AJ Roberts's Theology of Nature

[swamidass (S. Joshua Swamidass)]

Great to see you @AJRoberts. This post might get pulled into its own thread cause it is so substantive and strong.

@AJRoberts

But I think Joshua fails to see the same need for theological justification by EC/TE-ers for the point Ed hits on the head… Ed raises a critical point that needs to be justified theologically from the TE/EC-ers who hold this theological slant or position:

I’m not sure that is fair, at least in reference to me, for two reasons.

1. I’ve in good faith offered possible theological explanations that might work for you on OEC.

2. I’ve also given clear scientific and theological reasons why God’s action is undetectable in science. The fact that these justifications have never been engaged is not my fault. I have offered them, and they have been ignored.

As for TE/EC at large, I do not speak for them. In particular, this is not my position, and I am pretty sure that @eddie is not refering to me in this either:

@AJRoberts

But many have written as if it is intrinsically bad theology to suggest that God might make his action in nature inferrable, and the ID writers are rebuking that charge."

@AJRoberts

It is another thing entirely to rule out a priori , on theological grounds, that God’s creative action could ever be detectable.

I do not take that position. If there is an objection I have to answer for, it is an objection to my position, not to a position that I do not hold.

@AJRoberts

They are assuming that the Christian God would never make his actions in creation such that human beings could infer his existence from them. But what gives the TEs the right to assume that? Where do they get this assumption?

Well, I would specifically dispute that claim alongside @eddie. The view he is disputing is not my view. Frankly it is not even most TE’s views either, though it certainly applies to a few.

At some point it would be great if my actual beliefs on these concerns were engaged. Are you up for that sometime?

@AJRoberts

I thoroughly enjoyed and commend Ed for his keen article and hope one day to share a beer with him and Josh and talk face-to-face about natural theology and the God we follow through the grace of Christ.

Well, of course you are up for it @AJRoberts. I’d have fun with that too.