David wrote to me:
Greetings Nathan,
So lately I have been thinking about the debate between
science and religion. Why is it that an atheist uses science to argue the
irrelevancy of God? And more importantly why in the world does it work so well?
First of all, what is science? So far I have determined
that science can be defined as the study and explanation of the universe we
live in. Basically it tries to understand a set of facts in the most reasonable
way. Science uses a method known as the scientific method. Science asks
questions and seeks to grow. Science can be wrong without getting upset; in
fact it’s always trying to prove itself wrong. In the end Science is both the
greatest and least likely threat to Christianity.
Since science is composed of facts, every scientific
theory can be broken down to its underlying factual nature. Its fractals are
factual! So the biggest example would be the theory of Evolution. Is the earth
millions of years old and who cares? Personally I am convinced that the earth
is millions of years old and I don’t care. However, I see so often that it
matters a majority of Christians, and not only many Christians but many people
who previously were Christians and presently are not because they were
converted to “Science” the unreligious religion.
So I asked myself: Given a situation where X is true,
what would the effect of X have on my relationship with God. [Where X is a
specific debated scientific theory]. In this case I substitute Evolution for X
and the answer I get is: No effect. Now I ask the same question of you. Given a
situation where Evolution is true, what would the effect of Evolution have on
your belief in God? Would it have an effect?
Evolution is just one theory. But let’s break it into
facts: it is a fact that the rock that makes up our planet is old. It is a fact
that dinosaurs lived millions of years ago. It is a fact that the light from
stars hitting our planet is millions of years old. It is a fact that our sun
has used up 5 billion years worth of its fuel, it is a fact that species change
over time, and it is a fact that at one point in earths past there was only
slime in the oceans. Suddenly when a Christian says: “the earth has only been
around for 6 thousand years” I begin to question said Christians education and
seriously doubt their sanity.
So when I am in doubt I search the scriptures. What I
found was this: In genesis God says “let the earth bring forth seed and green
stuff” “let the waters bring forth water animals” “let the earth bring forth
animals”. So far being a Christian does not contradict the facts. So far I can
believe strongly in my God without doubt. Suddenly I realized something, the
facts that make up our planet and even help make the theory of evolution
ultimately point to the amazing complexity and intelligence of my God.
And so I have written this long letter to let you know
that I value your input. Thanks for the feedback that I know you will fill my
inbox with.
David
Then I (Nathan) wrote:
I believe that science, as you define it here, is not a
threat to the "knowledge of God," truth is truth - simple.
"Christianity" however, will, by and large, be
threatened by science, again, as you define it here so well, because science is
as it does, it seeks the truth even if it means proving itself wrong. So much of
Christianity, as it is today, is full of falsehoods, misconceptions,
misinterpretations etc. So, science, in its essence, would destroy it, or
rather the idea of it, to be technically correct, and remake it until the idea
and ideals of Christianity are congruent with the knowledge of God; so far,
they're not.
The reason, I believe, that when atheists use science to
bruise the idea of Christianity and it works so unbelievably well is that while
Christians may have reason to believe in God, they are all too often lacking in
the KNOWLEDGE of God and so fall prey to those atheists who use what seems to
be sense and reason but is only a semblance.
As for the theory of evolution, I personally believe that
it's false. I DO believe that the Earth is very old and all that, but there hasn't
yet been any evidences or proofs discovered that support the evolution theory
that are concrete.
Of course, when I mention the theory of evolution, I
specifically am referring to the theory that all life began with basic amino
acids etc. that, by incredible happenstance, came together and started to
change into complex and more complex organisms over a great deal of time and so
on and so forth.
I don't really know EXACTLY how all life came to be, but
I do know that it was not random or by chance. Jesus did it all, He had a plan,
He created humans in the image of Himself and His Father and it was a miracle,
miracle being defined as something happening that's either too unlikely or
completely impossible so as not to be expected to happen, ever.
And David finally wrote:
Fascinating. I totally agree with these words. The words
incredible happenstance stick out to me here. To me and I can see for you as
well, the methods do not matter. We know that God created the world, and to
have faith in the face of overwhelming evidence is simple, for the methods that
God used are not important, only the realization that God is the one who used
the methods.
The first message you wrote was very well written. The
fault lies with Christianity. Indeed, when I traveled on the train to Chicago I
met many very right-wing Christians who were in general uneducated. Not only in
just basic knowledge (My people perish for lack of knowledge), but in what the
bible itself teaches. I find it astonishing the number of people who believe
wholeheartedly in Lucifer and his army of fallen angels, and yet they are
surprised when I point out to them that the work Lucifer was only used twice in
the bible and in one place it was translated as "Day star" (2 Peter)
and was referring to Jesus himself.
When I say this generally their eyes glaze over and they
stop listening, so its not like my talking to them has done anything good.
And that's it (typos and all).
Please let me know what you think. God bless you until next time!
Nathan
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