natural theology, argument from design, Wolfe, and other matters

Michael Straight · 05 Nov 1999, 10:03 · from urth-v0028.mbox · original

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From: Michael Straight <straight at email.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: (urth) natural theology, argument from design, Wolfe, and other matters
Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 10:03:07
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On Thu, 4 Nov 1999, Daniel Fusch wrote:

> Natural theology, on the other hand, is a much older and more complex=20
> ideology. As I understand it, natural theology argues, among other things=
,=20
> that because the world was created by a supernatural being, that being ca=
n=20
> intervene in the affairs of the world, producing miracles.

Actually, Natural Theology refers to that which can be learned about God
from nature, as opposed to that which has been learned about God from
revelation.  The term "Natural Theology" was most popular in the 18th and
19th centuries, but the distinction is rooted in Aquinas and the
scholastics.

You are right that the worldview that does not clearly distinguish between
the actions of God and the action of nature goes back even further.  For
instance, in the Hebrew scriptures the prophets frequently give God credit
for natural disasters (the locust plague in Amos), and historical events
(the triumph of Babylon is God's punishment against Israel).  On the other
hand, ancient people also recognized some distinction between a miracle
and an ordinary event.  The story of a virgin giving birth was no easier
to believe because they knew less biology than we do.

-Rostrum

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