Fwd: The Wrath of the Intelligent Designer

[jporter]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: jporter <jp3214 at earthlink.net>
> Date: September 18, 2005 7:54:19 PM EDT
> To: Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net>
> Subject: Re: The Wrath of the Intelligent Designer
>
>
> On Sep 18, 2005, at 2:58 PM, Paul Mackin wrote:
>
>> Aquinas didn't make any such distinction in his fifth proof (of five) 
>> for the existence of God
>> (in which he sets in opposition the idea of things coming into 
>> existence fortuitously (or in modern terms by Evolution) or their 
>> coming into existence designedly):
>>
>> "The fifth way is taken from the governance of he world. We see that 
>> things which lack knowledge, such as natural bodies, act for an end, 
>> and this is evident from the acting always, or nearly always, in he 
>> same way, so as to obtain the best result. Hence it is plain that 
>> they achieve this end, not fortuitously, but designedly. Now whatever 
>> lacks knowledge cannot move toward an end, unless it be directed by 
>> some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence, as the arrow is 
>> directed by the archer. Therefore some intelligent being exists by 
>> whom all natural things are directed to their end: and this being we 
>> call God. "
>>
>> Yes, the Evangelicals want to argue for the existence of God in 
>> science  class.
>>
>>
>>
>
> One senses the genius of Aquinas- "Natural Bodies"-  can move only 
> towards
> the same end, i.e., they lack volition, free will and any possibility 
> of sin. Their
> perfect consistency is dependent on God's will, which is also perfect.
>
> Humans, on the other hand, created in the image of God, have their own
> will, and the freedom to make choices with regards to their behavior, 
> in the
> light of the knowledge of good and evil.
>
> jody
>