MacDonald might not at first agree, but maybe in conversation with the likes of us and @MarkD and @jpm and others, he might come to develop a different understanding of scientific exploration (and maybe even theology) and what it can mean to a worshipful heart.
While I don’t find nature an apologetic, my most rudimentary studies of it have always been accompanied with worship and awe for the One who somehow grounds/creates/sustains/howeveryoupleases it. Understanding how the rocks, waterfalls, and forests were formed only helps magnify my awe for God, when I am able to be among these things that have been much longer than I and will outlast me by great lengths of time.
The stone I am looking at that is on my back porch and came from Lake Superior reminds me not only of the stone itself, but the place I got it (beach at Silver Dollar City, MI), that was loaded with similar chunks of gray shale and red sandstone that the lake keeps heaving and heaving up on the sand. Knowing how it got there only increases my amazement.
MacDonald only needed to get to know some of us romantically naturalistic types.
A lot of silent (and not so silent) worship goes on at these places:
Lake Superior (2019) near Marquette, MI
Loafing at Yellow Dog Falls (I think) (2019) near Marquette, MI
Black Rocks (2019) Marquette, MI
Dead River Falls (2016) near Marquette, MI
Hard with girls with physical challenges, but this was so worth the effort.
Straits of Mackinac (2013)
There’s a story to go with this one.
It’s hard to stop. You get the idea.