DOCSLIB.ORG

Creationism and Intelligent Design

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

he name DGGTB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geschichte und Theorie Deutsche Gesellschaft für der Biologie; German Society for the History and Philosophy of Biology) reflT ects recent history as well as German tradition. The Society is a relatively Geschichte und Theorie der Biologie late addition to a series of German societies of science and medicine that began with the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geschichte der Medizin und der Naturwissenschaften”, founded in 1910 by Leipzig University’s Karl Annals of the History Sudhoff (1853-1938), who wrote: “We want to establish a ‘German’ society in order to gather German-speaking historians together in our special and Philosophy of Biology disciplines so that they form the core of an international society…”. Yet Sudhoff, at this time of burgeoning academic internationalism, was “quite Volume 19 (2014) willing” to accommodate the wishes of a number of founding members and “drop the word German in the title of the Society and have it merge formerly Jahrbuch für with an international society”. The founding and naming of the Society at Geschichte und Theorie der Biologie that time derived from a specifi c set of historical circumstances, and the same was true some 80 years later when in 1991, in the wake of German Elizabeth Watts reunifi cation, the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geschichte und Theorie der Biologie” was founded. From the start, the Society has been committed Analysis of Creationism in the United States to bringing studies in the history and philosophy of biology to a wide from Scopes (1925) to Kitzmiller (2005) and its audience, using for this purpose its Jahrbuch für Geschichte und Theorie Effect on the Nation’s Science Education System der Biologie. Parallel to the Jahrbuch, the Verhandlungen zur Geschichte und Theorie der Biologie has become the by now traditional medium for the publication of papers delivered at the Society’s annual meetings. In 2005 the Jahrbuch was renamed Annals of the History and Philosophy of Annals of the History and Philosophy Biology, Vol. 19 (2014) Biology, refl ecting the Society’s internationalist aspirations in addressing comparative biology as a subject of historical and philosophical studies. DGGTB ISBN: 978-3-86395-339-3 ISSN: 1863-0197 Universitätsverlag Göttingen Universitätsverlag Göttingen Manuscripts should be submitted to the managing editor. Submissions will be peer reviewed. Annals of the History and Philosophy of Biology, Volume 19 (2014) The preferred language is English. Articles in German should be accompanied by a short Elizabeth Watts: Analysis of Creationism in the United States from Scopes (1925) (max. 1000 words) summary in English. to Kitzmiller (2005) and its Effect on the Nation’s Science Education System Managing Editor Contents Dr. Christian Reiß Professur für Wissenschaftsgeschichte Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... 7 Universität Regensburg Abstract ...................................................................................................................... 9 93040 Regensburg List of Tables and Figures .........................................................................................12 Germany Email: [email protected] Foreword .................................................................................................................. 17 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 19 Editors Understanding the Conflict: science, religion and the United States ....................... 25 Uwe Hoßfeld, Jena, Germany Creationism and Intelligent Design .......................................................................... 87 Lennart Olsson, Jena, Germany Examining the Legal Conflict ................................................................................ 125 Christian Reiß, Regensburg, Germany Examining the conflict and its effect on education ................................................ 163 Editorial Board Beyond Borders: post-Kitzmiller, free-choice learning and creationism Ingo Brigandt, Edmonton, Canada outside the US ............................................................................................. 203 Ariane Dröscher, Bologna, Italy Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 265 Eve-Marie Engels, Tübingen, Germany Afterword ............................................................................................................... 279 Gabriel W. Finkelstein, Denver, USA Literature ................................................................................................................ 281 Nick Hopwood, Cambridge, UK List of Appendices ................................................................................................. 303 Thomas Junker, Frankfurt/Main, Germany Ulrich Kutschera, Kassel, Germany Index ..................................................................................................................... 328 Georgy S. Levit, Kassel, Germany Comment: Creationism and Intelligent Design: Dogmatic concepts that will Amos Morris-Reich, Haifa, Israel not go away ................................................................................................. 337 Staffan Müller-Wille, Exeter, UK Kärin Nickelsen, Munich, Germany Hans-Jörg Rheinberger, Berlin, Germany Robert Richards, Chicago, USA Marsha L. Richmond, Detroit, USA Nicolaas A. Rupke, Lexington, USA Hans-Konrad Schmutz, Zürich/Winterthur, Switzerland Michal Simunek, Prague, Czech Republic Georg Töpfer, Berlin, Germany David M. Williams, London, UK Volker Wissemann, Gießen, Germany Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geschichte und Theorie der Biologie (Ed.) Annals of the History and Philosophy of Biology Vol. 19 (2014) This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Annals of the History and Philosophy of Biology; Volume 19 (2014) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2018 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geschichte und Theorie der Biologie (Ed.) Annals of the History and Philosophy of Biology Vol. 19 (2014) Elizabeth Watts Analysis of Creationism in the United States from Scopes (1925) to Kitzmiller (2005) and its Effect on the Nation’s Science Education System Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2018 Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de. Address of the author Elizabeth Watts Research Group for Biology Education Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research Faculty of Biological Sciences Friedrich Schiller University Jena Am Steiger 3, Bienenhaus 07743 Jena Germany Email: [email protected] This is a revised version of Watts’ doctoral dissertation that was submitted to the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena in 2016 to fulfill the requirements for the degree of doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.). Managing Editor of the Annals of the History and Philosophy of Biology Dr. Christian Reiß Professur für Wissenschaftsgeschichte Universität Regensburg 93040 Regensburg Germany Email: [email protected] Cover Picture: Friedrich Besemann: Leinekanal mit akademischem Museum und Graetzelhaus. Aquarellierte Federzeichung 1860. Graphische Sammlung des Städtischen Museums Göttingen Layout: Elizabeth Watts Cover Design: Kilian Klapp, Maren Büttner © 2018 Universitätsverlag Göttingen https://univerlag.uni-goettingen.de ISBN: 978-3-86395-339-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17875/gup2018-1065 eISSN: 2512-5923 For Zoey – my thunder & joy Acknowledgements If a student is lucky, they may be fortunate enough to receive one good advisor. In my case, I was doubly blessed. My sincerest thanks goes to my exceptional “Doktorvater”, Prof. Dr. Uwe Hoßfeld, and my gifted secondary advisor, Dr. Georgy Levit, for supporting me with their endless wealth of knowledge on the subject and for fortifying my interest in the subject throughout my studies. It was a true pleasure and honor to work with the both of them. I would also like to thank my parents, who blazed the trail, instilling in me a love for science from a very early age and for later providing me with encourage- ment and jubilation along the path to my own dissertation. Last, a heartfelt thank you to David – my best friend & the ultimate yin to my yang. Abstract Creationism is based on a fundamental belief in the inerrancy of the bible and nega- tively affects science education because creationist proponents insist on the inclu- sion of supernatural explanations for the appearance of species, in particular the origin of humans. This detrimental effect on education is particularly relevant in the United States, where almost 70% of the population rejects the idea of naturalistic evolution and the majority of American students struggle to meet the college- readiness benchmarks in science and math. This dissertation provides a comprehen- sive look at the issue from historical, judicial and educational perspectives. Twenty- four legal cases in the United States regarding anti-evolutionary strategies were ana- lyzed in detail. Strategic trends were identified ranging from the statewide banning of evolution in public schools to the required teaching of Creation Science. The exact effect of creationist political activity was
Recommended publications
  • Understanding the Intelligent Design Creationist Movement: Its True Nature and Goals

