How do Christian fundamentalists justify using the Internet?

Question

Christian fundamentalists use scientific discoveries every single day. Can they justify this when the bible says that science threatens faith?

6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

Not Myself - The reference to 6:20, and the address to Timothy was not clear enough for you? Okay, this is from the book of Timothy, 6:20. Sorry I was so cryptic.

Steph W - Actually, you make a good point.

pj - I don't hate you, dear.

Answer 1

Well, in the first place, Christian fundamentalists are ironically very un-Christian in every respect except what they call themselves. It's weird, but the biggest "Christians" are the least Christian.

A true fundamentalist in the accurate sense of the word would be living in poverty, shunning the worldly things, and doing endless charity work, like Mother Theresa, or Buddhist monks.

Answer 2

I looked up this verse, and another translation says,

"and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge".

This is a good statement. Perpetual motion machines are impossible, yet, many bright people keep trying to invent them, even though they contradict knowledge that is well known.

I think this is a statement in support of being a skeptic, and to not believe things that do not make sense. I see it supportive of good science, and against bad science.

Buddha says, “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense.” – Buddha

The bible says, "Keep my commandments and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding!" -- Proverbs 4:4-5

Galileo says, “I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect had intended us to forgo their use.” -- Galileo Galilei

However, fundementalists cause people to feel like this, “Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise. During almost fifteen centuries, the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.” – James Madison, 4th President of the United States

or, “The Church says that the Earth is flat, but I know it is round. For I have seen the shadow on the moon, and I have more faith in Shadow than in the Church.” – Ferdinand Magellan

I always worry about any fundementalist or evangenical, who wishes to impose their ideas on others. However, the issue is not about science and the internet. It is about control.

Take care!

Answer 3

Hi!

We first have to find out the "Greek" word from which your word "science" was translated from.

The Greek for the word "science" is "KNOWLEDGE"...Check the modern English translations...they translated it "KNOWLEDGE":

1Tim 6:20 "O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge,"

In Timothy's times, were false scientific results like the modern one of HUMAN EVOLUTION...Therefore Paul was warning him against such unproven scientific results that are designed to DISPROVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD!

Teachings such as Evolution indirectly teaches that there is no God therefore people would not not be bothered by their wrong-doing, thinking that there is no God!

All science point to Jesus Christ to be the Lord!

PROOF:

When the following verse was written, continents had already parted from being one MASS DRY GROUND and there were no satellites to take the overall PICTURE of the CONTINENTS for people of those times to know that continents were actually ONE MASS DRY LAND on the sea:

(Get a world map, you'll notice that CONTINENTS fit to each other like puzzles...this means that the dry land was one MASS of a CONTINENT ORIGINALLY) Now look at the verse:

Genesis 1:9 "And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.

Gen 1:10 "God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good."

Where could the writer of this verse have known this because at the time, they did have a map of the whole world to know that at some point, the earth was made up of one DRY LAND on the sea....

Unless the HUMAN WRITER OF THE VERSE was FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?(2 Tim 3:16)

God bless you.

Answer 4

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.
Grace be with you.

The actual translation doesn't state "science" persay. It refers to false knowledge. Therein, the direction was to avoid that which is contrary to the direction of God. In other words, using the "science" analogy, science that is not in line with God's will. One can use the internet and not look at porn, etc. Therefore, there is no contradiction.

Answer 5

That's a good mis-interpretation. 6:20 in the NAB words the verse as:

Avoid profane babbling and the absurdities of so-called knowledge.

The key words are profane and absurdities. Science has its place. Those studying science, or any knowledge for that matter including the study of Scripture, must remember that ALL things are God's creation and do not conflict with His Word. When it seems that new knowledge is in conflict with His Word (which is Truth), it is our understanding that is in error; otherwise absurdities arise. Professing these absurdities would by definition be profane.

In this particular case though, Paul is likely making reference to gnostic heresies that were in the play at the time.

Peace,

MoP

Answer 6

God does not believe in atheists.

Romans 1:18-22 tells us:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify God, not were they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.



Can an atheists guarantee that there is no God?

Answer 7

Christians really need to find a way to have their faith, but also accept the fact that scientific facts have proof, faith is merely faith.

It's difficult to argue with a person who has been conditioned since birth to believe something, just for the sake of believing, with no proof, in fact, proof that contradicts faith.

You can still be a good, honest, giving and decent person without believing the evangelism. If you want to have your faith, have it, but don't condemn those who read, use and understand scientific facts.

Answer 8

It's not one or the other... there is a God and there is science. One does not negate the other. God created everything, including the scientific discoveries that are being made every day.

Regarding the verse you posted, this is Gill's commentary:

"And oppositions of science falsely so called; the false teachers boasted of their science and knowledge, but it was not true, solid, spiritual, and saving; it was not an experimental knowledge of the Gospel; it was not the excellent knowledge of Christ, which has eternal life connected with it; it was merely notional and speculative; it was idle, empty, and useless, mere Pagan philosophy, and vain deceit, upon which they formed antitheses, or oppositions and objections to the truths of the Gospel; and even opposed themselves, and the word of God, as well as the faithful ministers of it. "

Answer 9

technology does not equivalent devil. i visit church per week and that i take advantage of pcs continuously. So do maximum Christians. some christians i comprehend are frightened of technology, and subsequently must be beaten with a stick. suitable technology and suitable faith go hand in hand.

Answer 10

Whats funnier is the fact that since the Jews used their letters for numbers, the W is the 6th letter of their alphabet. So, WWW is 666.