When I can hear

nothing but the sound of the

spinning fan,

I know that my life’s been wrong.

Another season and another reason to

live like I know not.

This place is cursed.

What science does and religion doesn't

This is a quote taken from an article regarding human evolution I read online today:

"This is not questioning the idea at all of evolution; it is refining some of the specific points," Anton said. "This is a great example of what science does and religion doesn't do. It's a continous self-testing process."

http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/H/HUMAN_EVOLUTION?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

What the article says regarding evolution isn't important in this discussion. The key idea here is that science is a "self-testing process" which I believe to be a fair statement. However, I believe that religion is a sort of "self-testing process" as well.

This ain't yo mamma's religion.

Imagine yourself walking down the street. Someone stops you and asks you why you are wearing a dress. You say, "because my momma does." Does that make much sense?

To me, no that doesn't make any sense unless you are a big fan of Dennis Rodman. Now imagine yourself walking down the street (this time dressed in normal clothes) and someone sees the Christian t-shirt you are wearing. They say "why are you a Christian?" You say "because my momma is."

1 Peter 3 :15,16 says "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

As Christians, we are supposed to have reasons why we believe what we believe; evidence if you will. Science gives us a theory with reasons behind it. Take gravity. Gravity can be witnessed. The reason for the theory of gravity is because if you drop something off your computer desk, it will fall and hit the floor. This is the evidence. This is why we believe in gravity. As Christians, we must provide "evidence" for why believe what we do as well.

What about re-examining ourselves, like science?

As we grow up, we change as our faith does. As a child, I believed things differently than I do now. We as Christians should constantly be challenging our beliefs. Paul talks about having faith like a child but not the mind of a child. In other words, we should come to God like a child would come to his father, with our arms stretched and in complete surrender. But as adults, we should not live like children. We should be thinkers. We should challenge ourselves.

In my last post I mentioned the Matthew 7: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

If we truly want to have a deeper faith, ask God for it. If you have a question, ask God to help you find the answer. Granted, there are things that we will never know. But on the other hand, there are things we can.

This town will eat you alive.

Swallow you whole.

Like a beast of the deep.

If you ask the stars,

and seek the moon,

after the sun has set,

what will they say

with your mouth agape in awe?

The footprints on the same trail,

passing bears along

with claws and teeth,

hair and nails.

Beginning to feel,

just a man-eater like you

stuck inside a body

like mine.

A blue sky seems brighter when

a plane glances of a cloud as a raindrop.

This is dangerous, these words we don’t speak.

The songs without titles and the books without chapters.

We’re putting the numbers on the doors.

We’re catching the ash from the fireworks

that fell upon our hands,

held on our heads.

A July day doesn’t fade any

faster than your smile

against the moon,

the same color as your dichotomy eyes;

blue pressed tightly against the white.

Arrested.

As children

we sang

of love.

Truthseekers

This afternoon I watched "Origins," a television show on the local Christian network. On this particular episode of origins, a gentlemen (a Dr. as well) was defending the notion of a short age of the Earth, something that many Christian scientists are doing nowadays. The evidence he gave us was supportive; he shows fossils with sandal prints in them, stalagtites growing in buildings built by people and stalagtites with animals in them. However, I have also heard the other sides evidence and defense of an old earth, which was also supportive and persuasive as well.


As I sat here thinking about both sides, I came to realization; the problem at hand does not live in the evidence and facts behind the debate, but the attitudes behind the debate. The idea of an age of the Earth is an important idea to ponder. The Bible suggests a young Earth while modern-day science suggests an old. However, both sides have presuppositions that tend to slant their arguments. If science gives in to the ideas of religion, then it will show a weakness in itself as an entity, an entity that has given us electricity but also brought about the idea of evolution. If science is "proved" wrong by religion, how will scientists look? On the other hand, if Christians (and Christian scientists) are "proven" wrong, what will their religion and holy book look like?

What we need is an unbiased researcher. However, one cannot be found. Have you ever met a truly intelligent thinker that does not care about science/religion/deeper thought? In my 21 years on this Earth, I have yet to find one. Who on Earth does not care about life? Who would we find as a stand-in to take an honest look at this debate? Who will step up and be a true "truthseeker" and search for the true answer, no matter what it would be?

Jesus told us in Matthew 7 to Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." If we truly want to see truth, we will find it. God promises that.

It doesn't matter to me if the Earth is 6 billion years old or 6 thousand. The bottom line is that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead in reconciliation. The age of the Earth makes no play in that.


Links:
http://www.ctvn.org/origins/
http://www.extremescience.com/earth.htm