    Understanding the Intelligent Design Creationist Movement: Its True Nature and Goals

    UNDERSTANDING THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN CREATIONIST MOVEMENT: ITS TRUE NATURE AND GOALS A POSITION PAPER FROM THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY AUTHOR: BARBARA FORREST, Ph.D. Reviewing Committee: Paul Kurtz, Ph.D.; Austin Dacey, Ph.D.; Stuart D. Jordan, Ph.D.; Ronald A. Lindsay, J. D., Ph.D.; John Shook, Ph.D.; Toni Van Pelt DATED: MAY 2007 ( AMENDED JULY 2007) Copyright © 2007 Center for Inquiry, Inc. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for noncommercial, educational purposes, provided that this notice appears on the reproduced materials, the full authoritative version is retained, and copies are not altered. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the Center for Inquiry, Inc. Table of Contents Section I. Introduction: What is at stake in the dispute over intelligent design?.................. 1 Section II. What is the intelligent design creationist movement? ........................................ 2 Section III. The historical and legal background of intelligent design creationism ................ 6 Epperson v. Arkansas (1968) ............................................................................ 6 McLean v. Arkansas (1982) .............................................................................. 6 Edwards v. Aguillard (1987) ............................................................................. 7 Section IV. The ID movement’s aims and strategy .............................................................. 9 The “Wedge Strategy” .....................................................................................
  • Argumentation and Fallacies in Creationist Writings Against Evolutionary Theory Petteri Nieminen1,2* and Anne-Mari Mustonen1

