it breaks the natural flow of conversation and makes this board feel more like a "resource center" or something.
I think you have hit the nail directly on the head with the "resource center" thing. In my estimation that is precisely the point. Anyone conversant with the scientific method would consider that high praise. A discussion about science that just follows the natural flow of conversation, doesn't use precise definitions, doesn't follow through on claims, and allows endless changing of the subject (google "gish gallop"), leads to the kind of misapprehensions about science that you have brought with you. Your arguments show every evidence of never having been subjected to any kind of organized critical analysis.
What you call creation "science" is the result of following just the approach you seem to want to take. It is a mile wide and an inch deep. You unwittingly illustrate this in your biographical sketch of Morris. He is an hydraulic engineer. Why would he be expected to have any insight into evolutionary biology, paleontology, thermodynamics, and all the other disciplines he approaches in his book? I know a few biologists, and I cannot imagine any one of them having the hubris to write a book about hydraulic engineering. And if they
were so foolish, and their books were methodically dissected, line by line, by real engineers, (as Morris' books have been shredded by many specialists in the various fields he misrepresents) I cannot imagine why anyone would take them seriously.
You keep saying that we don't understand scientific creationism, yet you make statements like
The book I am recommending was written by two scientists who happen to be Christians.
Yet Morris states: "All ICR staff members adhere to a Statement of Faith in the form of two documents:
"Tenets of Scientific Creationism, " and "Tenets of Biblical Creationism." (see Impact No. 85)"
These documents simply, utterly, and unequivocally remove him from the realm of science. He, and other members of ICR clearly state that their conclusion is foregone, and that they do not believe that any evidence (science, remember) can change that conclusion.
At this site:
The Institute for Creation Researchhe elaborates:
"It all seems to us to hinge on one overriding question. Do we really believe the Bible to be God's inerrant Word or not? If the Bible is really the Word of our Creator God, then--by definition--it must be inerrant and authoritative on every subject with which it deals. This assumption leads clearly to the conviction that the creation took place in six literal days several thousand years ago. We believe this simply because God said so and said it quite plainly! And then we find also that this revealed fact will fit all the facts of science much better than the long-age evolutionary scenario does.
It is no good to say, as one evangelical leader said recently: "Well, I believe that God could create in six days or six billion years--it makes no difference." Yes it does, because it has to do with God's truthfulness! It is not a matter of what God could do. The question is what God says that He did! And what He said in writing was this, recorded with His own finger on a table of stone: "In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day"
So this is the problem. You claim that we don't understand scientific creationism. Yet you refer to Morris as a scientist first and a Christian second when his organization's pledge, and his own writings, confirm that that is a falsehood. You reaffirm, as you have with every post, that you are utterly ignorant of this subject and of the personalities whose lies have misled you. This is not new ground for anyone here. I would estimate that I have read something like 50 or more books on this subject alone, in addition to having received my university science education at Christian institutions. Go to Amazon, order up
Abusing Science: The Case Against Creationism by Philip Kitcher or
The Counter-Creationism Handbook by Mark Isaak. Learn something about the subject you are embracing and the men you are believing.
Capt.