Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 - Shedd - XXXIII - Chapter 7 Creation continued

Required reading

Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 7 Creation by reading up to the paragraph commencing, 'The second theory antagonistic to the doctrine of creation ex nihilo is that of pseudo-evolution' (page 499 in my edition).

My summary

Today Shedd begins to answer objections to creation ex nihilo. The objection dealt with today is the theory of the eternity of matter.

Shedd's counter arguments are:

(i) matter does not imply absolute perfection;

(ii) matter does not imply necessary existence;

(iii) matter does not imply eternal existence;

(iv) if matter is eternal it must be the first cause.

Shedd also teaches that materialistic physics is wholly disconnected from mathematics because:

(i) mechanical motion obeys an invariable law, and is incompatible with such varieties of motion as the theory requires.;

(ii) material motion is not perpetual;

(iii) mechanical forces never originate varieties, while the vegetable and animal kingdoms are full of them;

(iv) of the immutability of the molecule.

What grabbed me

I liked the quote from Locke: 'Locke (Understanding, IV. x. 10) argues that inert matter, having no self-motion, can no more produce motion than non-entity can produce entity. If, in reply, the materialist should postulate an eternal motion along with an eternal matter, Locke replies, that even if his postulate should be conceded, matter and material motion could no more produce mind, and mental motion, or thought and will, than nothing could produce something. Incogitative being, he says, cannot originate cogitative being. Matter cannot create mind. Locke sums up the whole in the following sentence: "If we suppose nothing to be eternal, matter can never begin to be; if we suppose bare matter without motion to be eternal, motion can never begin to be; if we suppose only matter and motion to be eternal, thought can never begin to be."'

Next week's reading

Conclude Chapter 7 Creation.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.