In Reply to: Re: Miracles posted by Skep on January 13, 2006 at 22:39:25:
You've got some deep thinking going on there.
Your final paragraph made me think about the evolution versus intelligent design debate that is raging across the U.S. these days. Just this morning I read two lengthy letters to the editor of our local paper on the topic--both from people trained in scientific method--and each taking somewhat opposing views.
I say "somewhat" because the mainstream, popular media likes to polarize complex issues into opposing categories for debate. I think civil society needs to do less debating (like someone's expected to win the argument) and more discussing (like each perspective on a complex issue has something to contribute toward a complete view of reality).
As someone trained in scientific method who understands and accepts evolutionary theories, I don't have a problem with the concept (it hasn't yet risen the level of theory) of "intelligent design." The problem is how one defines the concept of a "designer." I think the traditional Judeo-Christian concept of a supernatural Creator God who is personally engaged in time & matter is problematic when it comes to the type of Designer that science is able to deduce from the evidence.
There is, btw, a body of scientific theory-based conceptual speculation on the relationship between the designer and design, but it looks more like Buddhist philosophy than Judeo-Christian revelation. The work of Ken Wilbur comes to mind (e.g., The Holographic Paradigm, Quantum Questions, The Simple Feeling of Being).
When it comes to the problem of thinking I know it all or that I have the ultimate answers or that I have cornered the market on all truth, I find the spiritual practice of kenosis helpful. (I make no claim to being particularly adept at this.) Kensos is an ancient Greco-Christian spiritual practice of mindful self-empting or "un-self" consciousness. (See Phil. 5:2-8 for foundation text) If you're interested, check out: http://www.kenosis.net/ That site has a nice introduction to the topic and a current bibliography.