    Argumentation and Fallacies in Creationist Writings Against Evolutionary Theory Petteri Nieminen1,2* and Anne-Mari Mustonen1

    Nieminen and Mustonen Evolution: Education and Outreach 2014, 7:11 http://www.evolution-outreach.com/content/7/1/11 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Argumentation and fallacies in creationist writings against evolutionary theory Petteri Nieminen1,2* and Anne-Mari Mustonen1 Abstract Background: The creationist–evolutionist conflict is perhaps the most significant example of a debate about a well-supported scientific theory not readily accepted by the public. Methods: We analyzed creationist texts according to type (young earth creationism, old earth creationism or intelligent design) and context (with or without discussion of “scientific” data). Results: The analysis revealed numerous fallacies including the direct ad hominem—portraying evolutionists as racists, unreliable or gullible—and the indirect ad hominem, where evolutionists are accused of breaking the rules of debate that they themselves have dictated. Poisoning the well fallacy stated that evolutionists would not consider supernatural explanations in any situation due to their pre-existing refusal of theism. Appeals to consequences and guilt by association linked evolutionary theory to atrocities, and slippery slopes to abortion, euthanasia and genocide. False dilemmas, hasty generalizations and straw man fallacies were also common. The prevalence of these fallacies was equal in young earth creationism and intelligent design/old earth creationism. The direct and indirect ad hominem were also prevalent in pro-evolutionary texts. Conclusions: While the fallacious arguments are irrelevant when discussing evolutionary theory from the scientific point of view, they can be effective for the reception of creationist claims, especially if the audience has biases. Thus, the recognition of these fallacies and their dismissal as irrelevant should be accompanied by attempts to avoid counter-fallacies and by the recognition of the context, in which the fallacies are presented.
  • Darwin and Doubt and the Response of the Victorian Churches Churchman 100/4 1986

    Darwin and Doubt and the Response of the Victorian Churches Churchman 100/4 1986

    Darwin and Doubt and the Response of the Victorian Churches Churchman 100/4 1986 Nigel Scotland The Bible and Nineteenth Century Christians Although the Victorian Era was seen as one of the high points in the practice of English Christianity, and although outwardly speaking Church attendance remained at a relatively high level, below the surface many people were beginning to express a variety of doubts about the inspiration of the Bible and about points of Christian doctrine which had been cherished for centuries. These doubts stemmed in the main from two sources: discoveries in Science and the development of Biblical Criticism. The former caused men to question the traditional explanation of world origins and the latter brought doubts regarding the traditional doctrine of the inspiration of scripture. The main root of the problem lay in the Churches’ view of the scriptures. The Church in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century held a view of the scriptures which had been taken over from Greek thought in the early Christian centuries and been further reinforced by the Reformation. They thought of God literally breathing the Scripture into the writers of the Biblical documents. The result of this was that the Bible was held to speak authoritatively on all matters whether they related to man’s relationship to God or to the scientific origins of the Universe. The ordinary Christian man and woman in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries regarded the Judaeo-Christian religion as an Historical religion. It concerned the story of God’s historical acts in relation to his people.
  • The 1925 Monkey Trial

    The 1925 Monkey Trial

    The “Monkey Trial” March 1925. • On 21st March 1925 Tennessee passed the Butler Act which stated: • That it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of the State which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, to teach any theory that denies the Story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals. Proposer of the act: John Washington Butler. Religion vs. Science. • (State Representative) John W. Butler, a Tennessee farmer and head of the World Christian Fundamentals Association, lobbied state legislatures to pass the anti-evolution law. The act is challenged. • John Thomas Scopes' involvement in the so-called Scopes Monkey Trial came about after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced that it would finance a test case challenging the constitutionality of the Butler Act if they could find a Tennessee teacher willing to act as a defendant. • Photograph of John Scopes taken one month before the trial. Opportunistic Bush Lawyers? • A band of businessmen in Dayton, Tennessee, led by engineer and geologist George Rappleyea, saw this as an opportunity to get publicity for their town and approached Scopes. • Rappleyea pointed out that while the Butler Act prohibited the teaching of human evolution, the state required teachers to use the assigned textbook, Hunter's Civic Biology (1914), which included a chapter on evolution. • Rappleyea argued that teachers were essentially required to break the law.
  • Scientists Dissent List

