I decided to start "soft" on myself, with a Theistic Evolutionist friend of mine from way back. We've agreed to something of a correspondence debate via Facebook. To the best of my knowledge, he's recently finished a degree in theology (I think) and is from an Anglican subset that focuses on reasoning, or... well I can't remember the exact details (will have to look that up later on). I'm concerned for him, mainly because he's a friend, and because I know that Compromising is the first step down a slippery slope (as in the case of Charles Templeton).
Quoting his stand:
(Emphasis added by me)Personally, I find evolution a masterful and elegant theory that explains very well how life came to be as it is right now.
I don't find it and God mutually exclusive
but evolution is pretty wonderful
Really, the only difficulty evolution has is origins, specifically three things:
1)How did life originate in the first place?
2)How did it come to reproduce?
3)Where did DNA come from?
The questions are in increasing order of difficulty for evolution.
That one line... it... unnerves and shakes me. I don't know why, but it sent chills up my spine when I read it.
In retrospect, this will prove to be a challenge, given his specific degree, and, well, I don't even have any kind of degree at all to speak of. Even the Apostle Paul was a very well-studied man, one of the top young Pharisees at the time and such. Not to say that the other Apostles didn't do their share, but I suppose, to be honest, I'm... just real nervous about this decision.
I know that the Holy Spirit will provide me with the strength and wisdom if I pray. And I believe that the Holy Spirit is convicting me to seek advice from people who already have experience with apologeticising(sp?). It only makes sense. After all, early believers studied for two whole years in the school of Tyrannus under the Apostle Paul before going out into the world. Wisdom from the Holy Spirit through the advice of brethren who have trodden down this path before me couldn't hurt at all. Could it?
So, all these taken into account, how can I approach him, exactly? How do I help the Holy Spirit bring a lost and confused Theistic Evolutionist to the glorious truth of Creation? He believes there is no conflict between God and Evolution, but we all know this is, to put it bluntly, just silly. Even Richard Dawkins pokes fun at compromisers for not getting this fact.
As I stated when I first joined this site, I've been scarred by previous failed attempts at apologetics that flew badly in my face. So this is very much an emotional issue to me. Also, I apologise if this post seems kinda disjointed. It's past 11PM where I live.
Bless you all, and praise the Lord!