Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sam Brownback: What I Think About Evolution
NY Times ^ | 5/31/07 | Senator Sam Brownback

Posted on 05/31/2007 4:25:48 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside

The heart of the issue is that we cannot drive a wedge between faith and reason.

The truths of science and faith are complementary: they deal with very different questions, but they do not contradict each other because the spiritual order and the material order were created by the same God.

People of faith should be rational, using the gift of reason that God has given us. At the same time, reason itself cannot answer every question. Faith seeks to purify reason so that we might be able to see more clearly, not less.

Faith supplements the scientific method by providing an understanding of values, meaning and purpose. More than that, faith — not science — can help us understand the breadth of human suffering or the depth of human love...

Ultimately, on the question of the origins of the universe, I'm happy to let the facts speak for themselves. There are aspects of evolutionary biology that reveal a great deal about the nature of the world, like the small changes that take place within a species.

Yet I believe, as do many biologists and people of faith, that the process of creation — and indeed life today — is sustained by the hand of God in a manner known fully only to him.

It does not strike me as anti-science or anti-reason to question the philosophical presuppositions behind theories offered by scientists who, in excluding the possibility of design or purpose, venture far beyond their realm of empirical science.

Biologists will have their debates about man’s origins, but people of faith can also bring a great deal to the table.

For this reason, I oppose the exclusion of either faith or reason from the discussion. An attempt by either to seek a monopoly on these questions would be wrong-headed.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last

1 posted on 05/31/2007 4:25:54 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside

“I oppose the exclusion of either faith or reason from the discussion. An attempt by either to seek a monopoly on these questions would be wrong-headed.”

A safe position, and one of moderation. Too bad the liberals demand anything having to do remotely with God to be excluded from everything public, including discussion.


2 posted on 05/31/2007 4:31:45 AM PDT by txzman (Jer 23:29)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside; P-Marlowe; Alamo-Girl; Dr. Eckleburg; betty boop

We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

That is evident, as is the hand of the Creator, so that humans who deny Him are without excuse.

Those who deny such obvious reality will then pervert other realities, such as the natural use of their own bodies. Such irrationality results in their ruination/infection/destruction.

They have only themselves to blame.


3 posted on 05/31/2007 4:33:20 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside
It does not strike me as anti-science or anti-reason to question the philosophical presuppositions behind theories offered by scientists who, in excluding the possibility of design or purpose, venture far beyond their realm of empirical science.

Why does it strike him as anti-religion when those same scientists question the theological foundations of Intelligent Design based on their experiments and the evidence they have uncovered?

4 posted on 05/31/2007 4:35:38 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur (Save Fredericksburg. Support CVBT.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Non-Sequitur
Why does it strike him as anti-religion when those same scientists question the theological foundations of Intelligent Design based on their experiments and the evidence they have uncovered?

Maybe he should have used the more direct and correct wording anti-Creator, when those same scientist deny the creation and purpose of the flesh man.

5 posted on 05/31/2007 4:42:59 AM PDT by Just mythoughts (Narcissism = fittest will survive off the government teat!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside

Nice tiptoe footwork down the middle.


6 posted on 05/31/2007 4:46:44 AM PDT by DaGman (`)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside

Who cares about what Senator Browneye thinks about anything? He opposed the surge. He can go screw.


7 posted on 05/31/2007 4:48:48 AM PDT by montag813 (q)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside
The heart of the issue is that we cannot drive a wedge between faith and reason.
No, Senator, the heart of this issue is whether or not you believe biologists have proved their case that all modern species (including man) were born by the mechanism of "descent with modification through time".

If you don't believe they have made that case, over the last 148 years, then raise your hand. If you do believe that case has been made, then don't raise your hand.

Don't go trying to change it into some question its not. It's not a question of faith and reason. It's a question of whether or not you believe the case has been made. Obviously, you don't believe it's been made, since you raised your hand. (Or you would rather not admit to your constituents that you believe it's been made.)

Only after the fact did you come up with the long non sequitur about faith and reason.

8 posted on 05/31/2007 4:53:01 AM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins
We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Then He must have outsourced the development of the human knee, coccyx, jaw, the appendix, the retina, and quite a few other parts of the human body. Because they're hardly "wonderfully" made.