    Scientists Dissent List

    A SCIENTIFIC DISSENT FROM DARWINISM “We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged.” This was last publicly updated February 2019. Scientists listed by doctoral degree or current position. Philip Skell* Emeritus, Evan Pugh Prof. of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University Member of the National Academy of Sciences Lyle H. Jensen* Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Biological Structure & Dept. of Biochemistry University of Washington, Fellow AAAS Maciej Giertych Full Professor, Institute of Dendrology Polish Academy of Sciences Lev Beloussov Prof. of Embryology, Honorary Prof., Moscow State University Member, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences Eugene Buff Ph.D. Genetics Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences Emil Palecek Prof. of Molecular Biology, Masaryk University; Leading Scientist Inst. of Biophysics, Academy of Sci., Czech Republic K. Mosto Onuoha Shell Professor of Geology & Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Univ. of Nigeria Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Science Ferenc Jeszenszky Former Head of the Center of Research Groups Hungarian Academy of Sciences M.M. Ninan Former President Hindustan Academy of Science, Bangalore University (India) Denis Fesenko Junior Research Fellow, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia) Sergey I. Vdovenko Senior Research Assistant, Department of Fine Organic Synthesis Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences (Ukraine) Henry Schaefer Director, Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry University of Georgia Paul Ashby Ph.D. Chemistry Harvard University Israel Hanukoglu Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Chairman The College of Judea and Samaria (Israel) Alan Linton Emeritus Professor of Bacteriology University of Bristol (UK) Dean Kenyon Emeritus Professor of Biology San Francisco State University David W.
  • Subiaco Abbey

    Subiaco Abbey

    The Abbey Message Subiaco Abbey Vol LXXVII, No. 1 Summer 2021 Inside Parish and Pandemic by Fr. Reginald Udouj, OSB 2 This past year has been an interesting one, to say the least. I started out as the Abbot’s Message administrator of St. Joseph’s in Paris, AR, and the sacramental minister of St. An- You are my Friends thony’s in Ratcliff, and after a little over a year I am now the pastor at St. Joseph’s (my grandmother’s home parish) and the sacramental minister at St. Mary’s parish 3 in Altus (my grandfather’s home parish). The time in between has been anything but uneventful. Abbey Journal I first arrived at St. Joseph’s at the beginning of Advent in 2019. It was a bit Happenings at the Abbey unnerving trying to navigate the needs of the parish and the different liturgies of the Christmas season as I settled into my new surroundings. I made it through the Christmas season without causing too much turmoil in the parish or in the elemen- 7 tary school and was finally starting to get my bearings and settle in for the Lenten Development season when the whole world seemed to get turned upside down. Bishop Anthony Taylor came to St. Joseph’s one Saturday in mid-March for the The Hills are Alive confirmation of twelve of the youth of our parish; it was as joyous a day as it could have been. We had a beautiful Mass and reception that followed and everyone was 10 in the Spirit.
  • The Mystery of Life's Origin

