Are you a Creationist?

There has been lots of stuff in the media about Creationism and Creationists.
Last week The Rev Professor Michael Reiss, a Church of England Cleric, a biologist and Director of Education at the Royal Society, provoked a furore when he called for creationism to be treated in science lessons as a legitimate “world-view”.
“The demi-god of atheism, Prof Richard Dawkins, weighed in to say that he would wish to see the Royal Society "attack creationism with all fists flying". I presume he's speaking metaphorically and not actually advocating violence,”
said George Pitcher in the Telegraph Online

I, as both a scientist and a Christian, find this debate so frustrating because I see little level headed wisdom from either side.
This week Dawkins claims that ‘the majority of Christians’ hold creationist beliefs clearly this is not the case

Creationists believe that the world was created in seven days as it says (or as they say it says) in the opening verses of Genesis. Some of them believe each of these ‘days’ to be 24hr days others see them as representing 7 eras in the unfolding story of creation.
In my mind and that of most scholars of the Hebrew Bible these people have a totally misguided understanding of what the opening books of our bible are about. The writer(s) of Genesis 1-11, whoever they were, never set out to tell the “what” of creation rather they wished to explain the “why”.
As a scientist I never fail to wonder at the majesty and mystery of God’s created world. I see nothing incompatible with me holding to the theory of Evolution or studying the answers to what happened 15 billion years ago at the dawn of the universe and my belief that God is my creator and that Jesus of Nazareth is my God and saviour.. I am desperate to know what will be discovered about the so called “God particle” by the use of The Hadron Collider that was switched on a few days ago. The more I discover about sub atomic particles and the make up of nature the more I believe in a creating purpose and the more I see the Mind of God.

As to whether creationism should be discussed in the class room I doubt if the correct place is in the science lab; perhaps the religious and moral studies department is better placed. . I with Reiss admit it is a ‘world view’ that has to be engaged with alongside more liberal biblical views and those of the humanist school of thought.
I am concerned with the increasing attention given to Richard Dawkins and those who hounded Reiss from his job.

Pitcher concludes the discussion better than I can

“Where did this intolerance come from? When the Royal Society was founded in the 17th century, scientists were up against the bigotry and intolerance of a religious hegemony. Now the ideological boot is on the other foot.
Like all fundamentalism, scientific bigotry, I suspect, springs from insecurity. The postmodern secular experiment hasn't carried all before it, as its leaders had hoped. That has made the extremists frustrated, angry and intolerant. But, in pandering to them, the Royal Society has abandoned its core ethos and should be thoroughly ashamed of itself.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/09/18/do1802.xml

Who do you say.....

As I write I am preparing to go to Kippen Kirk Session and while considering the Bible Study Slot my mind turns to Matthew 16:13 when, at Caesaria Philippi, Jesus asks "Who do they say that I am?" the disiples make several suggestions. Then Jesus says "and you Who do you say that I am?"
Ialways find that so challenging.
Who do I say Jesus is?
Do I speak of Him at all?
When I do what do I say?

Elaine and I have 'met a friend' on the 'net called Tom Schumann; he calls himself a poet/priest he writes this: -

Q & A (matthew 16:13-20)

when it shows upon the test
('who do you say I am?')
i quickly flip open the book
and copy out the answers . . .f
or'Son of the living God'
has become a research paper
(hopefully expanding into
a dissertation)
with experts, writing
in several languages,
quoted to support my view,
but a real Person:
calling me to follow;
willing to open my shut mind;
hoping to send me out
to confront the powers
in my corner of the world?and
i have said'Lord'so many times
that i have lost count,but the instances
i have (actually,willingly, eagerly)
given you control of my life?
even if i include thethumb on my counting hand,
i still have several fingers
left over . . .so maybe i need
to close the book,
and open my self
to you.

(c) 2008 Thom M. Shuman

Sacred Space

The more time passes the more I believe that the Kirk has to re-discover prayer. I may be wrong (forgive me if you are a faithful pray-er already- well done good and faithful servant!) but I believe that we, Presbyterians, are not so good at personal devotion. So here is another suggestion to help you Internet surfing Christians.
I often use the site called Sacred Space it offers prayers in a week long cycle.

http://www.sacredspace.ie/

why not try it out it will make you feel better and it will certainly make the world that little bit better too. love G

Virtual Labyrinth

Do you like me have difficulty concentrating and focusing in your private devotions? Why not try a virtual Labyrinth. Maybe you have heard of 'outside ' actual labyrinths people have found them to be a great way to allow the participant to go on a mini journey into one's spiritual life. now you can do it from the keyboard of your PC
Labyrinth is an interactive site for spiritual journeys. It's for anyone who wants a break from surfing the surface of life to contemplate the deeper things of life.Labyrinth reshapes a 12th century ritual for the 21st century. Its maze-like path takes you on a symbolic journey, creates space to unwind and think - in particular about our relationships with ourselves, one another, our planet and God. Designed for young and old alike, it provides a mixture of rituals and visuals, of contemplative words and contemporary ambient music, of symbols and media to help guide the spiritual traveller
Go there and try it out let us know how you get on.

http://www.labyrinth.org.uk/onlinelabyrinthpage1.html

Gordon