Thoughts on Evolutionary Creation - a three part examination by a little guy.

Philosophy
1

This is in response to something Bryan said about Creationism - rereading through these old essays, I see it’s time for me to get inspired and do a major re-write, but too many other items on my plate currently. Perhaps I just want to make the point that I have thought long and hard about the mystery of the pageant of Evolutionary Creation.
In fact an internal mantra that comes to me unbidden is “God is Creation” . . . as in fourteen some billion years of folds within folds of cumulative cascading harmonic complexity
Nor do I actually have any problem with god as in Providence. . .
My issue is with anyone who believes they can or do know God’s Word and Will.
That’s pure petty human hubris and craziness in action !
As for Evolution that is such a fantastical pageant, that in my heart there is room for more than science can touch on.
But, it beats the heck out of me what that more is.

<blockquote>SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2008
<strong>http://citizenschallenge.blogspot.com/2008/08/there-they-go-again.html</strong>
<strong>There They Go Again........</strong>
...I thought as their mantra swept over me: "Don't you know, no one has ever found an Evolutionary missing link, nothing is proven! Evolution is a joke! I'm telling you my God put the whole Universe here in six days, six thousand years ago, period!" Then came the all too predictable clincher: "How can you think differently, were you there?"
I started my response, but fell silent, too depressed to go on. Why try to discuss the beauty, poetry and reality of God' intelligent design - that is, the past many billions of years of ongoing creation - with friends who slam their ears and minds shut at any mention of evolution being Godly, beautiful and it's about time we begin trying to appreciate it?
I'll admit - I'm bewildered by the refusal of so many to wake up to God's fantastic infinity.
Where to start in trying to crack that shell of reinforced fear? Would it help to point out that though some scientist pontificate on absolute randomness, such talk should be taken with a grain of salt? Individual scientists, just like religious folk are filled with conceits and foibles. Why not admit we all strive for understanding, but are shackled by our own human tunnel-vision? Side opinions shouldn't detract from the essence of the scientific data that continues to be collected and digested, any more than religious fundamentalist, with all their deceptions, anger, and pick-pocketing, shouldn't be allowed to cloud religion's universal truths.
Or, would it help to confront the actual comment: "There are no Evolutionary missing links." Dear friend, what are you talking about? There are countless examples of transitional and "missing links" that aren't missing at all. Take the "Tunicates" for example; they are classified as "non-vertebrate chordate," because they are a telling link between non-backboned animals and those with back bones. There are volumes of catalogued examples clearly showing the steadfast development of life on God's good earth. But, one must look at it.
Too many condemn Evolution without ever knowing what it's about. This wouldn't be a big deal, if these same uninformed doubters weren't also demanding that our education system subscribe to their tunnel vision. Before condemning evolution, learn about its beauty and depth.
In this quest there's an excellent teacher in <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Life_(TV_series)">David Attenborough</a>]</strong>. His documentaries such as "Life on Earth" and "The Living Planet" series do a superb job of describing organisms and how they have evolved and built upon preceding generations. The story is awesome and the creatures are spectacular. Using real world examples he conveys Evolution's magnificant pageant of cumulative poetry in motion, revealing some of the countless fould within folds of harmonic complexity that resonate throughout creation.
Accept the challenge by viewing some of his many documentaries. Or, if the Internet is where you're at, look up "The Great Story." In contrast to Attenborough who's a naturalist through and through, these folks glory in religion, while conveying a sense of God's eon of Creation and its compatibility with Faith.
Finally, there's that: "Where you there?" slap. What is it asking? Was anyone of us there when a few people tussled over how to word Genesis, or the later New Testament? Was anyone of us there during the backroom discussions regarding how best to exploit Jesus' fantastic new message of love and redemption for empire and profit? Were you there... indeed. I don't know about then and there, but I do about here and now, and when walking about with my sense and heart receptive, the examples of an ongoing evolution are everywhere to be seen! God's creation, that is evolution, really is a beautiful, mysterious, overwhelming thing that must be recognized before one can ever hope to know Faith of love God.</blockquote>
2
God flowing into the Word Sunday, August 3, 2008 http://citizenschallenge.blogspot.com/2008/08/god-flowing-into-word.html I've been told I don't understand the reality of the Bible. It's been explained God acted infallibly through his human agents. At every stage along the Bible's evolution God was there flowing into the pages to make it perfect. The last time I listened to this opinion an image came to mind: There was a patient in an operating room, undergoing brain surgery. The world's foremost surgeon was there, a doctor of vast knowledge and skill. But, instead of performing the operation, the expert stands over a child giving step by step concise and complete directions, while the child performed the actual task. What are the chances of the child getting it right? Can it be any different when God communicates with myopic self-centered children? Claiming the Bible is direct and undiminished from God's bosom is to imply people can be infallible. Isn't such a thing called hubris? Like adolescents who know it all, blind to every complexity, question or doubt. Or put another way, claiming the Bible is perfect, complete and infallible is like claiming a photo album can convey the truth of someone's life to a stranger. Interestingly, when defending Biblical inerrancy scholars and preachers will quote the Bible, then follow with long winded personal interpretations. But, you know, if God where actually shepherding the Bible, those words would leap directly into the hearts of the reader/listener; without those endless and mostly dubious re-interpretations. God is big, huge, beyond anything anyone of us can imagine. Won't we recognize that when reading, absorbing, witnessing the Bible (or any Holy Book) we interpret it through our individual eyes while weaving our own spirit into our understanding and further telling? This isn't denying the truths within sacred texts: it is admitting that God's mysteries and plan are beyond our human ability to grasp. Most importantly, continuing to demand that there is: My Way Only! is nothing less than suicide for humanity future. Does your inner heart actually believe that destruction is God's plan for God's own miraculous Creation? Even if it does, does that give you the right to act without regard for the future? Who are you to give up on God's Creation, when you could be mistaken? Doesn't God abhor suicide? How can we hope to leave our children a healthy future without absorbing some additional basic truths and lessons, then moving on to face the coming challenges. ************** PS. For two thousand years every generation has its Christians convinced that God's cosmic rapture would happen in their life time. Everyone was mistaken, can't we take the hint? God's not going to make it easy on us by intervening, no, no. God's keeping us in this for keeps - we must find our own passage through the coming challenges.
3
What is Science's Sin? Sunday, August 3, 2008 http://citizenschallenge.blogspot.com/2008/08/what-is-sciences-sin.html Recently, I discussed Creationism with a bright young student. She challenged me with remarks about the Earth's "true" short age; Grand Canyon being evidence of Noah's Flood; even claim evidence that coal can be produced in a matter of months. She went on to explain God's plan included an imminent Armageddon - that is, destroying his own Creation. When I countered with facts debunking these notions she became defensive, saying that attacking someone's faith was a horrible thing to do. It made me wonder: Why do so many feel compelled to embrace willful ignorance? By this I mean a willful ignoring of masses of real, verifiable and available evidence simply because it conflicts with one's own preconceptions and challenges one's fears. How does it do God any credit to believe the "truth" can only be found within a single book? What is science? Scientists - especially the great ones - started out as kids totally amazed at the world they saw and discovered around themselves. What's out there? How it works? Why it works the way it does? What it all means? At its core, science is this natural awe & curiosity at God's Creation all grown up. What is science's sin? Designing rules that encourage fact based critical review? Science established straight-forward rules and guidelines in order to organize our inborn desire to pursue an understanding of the miraculous Creation we witness around us. These rules won't be bent for those who have convinced themselves they are gifted with superior insights. If those "superior insights" can't pass the established scientific hurdles they are not allowed within the arena of science. There are other realms these beliefs belong to, such as religion, philosophy, politics, art & music. The best thing about science's rules, isn't what they reject, rather it's all they are open to. Science's guidelines are organized in a way that any member of humanity, from any point on our globe, has the opportunity to participate, even revolutionize long held beliefs. As long as they are thoughtful enough to adhere to the rules while presenting convincing and verifiable arguments. Remember the admonition: God surpasses all human understanding! Not one of us has the justification, nor the authority, to tag God with certitude. We should be clear and appreciative that science is one of humanity's paths toward an inkling of understanding, or truth if you prefer. Always remembering that other paths such as those provided by the religions that abound are also relevant - like the solid and void of a picture frame, both are needed to display the painting.
4