    The Mystery of Life's Origin

    The Mystery of Life’s Origin The Continuing Controversy CHARLES B. THAXTON, WALTER L. BRADLEY, ROGER L. OLSEN, JAMES TOUR, STEPHEN MEYER, JONATHAN WELLS, GUILLERMO GONZALEZ, BRIAN MILLER, DAVID KLINGHOFFER Seattle Discovery Institute Press 2020 Description The origin of life from non-life remains one of the most enduring mysteries of modern science. The Mystery of Life’s Origin: The Continuing Controversy investigates how close scientists are to solving that mystery and explores what we are learning about the origin of life from current research in chemistry, physics, astrobiology, biochemistry, and more. The book includes an updated version of the classic text The Mystery of Life’s Origin by Charles Thaxton, Walter Bradley, and Roger Olsen, and new chapters on the current state of the debate by chemist James Tour, physicist Brian Miller, astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez, biologist Jonathan Wells, and philosopher of science Stephen C. Meyer. Copyright Notice Copyright © 2020 by Discovery Institute, All Rights Reserved. Library Cataloging Data The Mystery of Life’s Origin: The Continuing Controversy by Charles B. Thaxton, Walter L. Bradley, Roger L, Olsen, James Tour, Stephen Meyer, Jonathan Wells, Guillermo Gonzalez, Brian Miller, and David Klinghoffer 486 pages, 6 x 9 x 1.0 inches & 1.4 lb, 229 x 152 x 25 mm. & 0.65 kg Library of Congress Control Number: 9781936599745 ISBN-13: 978-1-936599-74-5 (paperback), 978-1-936599-75-2 (Kindle), 978-1-936599-76-9 (EPUB) BISAC: SCI013040 SCIENCE / Chemistry / Organic BISAC: SCI013030 SCIENCE / Chemistry / Inorganic BISAC: SCI007000 SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Biochemistry BISAC: SCI075000 SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects Publisher Information Discovery Institute Press, 208 Columbia Street, Seattle, WA 98104 Internet: http://www.discoveryinstitutepress.com/ Published in the United States of America on acid-free paper.
  • The Revelation of God, East and West: Contrasting Special Revelation in Western Modernity with the Ancient Christian East

    The Revelation of God, East and West: Contrasting Special Revelation in Western Modernity with the Ancient Christian East

    Open Theology 2017; 3: 565–589 Analytic Perspectives on Method and Authority in Theology Nathan A. Jacobs* The Revelation of God, East and West: Contrasting Special Revelation in Western Modernity with the Ancient Christian East https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2017-0043 Received August 11, 2017; accepted September 11, 2017 Abstract: The questions of whether God reveals himself; if so, how we can know a purported revelation is authentic; and how such revelations relate to the insights of reason are discussed by John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, René Descartes, G. W. Leibniz, and Immanuel Kant, to name a few. Yet, what these philosophers say with such consistency about revelation stands in stark contrast with the claims of the Christian East, which are equally consistent from the second century through the fourteenth century. In this essay, I will compare the modern discussion of special revelation from Thomas Hobbes through Johann Fichte with the Eastern Christian discussion from Irenaeus through Gregory Palamas. As we will see, there are noteworthy differences between the two trajectories, differences I will suggest merit careful consideration from philosophers of religion. Keywords: Religious Epistemology; Revelation; Divine Vision; Theosis; Eastern Orthodox; Locke; Hobbes; Lessing; Kant; Fichte; Irenaeus; Cappadocians; Cyril of Alexandria; Gregory Palamas The idea that God speaks to humanity, revealing things hidden or making his will known, comes under careful scrutiny in modern philosophy. The questions of whether God does reveal himself; if so, how we can know a purported revelation is authentic; and how such revelations relate to the insights of reason are discussed by John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, René Descartes, G.
  • Sacred Heart Church 1882 - 1982 a Short History

    Sacred Heart Church 1882 - 1982 a Short History

    The Sacred Heart Church 1882 - 1982 A Short History SACRED HEART CHURCH PENICUIK 1882 - 1982 A Short History Acknowledgement: To Michael McGowan who wrote and researched this short history of the Sacred Heart Church, we are deeply indebted. We appreciate all the effort, time and travel with which he involved himself, in its compilation. We are sorry he did not live to see his efforts in print. He will be remembered by all who read this booklet. May he rest in peace. M.J. THE PARISH: In the "New Statistical Account of Scotland (1839-41)" the Rev. Scott Moncrieff mentions that from the 12th century to the Reformation the Parish of Penicuik continued as an independent parsonage; the grant of the living was in the hands of the Lord of the Manor. The Manor was held by a family who assumed their surname from it and were patrons of the Church. Some of the pre-reformation clergymen were: 1296 - Walter Edgar 1319 - Ricardus de Suthorpe 1448 - Alex. Vans 1472 - John Quitela 1550 - Archibald Robertson The last pre-reformation cleric was appointed in 1556 and was a relative of the patron. His name was William Penycuike. He continued in office for seven years after the Reformation and lived in Penicuik until the end of the 16th century. These clergymen were, of course Catholic, and probably were private chaplains to the Lord of the Manor. There is no record of any sort of church being situated in Penicuik itself until mention is made in the "Minutes of the Kirk Session of Penicuik" of a decree of the Commissioners for Plantation of Kirks, dated 30th January I618, annexing to the Kirk of Pennycooke the lands of Mount Lothian and St.
  • Critical Analysis of Article "21 Reasons to Believe the Earth Is Young" by Jeff Miller

