ESSAY #7
CONCLUSIONS, MUSING & THE BOTTOM LINE  
 
 
1. GOD's attitude on the relationship between Christianity and science is
compatibility, which must have a corollary that these two major influences
on society have to be connected positively.  Logically, if the teaching of
the other major religions and science is compatibility, then the same must
hold true for Christianity.

2. Christians MUST hold the same attitude as GOD on the relationship
between science and Christianity. Compatibility is the foundation
- the presupposition - for all discussion, analysis, and commentary.

3. The Judeo-Christian Scriptures contain numerous prophetic statements
about concepts, theories, and hypotheses, of modern science, including a
few only discovered in the last century. Some are erroneous such as the
sun going around the earth. If a dispute exists between Scripture and
science, then the explanation from science should hold, until proven
false. However, for those for which there is agreement, then inspiration
should be proclaimed.

4. The long standing so-called 'conflict' between Scripture and two
contentious issues are resolvable because a) the analysis and
understanding about the age of the earth according to Genesis and
geoscience can provide the same answer - EARTH IS OLD: once  agreement
occurs that earth is old, then the absolute or numerical dates by
radiometric determinations can be considered, leaving the analyses and
discussion to the experts; and b) because speciation, the basic principle
of Darwin's biological evolution can be understood in the inspired
Scriptures, therefore the scientific explanation for the spectrum of
organisms, present and in the past, is compatible with Scripture. In fact,
the occurrence in both sectors, makes biological evolution a bridge
between science and Scripture. The scientific theory which has been
REJECTED by the conservatives becomes the connecting LINK between the two
most influential philosophies!!

5. The 'conflict', 'controversy', 'antagonism', 'warfare', 'VERSUS', etc.,
attitudes have persisted for decades, even centuries. How
long will it take to change the pervasive 'negative' attitude
to a pervasive 'positive' understanding? How long did Moses and the
children of Israel wander in the desert? The negative understanding is
detrimental to both Christianity and science. The GREATEST obstacle to
initiating resolution is the changing of the mind about a long held
conviction - on both sides of the argument. The German physicist, Max
Planck mused - A new (scientific) truth does not triumph by convincing
opponents and making them see the light, but rather the opponents die and
a new generation grows up that is familiar with it. Establishing
pervasively the positive relationship  between Christianity and science,
and the gradual discrediting of the negative understanding, such as has
occurred for geocentricity, will be beneficial for both science and
Christianity.
 
6. In Christianity, GOD is considered as CREATOR, MAKER, DESIGNER,
SAVIOUR, HEALER, SUSTAINER, ETERNAL, FAITHFUL, LOVING, TRUTHFUL(can't
lie), EVER PRESENT, UNFATHOMABLE, CORRECTOR(can terrorize), FORGIVING(but
don't do it again), PROVIDER(maybe not what you wanted), PATIENT,
HUMOROUS(can laugh), ANGRY(at times), HATER OF EVIL(and the 13+ decade
old argument is an example), HAPPY(especially with Truth), etc. Now add
 another, the bottom line ---
                                                  GOD IS EVOLVER!!

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C.GORDON WINDER (UWO,B.Sc., geology; M.S.,Ph.D.,Cornell, geology) taught
courses and published research results in stratigraphy; paleontology;
sedimentology; coal; geology of southern Ontario; geology of London; and
about Sir William Edmond Logan (1798-1875), Canada's pre-eminent
geologist. Winder's knowledge of the Judeo-Christian Scriptures was
acquired by reading them. A more detailed VITA is available by request.
Revised 97-10-15 A.D.  
Revised October 23, 1997, the 6000th anniversary of Bishop Ussher's Calculation. 

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