Dear Sean As always, thank you for your well thought out …

Comment on LSU Board committee reports on allegations by Ken.

Dear Sean

As always, thank you for your well thought out comments.

With respect, I think your problem is a lot larger than LSU. I read the memorandum in its entirety. It is apparent that the leaders of the SDA church have been very active behind the scenes and appear to have sanctioned its conclusions. I did not see anywhere in the report where any faculty member of the biology department was going to be sanctioned for teaching evolution as the best scientific explanation for the origin of species. LSU, with the Church’s backing, appears to be making a distinction between science and faith and not allowing the tail of faith to wag the dog of science.

That, in my mind is the proper exercise of academic freedom. Faith should not impinge upon the teaching of objective science, and science should not be used to discredit faith. In my mind I think LSU, with the Church’s apparent blessing, is taking the right steps to respect its stakeholders, yet maintain its academic freedom and credibility.

That is why I would encourage you, in the name of academic freedom, to try to teach a course on intelligent design at LSU and other Adventist institutions. Why not make a direct appeal to the Church leaders and the GRI in this respect? Go head to head with the evolutionists and let the students decide which theory makes more sense.

Students should not be told what to think and be exposed to competing theories. Nothing wrong with teaching FB#6 in religion class and evolution in biology class. Nothing wrong, in my mind, with continued efforts to give scientific merit to intelligent design, stripped from any particular religious faith. I support and advocate for your right to do so, even if I do not agree with your conclusions. Call on me for support in this regard any time.

Respectfully,
your agnostic friend
Ken

Ken Also Commented

LSU Board committee reports on allegations
Re Ron Stone’s and Ron Henderson’s Comments

“And I see no one willing to actually DO anything, including Wilson.”

“From my perspective, LSU should be shutdown or sold.”

Dear Ron and Ron

Gentlemen, if the highest echelons of Church leadership are not following your suggestions, the question is as a matter of conscience what will you do?

Regards
Ken


LSU Board committee reports on allegations
Re Ron’s Quote

“However, I do believe that the GC will eventually get more involved in the months, years, and eons to come. The important thing is that they seem to actually know what’s going on, so they will have no excuse as to why they did or did not do anything.”

And everyone of every stripe has Educate Truth to thank for that!

Regards
your agnostic friend
Ken


Recent Comments by Ken

Supreme Court Decision on Church Employment Case
Hi Bob

I asked once before and I’ll ask again: what is your background and expertise in biology?

Your agnostic friend
Ken


Creeds and Fundamental Beliefs
Re: What every human being on the planet believes?

Empirically, as i don’t have blind faith I could know this, perhaps it could only be a divine being that could do so. 🙂

Always open to correction though to those that know the absolute truth,

I remain,
Your agnostic friend
Ken


A “Christian Agnostic”?
Re Bob’s Quote

“But we can “observe” that the making of complex systems (and books, and works of art and science) is done by “creators” every day – observable, repeatable, testable. A mechanism proven to work.”

Hi Bob

Thanks for your comments.

This may surprise you but I’m actually intrigued by the design argument. My Dad is a Deist although I’m not of that bent, at least not yet! The laws of nature, i.e. gravity, that even allow the universe to exist are pretty marvelous. Did they arise as a result of a random quantum fluctuation or was their Grand Designer behind it all. If so what is or was the nature of such designer based on what we empirically observe about our universe?

The problem I have with intelligent design within our universe and especially regarding life on earth is theodicy. I do understand how the concept of original biblical sin accounts for the loss of perfection, but I have a very tough time understanding why a God would cause such destruction of his creation based on the disobedience of the literal eating of an apple. I just can’t rationally fathom how the eventual and natural demise of our solar system can be based on Man’s fall. Empirically, through science we can now view the death, and birth, of stars. Was this all caused by eating forbidden fruit?

Thus one must ask: why would a good, compassionate God create a Universe, and sentient life, that suffers and dies? Age old problem, that in my estimation has been allegorically resolved through the Genesis narrative.

Let’s move on to evolution. Micro evolution does not seem to be a problem for anyone. Life does adapt to its environment through genetic change. In my mind the issue becomes what happens over billions of years. After considering everything I have read to date I cannot honestly see an overwhelming case for a young earth. Moreover I have not read or heard anything yet that such a view can be scientifically supported by anyone without a biblical creationist bias. Given enough time great change will occur as evidenced by the vast diversity of life spread over every niche of our planet. Were there kangaroos on the Ark, or did they evolve in an isolated part of the world from whence they could not spread?

I don’t think evolution is a fraud or a hoax. Too many educated people of faith believe and accept it for it to be an atheist conspiracy. Have their been mistakes made and will they continue to be made? Are there dishonest scientists? Certainly. They are fallible humans, just like you and I, after all. But the issue is what does the weight of all the multidisciplinary evidence indicate?

Hope that helps

Your agnostic friend
Ken


Dr. Ariel Roth’s Creation Lectures for Teachers
Re Sean’s Quote

“Yes, I am suggesting that our scientists should also be theologians to some degree. I’m also suggesting that our theologians be scientists to some degree as well. There should be no distinct dividing line between the two disciplines…”

Hello Sean

First of all, thank you Holly for your comments. You have always treated me with civility and charity for which I am most grateful.

Secondly, on reflection, I do hope I was not strident or offensive in my recent remarks. I am a guest here and should behave with the utmost respect regarding my Adventist hosts. After all I was proposing the Chair of ID at an ‘Adventist’ institution! What gall and temerity from an agnostic!

However something Dr. Kime said struck a very strange chord in me: that a Chair in ID at Harvard would be a quantum leap ( forward – my edit) while such a Chair would be a step backward at LSU. I’ m very sorry Wes, but for me to honestly investigate reality such double standard is not acceptable.

I am sad today, because I think I’m coming to the end of my Adventist journey. I really did see ID as a sort of bridge between your faith and objective inquiry about a ‘Grand’ Design. (apologies Mr. Hawkings). Oh Wes , perhaps I am ontological Don Quixote after all, comically tilting towards immovable Adventist windmills. 🙁 .

However all is not forlorn because I’ve made excellent friends of the heart here. ;). I won’t forget you.

Good luck in your pursuit of God.

Goodbye
Your agnostic friend
Ken


Dr. Ariel Roth’s Creation Lectures for Teachers
Re Sean’s Quote

“Public association is one thing. Private association is another. While many do not feel at liberty to publicly associate themselves with our work here (for obvious reasons), most who still believe in SDA fundamentals (and who are aware of the longstanding situation at LSU and other places) feel that our work in providing enhanced transparency for what is being taught to our young people in our schools was/is necessary on some level.”

Hi Sean

The irony here is that those that are supporting institutional enhanced transparency are hiding behind cloaks of anonymity. That’s not how you, I, Wes, Bob Ryan, Wes, Bill Sorenson and many others here behave. Imagine if Jesus hid behind a cloak and didn’t proclaim his nature. What legacy of respect would he have left?

Conviction requires courage period.

Your agnostic friend
Ken