tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-883829097236138163.post7368358617635398535..comments2023-10-21T06:29:15.456-04:00Comments on I think, therefore I blog.: DualismJameson Graberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295353443322403779noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-883829097236138163.post-47386230150396332332009-06-30T13:40:37.534-04:002009-06-30T13:40:37.534-04:00Agreed. These issuesof literalism and faith have...Agreed. These issuesof literalism and faith have always been pressing for me as well because my father is a physicist as well as all the males in my family, and I grew up appreciating advances in science. I've read Calvin's institutes and much of his philosophy is grounded in theory and not practical application. It's not that I worship science, but historically, religion has greatly impeded technological advancement.<br /><br />These days, Christians trust doctors to deliver their babies and prescribe insulin, but the very mention of carbon dating shuts them down. I always wonder why God would allow his world to appear older than 6 thousand years, if he had wanted to convey a Young Earth concept. Is God tricking his people?<br /><br />I still keep somewhat of an open mind on this issue, but I sway more in the direction of Old Earth.A. Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15112138242837715900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-883829097236138163.post-68697248020957744402009-06-29T22:42:43.212-04:002009-06-29T22:42:43.212-04:00Thanks for reading my blog! The issue of interpret...Thanks for reading my blog! The issue of interpreting creation is a sticky issue for me, being a member of a conservative Christian denomination but also being part of the scientific community (I think math grad student counts). Personally, my view of the creation story is that it is a starting point for thinking about the world in relation to the purpose for which God made it. The story tells us that creation is good, yet subordinate to God. It is meant to be used for what is right, and cared for diligently. The six days of creation, plus a day of Sabbath rest, are echoed in the Jewish calendar, signifying that the work we do ought to mirror God's work of creation. I think these fundamental ideas about the meaning and purpose of creation, not the scientific particulars, are the valuable things we gain from Genesis.<br /><br />I respect people who revere the Bible (because they revere God) enough to believe it word for word no matter what science tells us. But I'm with Francis Collins when I say that there are many things in science which, if the Bible is held to a strict interpretation, would seem to make God out to be a liar. I can't accept that God is a liar, so I just let the Bible say what it says without trying to learn science from it.Jameson Graberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01295353443322403779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-883829097236138163.post-59091679884314794522009-06-29T14:54:07.911-04:002009-06-29T14:54:07.911-04:00My friend Lisa directed me to your blog. I agree ...My friend Lisa directed me to your blog. I agree wholeheartedly with your statement, especially in that I see little evidence for dualism in the Old Testament; particularly in it's usage of the Hebrew word "nephesh" (soul). Dualism in Christianity seems heavily influenced by pagan philosophy.<br /><br />Great blog! I'd be curious as to your interpretation of the creation, being that you probably oppose Calvin's 6 literal 24 hour days.A. Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15112138242837715900noreply@blogger.com