At some stage most young people will have to face the issue of what to do with God when the theory of evolution is presented in high school . Has science ended the need for Christianity? Are we now so smart that we can answer all life's questions out of our science text book? Is religion for dummies? - These all become very real questions
It seems that most people approach the subject just like the state of Origin – you can go for the Cockroaches, or the Cain Toads, but not both. If you believe in science, then that rules out God and if you believe in God, then scientific understanding is seen as some kind of evil.
Are these really the only 2 options available to us? a) The world was made by God in 6 literal days, 6000 years ago and God created all life just as we know it today. or b) The universe originated from a cosmic “Big Bang” billions of years ago, and all life forms have slowly evolved from a single cell, by nothing more than chance and survival of the fittest.
Both extremes seem somehow empty. To look at the wonder, complexity, and beauty of all that is around us and then conclude that it is a giant, random coincidence surely is beyond all logic. It seems equally as bizarre to read the start of the Bible as though it was a science textbook, and to assume it is giving us the precise time and date of the origins of the universe. The bible is true and to be trusted, but it's primary goal is not to inform us of biology, physics or astronomy. The bible must be read for what it is, not made into something it was never intended to be or do. Genesis tells us “Who” and “Why”, not “How”and “When.”
There must be a middle ground that acknowledges and understands God to be the creator and sustainer of all that science can discover. Science could never disprove God and in fact every new discovery simply proves how amazing He is.
Psalm 19:1 says
“The heavens declare the glory of God,
The skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Surely science and faith must work hand in hand. We should definitely cheer on scientists to find out as much as they can and tell us all that they know, but we should also allow an understanding of God to answer the questions of purpose and meaning that is forever beyond the realm of science. Science and faith both present aspects of the truth and so should dance with one another instead of fighting. Both are hopelessly incomplete without the other. Albert Einstein once said “ Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind”. To believe in God does not mean you have to cut out your brain and feed it to the dog! God is not threatened by scientists, nor should Christians be.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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Jaemin, cheers! Good blog.
ReplyDeleteCourtesy link:
http://intellogos.blogspot.com/2009/08/god-as-dicta-in-public-schools.html
Sorry, I did not understand your link from “Faith-Science News” until now. I linked to them, not you. Basic thread is on theology as effective/ineffective for speaking to natural events, and a subthread on teaching religion in public schools as a form of critical thinking, for doing risk-calculation pro and con of religious belief. It's not faith-hostile, nor am I. Just asking hard questions.
I like your blog.
Cheers,
Jim