Denis O Lamoureux

Professor of Science & Religion
St Joseph's College, University of Alberta

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Ladd offers a brilliant aphorism. First, Scripture is the Word of God. It was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Second, the Bible includes words of ancient human authors. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Lord allowed the use ancient human words, like words about creation.

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Dr. Joshua Swamidass attempts to connect Adam to evolution. He is a very talented & holds MD & PhD (Math) degrees. My paper in Science & Christian Belief 36:2 (2024) shows why the Swamidass theory fails: https://t.co/3Ryfid0he5

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

I'm often asked, “Why can't Adam be at the end of evolution?” My answer is you can't mix modern science with the Bible & its ancient view of science. This would be like tacking on the biblical 3-tier universe with a flat earth at the end of the Big Bang & cosmological evolution.

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

His 'Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina' (1615), Galileo puts Scripture & science in perspective. Astronomy is INCIDENTAL. Revealing scientific facts about the sun, moon, or stars is not purpose of the Word of God.

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Astronomy reveals that the so-called "rising" of the sun is because the earth rotates on its axis. The sun rising verses in the Bible (Eccl 1:5, Ps 19:6) reflect an ancient phenomenological perspective. Science helps us interpret the Word of God. Thanks Galileo!

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Galileo accepts the traditional Two Divine Books. He affirms the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit. He also affirms God is the Creator of the laws of nature. Galileo views a balance between the Two Books since they "derive equally from" the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit.

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Here is my approach to Intelligent Design in the natural world. It embraces both an evidential approach (upward arrows) and a presuppositional approach (downward arrows). The belief or non-belief in design is ultimately rooted in an act of faith.

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

As a Christian, I disagree atheist Richard Dawkins. Yet he affirms that nature impacts humans powerfully and this leads most a belief in a Creator. Thank you Richard Dawkins for affirming my belief in Intelligent Design. Indeed, the heavens declare the glory of God (Ps 19:1)!

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Intelligent Design "Theory" claims ID is scientifically detectable. But it equates ID with miraculous divine interventions. This is not the biblical & traditional view of ID. See my Intelligent Design Theory: The God-of-the-Gaps Rooted in Concordism (2018) https://t.co/Puuij4g3oP

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

For many like me, fine-tuning in the universe points to a Creator. One response against this BELIEF is that there are countless other worlds, and it is only luck that we are in the one with fine-tuning. Science-Religion scholar John Haught responds to this BELIEF. Is he right?

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

I am reissuing a brilliant FB post by Dr Larry Moran, retired professor of biochemistry at the U of Toronto. John Haught's comments are spot on. It underlines that everyone, including atheists, are believers and devotees just like religious people. Do you agree with Haught?

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

The term "Intelligent Design" has been taken over by the so-called "Intelligent Design Theorists." They equate ID with God's miraculous interventions in Genesis 1 & 2. ID theorists use the Bible like a book of science. Let me suggest a Biblical & traditional definition of ID.

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Pope John Paul II accepted the idea of Two Divine Books--Book of Nature & Book of Scripture. He believed nature offers a revelation of the Creator. JP II recognized sin was a factor in rejecting this gracious revelation inscribed into the fabric of the creation. Do you agree?

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Pope John Paul II believes in Intelligent Design. He appeals to Rom 1:20: "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

I am beginning a 3-week course on biblical interpretation this Thurs. Here is the handout: https://t.co/rPbcogM5t7. To register: https://t.co/3w6o08JrJl The cost is free. But a donation to the ASA or CSCA is appreciated.

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Amen!

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Many Christians are surprised to learn that there are Christians who reject Intelligent Design (aka Natural Theology). One of the most important theologians of the 20th century was Karl Barth. He rejected ID & NT. I utterly reject his un-biblical view of the revelation in nature.

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

The Presuppositional Approach begins with the belief in Intelligent Design & an Intelligent Designer (God), and then it looks at the natural world through the lens of this assumption. Cardinal John Henry Newman is an example of this 2nd approach to ID.

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

The Evidential Approach to Intelligent Design begins with evidence in nature and then argues for the existence of ID & an Intelligent Designer. Famed atheist Antony Flew eventually came to believe in ID & an IDer. Flew is an example of the 1st approach to ID.

[Denis O Lamoureux @deniscreation]

Wisdom 13 seems to have influenced the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:20. It is probably behind his clause that "men and women are without excuse" with regard to the natural revelation in the physical world. I love the balance between the Beauty and the Power in the creation.