Abracadabra: Evolution is still a theory, b/c all scientific observations are considered theories until taken as scientific law which is still questionable to many on the macro level. The theory is much more solid on the micro level but still has issues. Unfortunately, most people think that Christianity and evolution are mutually exclusive concepts but I believe that many thinking Christians accept evolution as a viable creative theory that points toward an ever creative reality. And science can become a religion (scientism) when one misplaces faith that science can explain the ultimate when science only claims to be an objective study of empirical data. God or the moment prior to the Big Bang (or endless other cosmological theories about creation or the beginning of the universe) cannot be "proven" and some amount of faith is put into any theory about such matters.

I just think it's important to remember that there are actual Christian scientists out there who affirm an evolutionary process from the Big Bang on and that think of God not as a being, but as Being-itself.

Honestly, I think that the bigger issue is the great divide between those that see the Bible as a document that "grew up" in a particular time and evolved into the sacred text that it became, and those who take it as the literal "Word of God." A lot of the differences between Christians lie in how you see and use the biblical texts. That being said, there are also differences based on how people see the relationship between Christianity and the academy/reason.
I believe it was Anselm of Cantebury who said that "theology is faith seeking understanding." Today, I fear that many are afraid to embark on such a journey into dialogue with the sciences, history, and other academic disciplines which should inform us rather than cause us to simply shun the ideas as the church and some Christians have done for centuries.
As a short definition of Christianity as I see it, I believe that Christianity is a religion based on the central idea of self-emptying, giving love. The teachings of Christ were predominately centered on social justice because of his profound love of the "neighbor" and his deep connection to God, who is intrinsic to all creation and in every creature. In a way, Christ shows us how to live as authentic human beings by choosing to live our lives out of love rather than to choose the demise and isolation of self-centeredness.
Thus, I think that Christianity is far more open to world religions and ideas than some would have it b/c love demands inclusiveness and invitation. Least we forget, Jesus said that others would know we were Christians by our love, not our faith claims.

I live in Kings Mountain

ah, but if love itself does not bring us pain then can it be called
love...love by its very nature opens us to risks and pains that normally
we would not take or endure. It is not to say that love wants or
desires pain, but that pain for better or worse accompanies love. In
the end I don't think that love can truly be known without a sense of
acute pain that can only come from love.

moment should follow fleeting above

wonderful poem there beautiful ;)... It's well written and well thought
out. I especially like the scheme of the piece...very nice. The
resolve at the end is hopeful with a twinge of mystery...you don't let
anyone think life will just be peachy but there's hope. Something more
than just a feeling or a shadow of a fleeting but genuine hope in things
achieving the ultimate state (i.e. Love).

ttyl (hopefully we can talk tomorrow)

Well, there are some crooked ministers out there (no joke) but those few
get a lot of bad press and the rest of us are left looking like idiots
and thieves. It doesn't help that a lot of what gets preached in
America revolves around Hell and immortal damnation (which I think is
really poorly thought out considering that the power that theoritically
gives us life is the divine breath and thus how can the divine seperate
him/her/itself for time immemorrial). Oh well, we live in a mixed up
world sometimes.

yes, but the big bang can only postulate to seconds after there was any
form of matter...thus, what was prior to what is...even a big bang
accepts the notion that there is a world that now exists that was not
prior and science cannot explain the prior...it is a matter of faith for
the atheist and the religious person as to what s/he chooses to believe.
Science, I dare say, is blind when it proclaims itself the cult of
reason (i.e. scientism).

well, I'm a priest in the Charismatic Episcopal Church...but this is
strictly a thoght provoking question not meant to be indicative of
doctrine or dogma...or otherwise instructive to those posting...it's
more an attempt to challenge and understand. although it is coming to
an end for me b/c I'm getting sleepy and have to be up early for work
tomorrow

Can it be that God is the fullest and emptiest concept...personal and
yet transcendent...knowable and yet unknowable...creator inhabating
creation...the beginning and the end...form and formlessness...etc. I
guess, what I'm trying to say, is can we really see reality as a one
sided equation?

what do you mean by more than a chaplain

all good posts...but can the divine mind be subject to error (i.e.
unforseen change due to a finite decision maker like myself) if so does
that make God less than God...and as someone mentioned Satan, did God
not also know that Satan would fall and created him anyway? Truly we
have good and evil as realities in our created world...or is there
really anything such as good and evil.

Interesting...but if God (as Creator) knew prior to creating anything,
then is predestination not a forgone conclusion if one takes omniscience
and omnipotence seriously?

ouch...yeah, that would definitely be embarrassing

I have not yet used "that thing in my pants." I feel that sex should be
between two consenting adults who are bonded by love...but I may be an
idealist on this point. What I was specifically referring to are the
physical aspects of being pregnant...I am a male and physiologically
CANNOT bear a child.

so did you find out whose car it was you jumped in...or was it too
embarrassing

thanks...one of those lessons in learning that helping people doesn't
always mean you get something. It was a good lesson to learn...even
though the girl at the counter did in fact give me an icecream cone :)

Well, there was this time when I was 3 or 4 when I went up and put money
into the Ronald McDonald foundation box and thought that that meant I
got an icecream cone...I'm sure it was cute to the girl working, but it
was definitely an embarrassing moment.

I don't know how many people just sit around and think about this
particular topic but I was wondering how some of you feel about
notions/concepts of freedom and destiny. On the whole, I find myself
(as a Christian) perplexed by many who affirm a God who knows all and
predestined all but still want to affirm human freedom. This also has
to do with my interest in German Idealism and the debate between
givenness and freedom (i.e. Fichte contra Hegel). My own personal
beliefs on the issue rely strongly on a blending of the two with neither
as absolutes. Destiny and freedom are always conditioned by each
other...thus both are limited if both are said to exist simultaneously.
But we can discuss that further if anyone wishes.

Cheers...because philosophy/theology always gets done better with beer
:)

I must say, that America, for all its talk about adoption makes it
extremely difficult for good families to adopt...therefore, is adoption
really the viable option that many of us would like it to be. Don't get
me wrong, I think that the idea of abortion as birth control is
irresponsible and abhorrent, but I'm a 25 yr old male that never has to
deal with being pregnant.
Regardless of who or why some people choose to have an abortion, I think
often times that a little grace goes a long way. That doesn't make it
"right" but life is complex and no "simple" solution ever proves so
simple, and I do think that there are times when abortion is a
legitimate option (rape and serious threat to the life of the female).
On that note, the birthing process is in fact a long and arduous process
that can drastically affect a female's life, so before we all go burning
women who have abortions at the stake...let's try and understand first
and realize that this isn't a black-and-white issue that can be given a
simplistic, bumper-sticker solution.