Does "it" refer to "DNA sequence"?

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Context:

At this point, godless materialists might be cheering. If humans evolved strictly by mutation and natural selection, who needs God to explain us? To this, I reply: I do. The comparison of chimp and human sequences, interesting as it is, does not tell us what it means to be human.

In my view, DNA sequence alone, even if accompanied by a vast trove of data on biological function, will never explain certain special human attributes, such as the knowledge of the Moral Law and the universal search for God. Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation does not remove Him as the source of the things that make humanity special, and of the universe itself. It merely shows us something of how He operates.

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Type: Question • Score: 8 • Views: 1,265 • Replies: 14

[+4] - Enzo - 11/15/2012Is it a grammar mistake by the author? I think a semicolon is more appropriate than a punctuation mark to split the two independent clauses. [quote]Freeing God from the burden of special acts...

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@oristarA,

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@oristarA,

yes.

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@oristarA,

I dont think that we have a endless search for God because of any spirit, I personally believe the reason that we search is not to find a God, but because we are conscious of the fact that one day we will die so we try to find something to believe in whether it be God or some other sort of superior being, and by doing so this brings a level of comfort to us with the most personal thing that will ever happen to us. And im not skeptical about anything I believe that anything is possible, I just have very little faith.

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@oristarA,

Since we're not wasting words here, Yes.

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@oristarA,

How utterly

"It" is referential to freeing god notwithstanding.

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@laughoutlood,

I disagree. It is about DNA the rest of the bunk is about god.

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@oristarA,

Is it a grammar mistake by the author?

I think a semicolon is more appropriate than a punctuation mark to split the two independent clauses.

Quote:

Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation does not remove Him as the source of the things that make humanity special, and of the universe itself; It merely shows us something of how He operates.

The reason I think that semicolon is more appropriate is because it forms a bond between the two independent statements that are related in a contrasting way with each other.

In that context it makes sense to connect the meaning of "it" as follows:
"It" = "Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation"

I think the chatter about DNA sequence was to give a concrete example to better convey his general idea on the matter at hand, which I think is trying to show the connection between faith in science and faith in divine.

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@oristarA,

A simple Google search would have answered your question.

http://www.englishforums.com/English/DoesMeansHumanMeanMeaningHumans-Life/bcxhxd/post.htm

I agree with Enzo, and another poster in the English forum.

'it' = Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation

1 Reply

@Enzo,

Enzo wrote:

Is it a grammar mistake by the author?

I think a semicolon is more appropriate than a punctuation mark to split the two independent clauses.

Quote:
Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation does not remove Him as the source of the things that make humanity special, and of the universe itself; It merely shows us something of how He operates.

The reason I think that semicolon is more appropriate is because it forms a bond between the two independent statements that are related in a contrasting way with each other.

In that context it makes sense to connect the meaning of "it" as follows:
"It" = "Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation"

I think the chatter about DNA sequence was to give a concrete example to better convey his general idea on the matter at hand, which I think is trying to show the connection between faith in science and faith in divine.

Excellent!

Thank you.

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@aspvenom,

aspvenom wrote:

A simple Google search would have answered your question.

http://www.englishforums.com/English/DoesMeansHumanMeanMeaningHumans-Life/bcxhxd/post.htm

I agree with Enzo, and another poster in the English forum.

'it' = Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation

Thanks.

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@laughoutlood,

laughoutlood wrote:

How utterly

"It" is referential to freeing god notwithstanding.

Thanks. But isn't it better to put it in your first reply, which somehow made the reader thought you're off-topic.

1 Reply

@oristarA,

ORIGINAL: In my view, DNA sequence alone, even if accompanied by a vast trove of data on biological function, will never explain certain special human attributes, such as the knowledge of the Moral Law and the universal search for God. Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation does not remove Him as the source of the things that make humanity special, and of the universe itself. It merely shows us something of how He operates.

==============

DNA sequence alone will never explain certain special human attributes. It merely shows us something of how He operates.

Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation does not remove Him as the source of the things that make humanity special, and of the universe itself. It merely shows us something of how He operates.

====================

DNA sequence alone will never explain certain special human attributes.
Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation does not remove Him as the source of the things that make humanity special, and of the universe itself.

All this taken together [= It] merely shows us something of how He operates.

Veeerrrrrry interesting.

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@oristarA,

No it is not refered to DNA sequence

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@oristarA,

Quote:

That is unsurprisingly especially amusing of you given you awarded the red ribbon to the next poster for simply saying yes after I simply said no.

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Does "it" refer to "DNA sequence"?

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