/** recent comments widget code */ /** end of recent comments widget code */

Monday 3 January 2011

Concluding Thoughts

I have finally pulled together and published the Evangelicals, Evolution, and the Church series Ebook. You can find it up on Scribd along with all the other series that have been published on this blog . Thanks to Doug, Dennis, Terry, Jim, Phil, Keith, Murray, and Allan for their excellent contributions to the evolution-faith dialogue in the Evangelical community.

I should apologize for more-or-less dropping out of sight half way through this series. Ironically, given the subject of the series, I was invited to join our local church board just as this series was beginning. A month later I was asked to lead our Transition Team. The duties involved in planning the transition of leadership from our pastor of 23 years (a key leader within the Evangelical wing of the Anglican community in Canada) to a dynamic new pastor from Melbourne, Australia meant that something in my schedule had to give. And blogging was it.

This isn’t my first blogging hiatus. Almost exactly 2 years ago, I posted that I was taking a break. And one of the points I made then, is even truer today:

Although the science-faith discussion will always be of great interest and of some importance to me, I can’t say that it is a huge priority in my life right now; it is probably not even the most important aspect for my current faith journey.
While this statement was true 2 years ago, and is true again, for a very short, tense time this fall it became a huge personal priority as I thought my views on evolution would get me into the same hot water as Doug and Terry. Fortunately, the incident was resolved quickly and satisfactorily as the problem was primarily one of perception and misunderstanding. Today, I am excited, humbled, and feeling so fortunate to help lead a local community that is passionate about furthering God’s kingdom in a multicultural, multifaith, thoroughly secular city filled with people who desperately need to hear the gospel.

So, this hiatus is likely to be permanent. The existing content will still be available, but is unlikely to be updated. For those that want to continue to interact with me on issues of science and faith, feel free to contact me by email at steven.dale.martin at gmail dot com. (And if you haven’t done so already, please peruse / read the Evangelical Dialogue on Evolution Ebook as that may contain some initial food-for-thought). However, my suggestion for those who want to continue the dialogue (if you don’t know about these resources already), is to follow either the Biologos blog Science and the Sacred or RJS’s Musings on Science and Theology. Both of these communities have great ongoing conversations. (Note: To actually view and/or participate in comments on Musings on Science and Theology, you will need to do so on Jesus Creed where each post is cross-posted).

I'll conclude with the same words that ended my 2008 sign-off:
In conclusion, I’d like to say that I believe the Christian story as revealed in God’s creation (through science, including the science of biological evolution) and his word (scripture) is a coherent story, a story that is satisfying both spiritually and intellectually. It is a story worth repeating, but more importantly, a story to live by.

11 comments:

RBH said...

Having participated sporadically here as an atheist and being appreciative of your hospitality, I regret that you're closing down but understand the impetus. Be well.

RBH

Paul Bruggink said...

Thank you so much for all of your great work on your blog and the very useful eBooks. You have made a significant and helpful contribution to the dialogue. Best wishes for your future.

Jordan said...

To me, yours was the best blog while it lasted, Steve. Sad to see it gone, but happy to hear that you have found renewed acceptance in your church. Thanks for all your hard work and God bless.

Karl A. said...

Yes, Steve, I also really appreciate your work on what was hopefully a labor of love. I wish you well as you focus on other pursuits. Maybe catch you on the BioLogos blog!
God bless.

Martin LaBar said...

Thanks for your work!

BenYachov said...

It seems to me (speaking as a Catholic) that if an Evangelical can accept Old Earth Creationism then he can accept some form of Theistic Evolution. It's a thin line between the two. That having been said I predict it is not so much evolution that will find resistance but certain hopelessly stupid forms of Theistic Evolution that denies the existence of a Literal Historical Adam, the Fall and Original Sin.

There is no scientific reason to deny any of these concepts. None at all yet may TE's act as if this is the case.

Once you realize this truth then I predict Evangelicals will welcome Evolution.

It's not hard.

L.W. Dickel said...

Here's a good description of the Judeo-Christian religion.

"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation, no matter how subtle, can (for me) change this.
For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions. And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are also no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."-Albert Einstein

Religion is mind rot. A bunch of asinine Stone Age bullshit that only the weak minded, apparently in need of comforting fairy tales, can swallow.

Virgin births, blood sacrifices, talking donkeys, genocide, infanticide,slave trading, stoning non-virgins to death, stoning homosexuals to death, etc. In other words, absolute Stone Age bullshit!! Gotta love it!!

Mariana said...

The believer when praying our God responds, we must always be united in prayer, because only Jesus saves, execelente approach of his blog accompany some time.

Amanda said...

This ebook should be fantastic how do I get it? Hugs and kisses.

Diana said...

We must pray more and more and fast, for only Jesus saves only him, the way is the truth and the life and no one goes to the father but for him.

Roberta said...

we must preach the gospel to all very well drafted his article