Stephen,

No problem. I endeavor to be accurate. Of course, the topic is a rather hot
button issue here in Kansas, since the Board of Education voted 6-4 to add
ID to the biology curriculum in Kansas schools last week. And no, I am not
pulling your leg.

You are right that both groups in question make the statement that God
spans that currently unknown gap, but there is still an important
difference. That is the end of it as far as the Catholic statements are
concerned. ID proponents take it a step further and suppose they can PROVE
it with science. Said science has not yet materialized(nor will it in my
opinion), but they talk a big game. That God may be the creator of the
universe is far less important to ID proponents than making it appear they
know what they are talking about and forcing their faith down people's
throats.

I have a great deal of respect for the Catholic hierarchy for distancing
themselves from the intellectual vacuum that is ID, as well as for
understanding the nature of the topic so much better.

Mark Janzen
Registrar/Collections Manager
Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection
Wichita State University
(316)978-5850


                                                                           
             Stephen Nowlin                                                
             <stephen.nowlin@A                                             
             RTCENTER.EDU>                                              To 
             Sent by: Museum           [log in to unmask]        
             discussion list                                            cc 
             <[log in to unmask]                                             
             SE.LSOFT.COM>                                         Subject 
                                       Re: Vatican weighs in on            
                                       creationism, distances itself.      
             11/10/2005 05:40                                              
             PM                                                            
                                                                           
                                                                           
             Please respond to                                             
             Museum discussion                                             
                   list                                                    
             <[log in to unmask]                                             
               SE.LSOFT.COM>                                               
                                                                           
                                                                           




On 11/10/05 2:04 PM, Mark Janzen's electrons arrived as:

> The difference is that Cardinal Poupard understands that the universe
> having a creator is a philosophical point of view that underpins his
faith,
> but that proving it is a non-issue because of the necessary separation of
> faith and science. For such a man of faith, proof is irrelevant.
>
> ID proponents do not understand that fact. Or more precisely refuse to do
> so.
>
> Believing the universe had a creator and trying to prove it with science
> are two critically different things. The former is an entirely rational
> human emotional response to the universe and our many millenia of history
> and philosophy. The latter is irrational, anti-scientific, and painfully
> convoluted to appear as something new and innovative.

Thanks for the explanation.  Still, pushers of ID may be the crude cowboys
of faith while Catholic intellectuals are more like its wine connoisseurs,
-- but ultimately they're left standing together at the yawning gap saying
"God spans it."

/sn

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail
message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should
read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).