Hi Jonathan:
> After spending years thinking about it, I find myself teary-eyed and amazed
> at the extreme beauty of Darwin's idea. It is so amazingly simple at its
> core, yet leads to apparently infinite sophistication. I find it to more
> sublime and more divine than any "supernatural" philosophy. One might even
> say that evolution is the ultimate expression of God's omnipotence!!
Beautifully expressed, Jonathan. I'm struck by its similarity to the
following passage from the book, "God, Chance and Necessity" by
Keith Ward:
"The sort of simplicity a physicist is interested in is the sort possessed
by Einstein's theory of general relativity, which contains no less than
fourteen independent equations for describing behavior in accelerating
frames of reference. It is still a beautifully simple idea, however, in its
symmetry and logical completeness. The idea of simplicity here is that
of integrated symmetry or harmony, relating diverse data under highly
integrated principles. In this sense, God is a simple hypothesis, since
the hypothesis provides one integrating principle, the goal of creating
high-level loving and sacrificial action by freely-acting self-conscious
individuals. The evolutionary system is one the beauty and elegance of
which suggest that it might well have a very wise architect. The
hypothesis of God both makes the actual system highly probable, if
God desires such a system to exist, and guarantees its continuance
into the future (or at least guarantees that its purpose will not fail)."
My personal "truth detector" registers strongly when I read passages
such as this and Jonathan's. In one sense they are at odds. But in
another, more meaningful sense, they are in harmony.
Substitute the MoQ for "Darwin's idea" and the "hypothesis of God" and
you understand what makes me teary-eyed. Those who have never
become teary-eyed at the extreme beauty of something will not
comprehend.
Thanks Jonathan.
Platt
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