    Critical Analysis of Article "21 Reasons to Believe the Earth Is Young" by Jeff Miller

    1 Critical analysis of article "21 Reasons to Believe the Earth is Young" by Jeff Miller Lorence G. Collins [email protected] Ken Woglemuth [email protected] January 7, 2019 Introduction The article by Dr. Jeff Miller can be accessed at the following link: http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=5641 and is an article published by Apologetic Press, v. 39, n.1, 2018. The problems start with the Article In Brief in the boxed paragraph, and with the very first sentence. The Bible does not give an age of the Earth of 6,000 to 10,000 years, or even imply − this is added to Scripture by Dr. Miller and other young-Earth creationists. R. C. Sproul was one of evangelicalism's outstanding theologians, and he stated point blank at the Legionier Conference panel discussion that he does not know how old the Earth is, and the Bible does not inform us. When there has been some apparent conflict, either the theologians or the scientists are wrong, because God is the Author of the Bible and His handiwork is in general revelation. In the days of Copernicus and Galileo, the theologians were wrong. Today we do not know of anyone who believes that the Earth is the center of the universe. 2 The last sentence of this "Article In Brief" is boldly false. There is almost no credible evidence from paleontology, geology, astrophysics, or geophysics that refutes deep time. Dr. Miller states: "The age of the Earth, according to naturalists and old- Earth advocates, is 4.5 billion years.
  • Creation and God As One, Creator, and Trinity in Early Theology Through Augustine and Its Theological Fruitfulness in the 21St Century

    Creation and God As One, Creator, and Trinity in Early Theology Through Augustine and Its Theological Fruitfulness in the 21St Century

    Creation and God as One, Creator, and Trinity in Early Theology through Augustine and Its Theological Fruitfulness in the 21st Century Submitted by Jane Ellingwood to the University of Exeter as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology in September 2015 This dissertation is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the dissertation may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this dissertation which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Signature: _________Jane Ellingwood _________________________ 2 Abstract My primary argument in this thesis is that creation theologies significantly influenced early developments in the doctrine of the Trinity, especially in Augustine of Hippo’s theology. Thus this is a work of historical theology, but I conclude with proposals for how Augustine’s theologies of creation and the Trinity can be read fruitfully with modern theology. I critically analyse developments in trinitarian theologies in light of ideas that were held about creation. These include the doctrine of creation ‘out of nothing’ and ideas about other creative acts (e.g., forming or fashioning things). Irenaeus and other early theologians posited roles for God (the Father), the Word / Son, the Spirit, or Wisdom in creative acts without working out formal views on economic trinitarian acts. During the fourth century trinitarian controversies, creation ‘out of nothing’ and ideas about ‘modes of origin’ influenced thinking on consubstantiality and relations within the Trinity.
  • Doing the Lambeth Walk

    Doing the Lambeth Walk

    DOING THE LAMBETH WALK The request We, the Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Province of Canada, in Triennial Synod assembled, desire to represent to your Grace, that in consequence of the recent decisions of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the well-known case respecting the Essays and Reviews, and also in the case of the Bishop of Natal and the Bishop of Cape Town, the minds of many members of the church have been unsettled or painfully alarmed; and that doctrines hitherto believed to be scriptural, undoubtedly held by the members of the Church of England and Ireland, have been adjudicated upon by the Privy Council in such a way as to lead thousands of our brethren to conclude that, according to this decision, it is quite compatible with membership in the Church of England to discredit the historical facts of Holy Scripture, and to disbelieve the eternity of future punishment1 So began the 1865 letter from the Canadians to Charles Thomas Longley, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England. The letter concluded In order, therefore, to comfort the souls of the faithful, and reassure the minds of wavering members of the church, … we humbly entreat your Grace, …to convene a national synod of the bishops of the Anglican Church at home and abroad, who, attended by one or more of their presbyters or laymen, learned in ecclesiastical law, as their advisers, may meet together, and, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, take such counsel and adopt such measures as may be best fitted to provide for the present distress in such synod, presided over by your Grace.