generation has a more difficult time blindly believing in God?
The vast majority of elderly people I know, have absolutely no doubt of God's existance. I tend to have many doubts though because of scientific evidence which explains everything in the Bible. For example, the plagues in Egypt (Moses) can all be explained by a volcano nearby but far enough away that the people of Egypt were unaware of it.
2006-10-05 00:45:46 · 12 answers · asked by Dellajoy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I believe the conundrum is not due to the difference between generations as much as some would believe. It is widely known that the flapper generation after World War I was generally frivolous, amoral and secular; but that near the time of World War Two was considered very principled and God-fearing as well as thrifty.
History is full of examples of eras that react to the previous one - in fact, this modern scientific-based thought of rejecting the notion of God will in its wake most likely be replaced with an era where God is once again the center of people's lives.
As far as scientists rejecting God, my favorite quote is that of George Bernard Shaw who once said: "For those who don't believe in the existence of God no proof is sufficient; for those who do, no proof is necessary". Let's also not forget that Darwin was himself a devout Christian who saw no conflict between evolution and the Bible, as so many would have you believe. I personally have no trouble whatsoever reconciling these two notions, and I guarantee you that I firmly believe in God and have done so thruout my life despite losing both a child to a disease so rare it was named after me, losing a wife to brain cancer, and having an ex-wife nearly ruin my life.
As far as the plagues go, IF God is omnipotent, He has the power to create miracles, some of which could be explained by natural phenomena and some not - after all He WROTE the rules of nature, and He can break them if He so desires - in fact, by breaking them there is further proof of His power. So it is vain to try to explain some things which are not within the normal framework, or in essence to force God to work in ways predictable by human logic. God is above ALL rules. The nature of God is UNKNOWABLE by man, since He is transcendent, therefore science will NEVER be able to know everything that God knows. Otherwise, Mankind would be as knowledgeable as God, which is a contradiction in terms.
2006-10-05 12:30:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that each generation is learing more an more. Scientifically however, it has not been proven that there is no GOD and so that will remain. The plague in Egypt, It is written in the Bible and I think that the egypticans would even know about volcanoes to know the difference. Scientific doesnt explain "everything" in the Bible. Science cannot answer a ton of things in the Bible and anything that they can have a scientific answer for is still not proving there is no God. I think each generation is coaught up in "wordly things" of this world to see the big picture and take the time to have time with God. Cell phones, computers etc.. seem to be the worldy life andnot about God. That is the science of making these things that keeps people away from God I think.
Thanks for asking!
2006-10-05 08:00:49 · answer #2 · answered by yeppers 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't really see how advanced scientific and technological knowledge would prevent a person from believing in God? For instance I have heard surgeons say that 'For people in our profession, we cannot help but believe in God and in the miraculous'. These are not superstitious uneducated people. They are surgeons who see God at work.
I have been exposed to the explanations of the plagues of Egypt.
First, I would not be surprised that God used natural causes for most of the plagues. The miraculous is that they should happen exactly when announced, and in the sequence. I do find it difficult to understand how modern scientists would use a volcano to explain the plagues of frogs, etc. Also the water turning to blood.
As far as the crossing of the red sea is concerned, I have heard over and over again the explanation that it was the 'Reed Sea', an area where the water was not so deep. Well, the Bible was written in Hebrew, not in English, so the similarity in spelling would obviously not be an issue. But supposing the writer was referring to a part of the sea where the water wasn't more than knee deep. How would one explain the drowning of the Egyptian army? Also, two walls of water are described.
The Bible definitely describes the miraculous. Whether one chooses to believe it is another matter. Personally, I have absolutely no difficulty in believing.
When I was a teenager with no particular belief system (except possibly pantheism), I remember reasoning to myself that there must be some intelligent being who produced the existing world in some way or another: the belief in accidental production of the universe seems preposterous. Then I thought: 'Why is it that people who claim to be Christians are so worried about all the miracles in the Bible? After all, if you believe a god of any kind exists, you must believe in the power of God'. I was referring here to members of a church I had started to visit, who were debating the whole question of miracles in the Bible.
So when I did come around to believing in the god of the Bible, the whole question of miracles was no problem for me.
Referring to the existence of the universe, It would take a lot more 'faith' for me to believe in an accidental 'Big Bang' or whatever, than to believe in an orderly creation by an intelligent being.
Starting from there, I would suggest the question: 'Would such a creator want to be known by the people He has created?' and 'If so, how would He go about revealing Himself?' 'If He used prophets, or a book, what would be the most likely writing.... etc.'
That's arguing from the philosophical standpoint.
As regards advances in science and technology, a large number of highly educated people, scientists with more than one PhD in their fields, are convinced believers in God, and many are convinced Christians. Those who are most vocal in pooh poohing belief systems are teachers who have a partial knowledge of science, but not the scientists themselves.
I'm not saying here all scientists believe, of course. Just that scientific knowledge does not seem to be the obstacle.
Well - that was long-winded! I'll stop here.
2006-10-05 10:36:23 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Aha! something like the chicken or the egg... Well... If the CREATOR created all things, wouldn't it be justified to use nature to evolve or do things and yes they would be explainable - In the past we did not understand all we do now, in the future we will know even more- But GOD / CREATOR is allowing us to know more and because science can explain things proves we are smarter not that GOD dosent exsist for there is nothing you can say that I can not ask How did that come to pass? where did that first emeaba come from - God created all things even the smallest atom... and I believe he is still working with natureal things to do wonderous things we will not understand for years!
2006-10-05 07:51:32 · answer #4 · answered by admiredi 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Funny that volcano should erupt the exact time God told Moses what to warn Pharaoh of.
2006-10-05 08:03:53 · answer #5 · answered by ByHisGrace 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We can explain it away now, but the authors, mostly farmers, etc, shouldn't have been able to even comprehend or explain the events.
By the way, if you think you understand God, you don't know Him.
2006-10-05 07:52:29 · answer #6 · answered by TiM 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is the end result of a failed search for truth by a very shallow mind, provided that any search was made at all instead of swallowing the pile of delusional bilge that was spoon fed to you as a child.
2006-10-05 08:24:42 · answer #7 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The older a person gets the more they understand death. Can science prove or disprove God, the answer is no, that is not the role of science. Faith comes from the inside, not from the outside.
2006-10-05 07:50:20 · answer #8 · answered by tcmoosey 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
To a certain extent, yes. That's why religious fanatics want to get rid of any science in schools that contradicts their beliefs, and replace it with religious mythology.
2006-10-05 07:51:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think each new generation is just corrupt and it has little to do with science.
2006-10-05 07:48:37 · answer #10 · answered by Alison 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