I am visiting my folks in southern California at the moment. I attended my old church this morning in Sierra Madre. Hugh Ross was speaking at a "Skeptics Forum" at the church at 11:30 am. After going to the early service, I wandered over to the room where Ross was speaking.
Dr. Hugh Ross is the founder of Reasons To Believe (RTB). RTB is an apologetics organization which specializes in presenting evidence for design from science. Because of Dr. Ross' background in physics and astronomy, they are particularly strong in presenting the stunning evidence of fine tuning in the universe [known as the anthropic principle].
After a short lecture, Hugh opened it up for questions. Several got up and asked questions. I began fidgeting in my seat. I have always wanted to ask Hugh a question. This guy answers questions for a living -- hard questions. What should I ask, I thought.
I rose out of my chair and approached the microphone.
I had to wait in line. The guy in front of me asked some question about the canon of scripture. My turn arrived.
What I really wanted to know ... was if Hugh Ross ever got stumped by a question ... or, what question does Hugh Ross dread getting from an audience ... or, what makes this man with ice water in his veins get truly nervous ... or, how does Hugh Ross stay so calm when he gets viciously attacked and called names by young earth creationists. These were the things I really wanted to know.
However, when I stepped up to the microphone, I chickened out and went with a safe question.
"Hugh, when I engage with my skeptic friends about arguments for design from cosmology and biology, they often tell me, Jeff, that is interesting, but your evidence is non-falsifiable. Evolution, they say, is falsifiable [in theory], and therefore more compelling.
How should I respond to them? You [at RTB] promote a testable creation model. What tests would falsify the creation model? Give me some examples."
Hugh nodded, sipped a drink of water, and then responded.
[continued]
Well, I'm kinda glad you chickened out :-). I'm looking forward to his answer to your question.
Posted by: brian | May 30, 2005 at 11:14
I hope if I ever "chicken out," my cowardice looks like that. It's a good question anyway. Can't wait to read the answer.
Posted by: Scott McClare | May 30, 2005 at 12:14