Some of you old timers might recognize this is sort of where I came in on - to this CFI Discussion Board.
The discussions here have helped me develop beyond where I was at when I wrote those essays, yet when rereading them, {and though they need an update and improvements}, I still like them and feel good about what I was trying to express.
Even with my rational side having developed since I first posted here under Citizenschallenge (without the .pm)… thanks to the fun discussions and disagreements here at CFI.

5
Some of you old timers might recognize this is sort of where I came in on - to this CFI Discussion Board. The discussions here have helped me develop beyond where I was at when I wrote those essays, yet when rereading them, {and though they need an update and improvements}, I still like them and feel good about what I was trying to express. Even with my rational side having developed since I first posted here under Citizenschallenge (without the .pm)... thanks to the fun discussions and disagreements here at CFI.
6

Citizenschallenge.pm
I don’t know if this will help.
But you are born into a religious atmosphere that you start picking up when you are too young to be aware of religion.
This feature of mankind is something you have to learn to live with.
For example. Take myself.
There is not a bone in my body that believes in God or the concept of the creator.
I fully understand that man created gods, all gods. And you will never convince me otherwise. When I die I return to star dust. Don’t believe in the sprites and junk. And Evolutionary Creation, just some die hards still around after the Evolution vs. Creation war was over.
But,
When I think of my Grandfather and Grandmother I know that they are in heaven with their God. And their God Almighty is real. You can try but you will not be able to convince me otherwise.
I sure hope this is a mankind trait; otherwise I’m ready for Nurse Ratched, and a lobotomy.