On the other hand, I would expect that any divine intervention in the universe would appear, even to the most sophisticated human techniques, to be truly random.

Very thoughtful post. There’s no doubt natural selection provides challenges to the received orthodox theologies, and it’s quite interesting to watch someone try to work through the ideas rather than simply reject one or the other.

Have I understood you correctly?

My choice to believe in randomness is more theological than scientific. I think it’s really impossible to tell whether there is true randomness in the sense in which I’m using the word or not. The alternative seems to me to be complete determinism, which is also quite possible.

So, in reality, we can only be statistically confident that something is random, and not certain. Which to me presents a problem with Henry’s ideas about randomness. In my view the real problem is we can’t actually confirm randomness within the bounds of mathematics and therefore arguing that evolution is or isn’t a “random” process isn’t really possible.

So in short, within true randomness apparent patterns will develop and if something isn’t random patterns will develop. The question is are we the apparent patterns or the intended patterns. I don’t think it can be answered by inquiry into math and science.

Regarding the apparent randomness of evolution, I remember a football coach who used to have the first few plays of the game set, and the team would go onto the field and sequence through those plays just as the coach planned. For the viewer, it seemed like the team was rushing to the scrimmage line and quickly running a play at random, without evidence of the intervention of the huddle. But in fact the plan had been formulated for a series of plays off-field, in the locker room.

God could have set all parameters, including all the variables and alternate outcomes, and then started the ball rolling. I don’t favor this view, personally, but I think it is worth considering. (It reminds me of the Christian Deist view of the founders, in fact, which seems to fit the modern scientific world much more than our “literalist tinged” current thinking).

There are some verses in the Hebrew scriptures that reflect the idea that God created evil as well as good (Isa. 45:7). I’ve heard this explained as necessary to provide a choice between two things to validate that man does indeed have free will. But there is also a sense in which we attribute things to God simply because of His foreknowledge of it.

Just as students choosing to sit with others of their own race create de-facto segregation in the cafeteria, God allowing a thing to happen ultimately makes Him the author of it in a de-facto sense. God can certainly intervene in the workings of the Universe, but does it so rarely that we call it miracle.

Anyway, enough rambling. I did want to chime in and let you know how much I appreciate your blog.