Episode 23: The Message-Incident Principle & Origins Debate: General Categories

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En provenance du cours de University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

25 notes

University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

25 notes

This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary. Topics include: Science and Religion Categories and Foundational Principles, Definitions of Science and Religion, Science-Religion Models and Relationships, Intelligent Design and Natural Revelation, the Galileo Affair, Geology and Noah’s Flood, Evolution and Darwin’s Religious Beliefs, the Modern “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate, the Problem of Evil, and Interpretations of the Biblical Accounts of Origins in Genesis 1-11. The course employs a Constructive Teaching Style in order that students can develop their personal views on the relationship between science and religion and on each of the topics listed above. St. Joseph's College is a Catholic, undergraduate, liberal arts college on the University of Alberta campus. It is an independent institution that is affiliated with the University of Alberta.

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Categories & Principles II & III

In this final section on Categories and Principles, we will consider foundational and religious epistemological (theory of knowledge) categories. In particular, does a belief in God, or a lack of belief in God, impact the step of faith or intellect jump in the Metaphysics-Physics Principle? This week also introduces the second foundational principle of this course termed “The Message-Incident Principle.” This is a hermeneutical principle for interpreting religious texts dealing with statements about the natural world. In order to develop a peaceful relationship between Science and Religion, it is critical to understand that religious texts like the Bible feature an ancient understanding of nature (i.e., an ancient science). During this week we also outline the basic positions on the origin of the universe and life—Young Earth Creation, Progressive Creation, Evolutionary Creation, Deistic Evolution, and Dysteleological Evolution.

Episode 14: Philosophy: Epistemological Categories4:54

Episode 15: Philosophy: Epistemological Categories (Continued)6:16

Episode 16: Philosophy: Epistemological Categories (Continued)6:01

Episode 17: Hermeneutical Categories5:40

Episode 18: Eisegesis, Exegesis & Hermeneutical Horizons8:46

Episode 19: Hermeneutical Gaps & Biblical Inerrancy5:33

Episode 20: Categories of Biblical Statements7:16

Episode 21: Categories of Poetic Language & Phenomenological Perspective4:57

Episode 22: Categories of Biblical Concordism & Correspondence6:45

Episode 23: The Message-Incident Principle & Origins Debate: General Categories6:25

Episode 24: Origins Debate: General Categories (Continued)6:39

Episode 25: Origins Debate: Specific Categories5:34

Episode 26: Practical Considerations5:43

Episode 27: Conclusion: Categories & Principles 1-35:08

Episode 28: Conclusion: Categories & Principles 1-3 (Continued)3:11

Hebrew Alphabet8:34

Rencontrer les enseignants

Denis Lamoureux
Associate Professor
St. Joseph's College

Episode 23.

The Message-Incident Principle is the second major principle in this course.

And, it is foundational to developing a peaceful relationship between

the Bible and science.

It's very important to note that this principle is limited to statements about

the natural world in the Bible.

It is not an interpretive principle that can be applied to all issues and

all passages in Scripture.

Please turn to page 5 in the class handouts,

and let's first examine the structure of this principle.

In the upper compartment, we have the message of the Bible.

These are the spiritual truths that change the lives of people.

According to Christians, these messages of faith are inerrant,

in that they are absolutely true and without error.

In the lower compartment, we have the incident.

This is the ancient science in the Bible.

It is the best science of the day and

it features an ancient phenomenological perspective of nature.

That is, this is a view of the world without the aid of modern

scientific instruments like telescopes and microscopes.

The relationship between the Bible's inerrant messages and

its ancient science is an incidental relationship.

The definition of the word incidental means to occur in connection with

something important.

Incidental also has the sense of that which helps.

Therefore, the incidental ancient science in the Bible

is a vessel that helps deliver the more important spiritual truths.

Even though the ancient science is incidental,

it is essential in transporting the message.

Let me further explain this word incidental because it's an important

concept.

Think of a water bottle.

Does it really matter whether the bottle is made of plastic, or metal, or

maybe glass?

The material is ultimately incidental.

Now of course we need a vessel to deliver the water to a thirsty person.

So too in the Bible.

The ancient science is like a vessel.

It's like a water bottle. And it delivers spiritual truths.

We all know that when it comes to the water bottle,

it's not the bottle itself that quenches the thirst, but rather the water inside.

So too when it comes to the Bible and the ancient science.

The ancient science does not quench spiritual thirst,

rather it's the messages of faith that the ancient science delivers.

According to the Message-Incident Principle,

during the process of inspiring the Bible, God accommodated and

allowed the ancient authors to use the science-of-the-day.

In other words, God came down to the level of ancient people, and allowed them to use

their ancient ideas about nature to reveal his inerrant spiritual truths.

As we move through this course, you will discover that the idea of divine

accommodation is one of the most important concepts in science and religion.

Let’s now apply the Message-Incident Principle to Philippians 2:10-11.

The inerrant message is that is Lord of the entire universe, and

in order for this spiritual truth to be delivered to ancient people, God allowed

Paul to use the ancient science of the 3three-tier universe as an incidental vessel.

Here's a tip regarding the Message-Incident Principle. It's a mantra that you

will hear throughout this course. Separate, don't conflate.

The common error that Christians make is that they often conflate the message and

the ancient science.

In doing so, they assume that statements about the natural world are inerrant.

But, if the Bible has an ancient science, it is not possible for

these to be absolutely true and without error.

For example, is the three-tier universe described in Philippians 2 absolutely

true and without error?

The topic of science and religion always includes a discussion about

the Origins Debate, which seems to interest everyone.

In this debate the distinction clearly emerges between common categories

found in the church and the public, and the more accurate academic categories.

We'll begin with some general categories.

The evolution versus creation debate is the common view of the origins

debate held by people both inside and outside of the church.

Of course, this categorization often leads to science and religion warfare.

But as we've noted previously, this is a false dichotomy.

There are more than just two simple positions on origins.

In the next section on specific origins categories,

I will introduce you to the five basic views of origins.

The next category is creation.

The common definition of this term refers to the origin of the universe and

life in six 24 hour days 6000 years ago.

This view of origins is based on a strict literal reading of Genesis 1.

Regrettably this is a common conflation, whereby

Christianity is blended with a literal interpretation of Genesis, and

is passed off as the creationist position and also THE Christian view.

The academic definition of the term creation is that it is a religious belief

that the world, that is the creation, was made by a creator.

This academic definition does not deal with how God made the world.

In other words, physical how questions are not part of theology.

End of episode.

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