New
research findings on DNA have not only heightened interest in and enthusiasm
for human genome research, but also fanned the flames of the debate between
proponents of creationism or intelligent design and believers in Darwinism or
evolution. Both sides are digging into their positions, but concede that the
new debate hinges in part on the interpretation of the word
"function." On one side are Darwinists who have bolstered their
arguments against a creator in part with studies that show at most 5 percent of
human DNA is "useful." On the other side are faith bloggers who for
the past week have hailed, as a counterpoint, a new study that seems to show
that 80 percent of DNA is "functional."
The witnesses, laying their coats at the feet of Saul, were the men that would cast the first stones at Stephen in Acts 7. Why did they all lay their coats at Saul’s feet? The Talmud contains a very interesting account of the act of stoning that may provide the answer. “When the trial was over, they take him [the condemned person] out to be stoned. The place of stoning was at a distance from the court, as it is said, ‘Take out the one who has cursed.’ [i] A man stands at the entrance of the court; in his hand is a signaling flag [Hebrew sudarin = sudar , ‘scarf, sweater’]. A horseman was stationed far away but within sight of him. If one [of the judges] says, ‘I have something [more] to say in his favor,’ he [the signaler] waves the sudarin , and the horseman runs and stops them [from stoning him]. Even if [the condemned person] himself says, ‘I have something to say in my favor,’ they bring him back, even four of five times, only provided that there is some substance to...
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