9 posted on 05/31/2007 4:57:49 AM PDT by DiogenesTheDog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: DiogenesTheDog

You make one.


10 posted on 05/31/2007 4:58:28 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside
That was a good article from Senator Brownback. It’s worth reading in its entirety at the NYTs. NYTs? What a surprise.

The raise your hand question should have been an insult to any thinking person. The origin and diversity of all life are topics so complex, they make climate science seem simple - which it is not.

The question had the quality of a loyalty test. In the 30s in Germany it might have been “who here does not support the Fuhrer?”

11 posted on 05/31/2007 5:06:30 AM PDT by ChessExpert (Carbon Dioxide: a trace gas necessary for life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: montag813

So he stpes out of line (slightly) with an administration that is openly hostile to most things conservative and it is screw him? He is not so much opposed to the surge as he is to continuing to bang our head on the wall that is Iraq. At least he is trying to think outside the box.

Sen. Brownback recognizes that we can’t just up and leave Iraq, but also recognizes that we need to have flexibility on what our troops do on the ground.


12 posted on 05/31/2007 5:13:27 AM PDT by CTK YKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside
It does not strike me as anti-science or anti-reason to question the philosophical presuppositions behind theories offered by scientists who, in excluding the possibility of design or purpose, venture far beyond their realm of empirical science.

Science is nothing more or less than the search for material explanations to phenomena, so yes, to question the philosophical presupposition of naturalism is by definition anti-science.

13 posted on 05/31/2007 5:16:18 AM PDT by Physicist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside
Having pointedly ignored the article, I think politicians from Kansas should avoid talking about evolution if they're running for national office.

Brownback seems to think that peddling his newfound Catholicism is the key to the Religious Right.

He really should just drop out.
14 posted on 05/31/2007 5:18:51 AM PDT by George W. Bush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DiogenesTheDog
Then He must have outsourced the development of the human knee, coccyx, jaw, the appendix, the retina, and quite a few other parts of the human body. Because they're hardly "wonderfully" made.

I think he outsourced your brain.

15 posted on 05/31/2007 5:31:23 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside
Yet I believe, as do many biologists and people of faith, that the process of creation — and indeed life today — is sustained by the hand of God in a manner known fully only to him.

Then I guess there's no point in continuing with this silly "scientific research" thing we've been pursuing over the last few hundred years.

16 posted on 05/31/2007 5:32:19 AM PDT by Michael A. Velli (fight 'em there -- so we don't have to fight 'em here!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside

An evolution debate is what we need as the walls of the Alamo are being overrun.....


17 posted on 05/31/2007 5:33:00 AM PDT by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Brightside
The "intelligent design" question isn't about atheists versus people who say God is behind it all. That's just the dishonest bait and switch, because atheism is so untenable.

It's really about fanatics who want to preserve the Adam and Eve story against all reason.

Is this what Republicanism is supposed to be about?

This shouldn't be a political issue at all.

Ultimately, it plays into the hands of the libs who will say we are all like that.

18 posted on 05/31/2007 5:34:37 AM PDT by Salman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ChessExpert
The question had the quality of a loyalty test.

It was the equivalent of, "Which ones among you should we in the media stop taking seriously, right from the get-go?" Sam realized that too late, and has come up with an interesting dance around the question, way after the fact.

19 posted on 05/31/2007 5:38:14 AM PDT by hunter112 (Change will happen when very good men are forced to do very bad things.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: DiogenesTheDog

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Then He must have outsourced the development of the human knee, coccyx, jaw, the appendix, the retina, and quite a few other parts of the human body. Because they’re hardly “wonderfully” made.

Why do you say that? I think the knee, jaw, retina, and other parts are wonderfully made. I think it’s amazing that ANY of it works. Just because we don’t know what the appendix does, doesn’t mean it won’t have a purpose in the future, or did in the past.


20 posted on 05/31/2007 5:40:44 AM PDT by Ro_Thunder ("Other than ending SLAVERY, FASCISM, NAZISM and COMMUNISM, war has never solved anything")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson