Earth to evolve and change over time.

And finally, evolutionary biology is

the scientific theory that about 3.8 billion years ago,

inert molecules self-assembled into living cells,

from which evolved plants and animals, including humans.

End of episode.

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