Title:
In fact I did understand the meaning of the article, but I
agree with Tony that I was too quick and hypercritical and I am sorry
to the people who are concerned.
I was
annoyed about the article because I read about it in a newspaper and the
context was something like: "Well, there is another strange scientist who is
doing strange studies and mixing science and religion in a dubious way". In the
meantime I see that I should have blamed the journalist, but not the
authors and the editor.
Again:
sorry for this.
Nevertheless, I have problems with this type of eye-catchers, because
they provoke this type of response in the public media - but obviously I am the
only one.
Well,
all of us has to find a way to gain publicity.
Anyhow, I learned my lesson and next time I will sleep one night before I
post a thread.
Compunctiously,
Michael
Please do
not be so quick to criticise and post...
I think
you have mis-understood or mis-read the intentions of the authors:
they are
trying to show scientifically that a human being may have been able to walk
across the lake (on ice) that Jesus was reported to have performed the miracle
of walking on water upon, and thus that it was not actually a miracle. I
have only read their abstract, but I believe that it clearly explains their
views and reasons (see highlighted quotes below)
Obviously
(as myself) you are not religious, but you have to consider whether you believe
the Bible is entirely ficticious, or based upon actual events and historical
figures, tales of whom have been exaggerated and elaborated upon to produce the
religious tome recognised today.
I believe
the authors of the paper, and the editors, were right to include this for
publication: they are, in fact, providing evidence AGAINST creationsim and
ID! Impartial, accurate, scientific evidence is all we can provide in the
ID/creationsim 'debate', and they appear to have done this, so I wholeheartedly
agree with the publication of this work.
The
conclusion of their abstract reads (with relevant points
highlighted):
'On this basis, it is proposed that the unusual local
freezing process might have provided an origin to the story that
Christ walked on water. Since the springs ice is relatively small, a person
standing or walking on it may appear to an observer situated some distance away
to be ‘walking on water’. This is particularly true if it rained after the ice
was formed (because rain smoothes out the ice’s surface). Whether this
happened or not is an issue for religion scholars, archeologists,
anthropologists, and believers to decide on.
As natural scientists, we merely point out that unique
freezing processes probably happened in that region several times during the
last 12,000 years.'
Best
regards to all,
Tony
(p.s. I
swore I would never enter the ID debate on Paleonet......now where did I put
that hair shirt......?!!) ;o)
___________________________________
Dr Anthony
Butcher
S.E.E.S.
University
of Portsmouth
Burnaby
Building
Burnaby
Road
Portsmouth
PO1
3QL
United
kingdom
Tel:
(+44) 23 9284 2258
Fax: (+44)
23 9284 2244
anthony.butcher@port.ac.uk
___________________________________