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Of course you're absolutely right.  Thanks for the clear thinking!! 

I've often had that same thought regarding magnetism and electricity, which 
are generally taught to VERY young children.  Look, kids!  iron filings are 
attracted to this magnet, isn't that cool?  HOW does it happen?  Well, there are 
these teeny, tiny things called electrons...  but WHY do they line up like 
that?  Well...

when my five year old asks questions like "I know plants grow from seeds.  
But why do they grow?"  I often find myself debating between a "science" 
response and a "theological" response.  Both, I think, have relevance!
I like to throw in a distinction: There's WHY and there's HOW. The theory of 
natural selection explains how, but so far as I can tell doesn't get into why. 
On the other hand, intelligent design looks to explain why, but is thin on 
how. It's been my experience that most "why" questions in science are actually 
"how" questions, because their answers are explained through phenomena or fall 
back on the most basic of assumptions. (e.g., "Why does the piece of metal 
stick to the nails with the wire wrapped aound it?" is explained by "how" an 
electromagnet works. Does anybody really know why? Laws of physics may describe 
it, but they don't assign purpose.)

Lisa Jo Rudy, Writer/Consultant
625 Chelten Hills Drive
Elkins Park, PA 19027
http://www.lisarudy.com/
215-635-9735

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