You can talk all you want about the “watch needing a watchmaker” but some Christians seem to think that Christianity is somehow validated by this. I’ll grant you the Intelligent Design argument and say “yes, there is a watchmaker.” Now, show me how, exactly, this validates Christianity? How does one go from an Intelligent Designer to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? How does one go from an Intelligent Designer and not get to the myriad of other Gods who “created” the world in other relgions’ cosmologies?
Just because there is a god doesn’t mean that god is the God of the Bible.
Just a thought …
>Now, show me how, exactly, this validates Christianity?
It does not as would be pointed out by non Christian proponents of ID. Some Christians can be found to assert pretty much anything you can dream up. As a “recovering fundamentalist” you should know this.
By the way, it is possible to fall away from Fundamentalism and recover faith.
Jim,
Yes, I agree that “it is possible to fall away from Fundamentalism and recover faith.” That is exactly where I am. Although I did have to throw it all away for a while — perhaps to let the Fundamentalism “wear off.” As I’ve come back to investigate Christianity again after almost 20 years I do find a lot of good in it. But I am still trying to define my faith; to work it out. Not so much “with fear and trembling” as in Philippians 2 but so that I may “make a defense to everyone who asks” as in I Peter 3.
Thanks for your comment
Ken
“…I’ve come back to investigate Christianity again after almost 20 years…”
Relax, it took me 40 years.
It’s SO much better the second time around, don’t you agree? I think people who were born and raised in the church have it particularly difficult because it’s so easy to get “tunnel vision” and only see one possibility; one option. When I was young, I never even THOUGHT to question a lot of the stuff I routinely question now. The idea that there was an alternative was never there. The world is not black and white; us and them; good and evil. There’s a whole spectrum of colors that give meaning and definition to the world.
Oooh. I think I smell an idea for another post!