From: cates_db@hotmail.com   
      
   On 2025-03-18 11:23 a.m., Bob Casanova wrote:   
   > On Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:26:24 -0500, the following appeared   
   > in talk.origins, posted by DB Cates :   
   >   
   >> On 2025-03-18 3:13 a.m., Martin Harran wrote:   
   >>> On Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:31:30 -0500, DB Cates    
   >>> wrote:   
   >>>   
   >>>> On 2025-03-17 8:31 a.m., Martin Harran wrote:   
   >>>>> On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 08:42:49 -0500, RonO    
   >>>>> wrote:   
   >>>>>   
   >>>> [giant snip]   
   >>>   
   >>> Thank you for that. I had to stop snipping replies to Ron because if   
   >>> you snip anything at all, he claims you were running from his   
   >>> arguments and reposts the same stuff so you end up with a post 2 or 3   
   >>> times longer than it needs to be :(   
   >>>   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>> QUOTE:   
   >>>>>> We believe that God acts purposefully in creation, just as he does in   
   >>>>>> our lives, and that he continues to actively uphold and sustain   
   creation.   
   >>>>>> END QUOTE:   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> And again, nothing there about God tweaking life the way Behe claims.   
   >>>>>     [another giant snip]   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Out of curiosity, what do you think the phrase "he continues to actively   
   >>>> uphold and sustain creation." mean? I mean, in particular "continues"   
   >>>> and "actively".   
   >>>   
   >>> I see this as a background thing, not a direct process. I have 5   
   >>> grown-up children, all with children of their own. I continue to   
   >>> actively uphold and sustain them in whatever way they need but I do   
   >>> not *interfere* in their lives. If, for example, they make decisions   
   >>> that I don't agree with, I *might* offer an opinion if I think it will   
   >>> be welcome but the decision is entirely theirs and I fully accept and   
   >>> support whatever they do decide. The help and support I (and my wife)   
   >>> give them is on request, not pushed on them, though they know it is   
   >>> available when needed, and is given unconditionally.   
   >>>   
   >>> That's why I think the analogy of God as father is a particularly apt   
   >>> one.   
   >>>   
   >>>   
   >> I'm having difficulty reconciling that view with a purported omniscient   
   >> entity.   
   >>   
   > Omniscience doesn't imply a need to meddle; the idea is that   
   > humans were given free will.   
   >>   
   Whence miracles and/or answering prayers. How do you help and support,   
   even if only on request, without 'meddling'?   
   Yeah, and there's something (separate) about that 'free will' idea, too.   
      
   --   
   --   
   Don Cates ("he's a cunning rascal" PN)   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)