I consider myself a man of science. Throughout my life, I have alternately believed in God, but eventually, the scientist in me tells me there's no such thing and that God is merely a character in an old story and nothing more. I've grappled with this quite a bit to figure out if there is a middle ground where science and faith can at least meet halfway, but the issue seems to require an "all or nothing" type of answer.
Before anyone quotes me scripture, I'm QUITE familiar with that book, since I come from a family where one side is Southern Baptist (I'm talking "olde time religion" kind of Baptist) and the other side is Catholic.
What are your thoughts on this?
IS there a middle ground or compromise between the two principles?
2007-12-20 02:11:32 · 33 answers · asked by Technoshaman 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am a man of science and faith as well. I don't believe there is a middle ground because I don't think there needs to be. My understanding of science allows me to get a greater understanding of God. Did you know that there is a super massive black hole in the middle of every galaxy, at least every one we can see? On top of that it is exactly 1/2 of 1% of the total mass of the galaxy. Have you studied the Kreb's cycle? In my belief this is me seeing how God had worked it all out. One of the worst problems I run into people with misconceptions about what I believe. Just because one religious nut believes it does not mean we all do. If you really want to reconcile science and religion in your own mind then you need to learn about many religions and discover if their is one that allow for science. I have found one.
2007-12-20 02:27:55 · answer #1 · answered by The U.P. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You all seem to have this weird global view that all theists are mindless robots and willfully ignorant.
I don't think its so black and white (this issue). In my mind it is NOT an either/or proposition. Assuming an infinite universe, truly, ALL things are possible. Somewhere...out there, in "real" space our understanding of physics doesn't exist. Where 2+2 equals something other than 4. Remember, its an INFINITE universe.
The challenge is to know when you don't have the answer(s). My faith isn't bullet proof. You guys could shoot all kinds of holes through it. But I would also submit that science isn't bullet proof, either. IT doesn't have all the answers.
IS the compromise "what science can't finish, faith, at least, can grapple with?" Perhaps.
The science argument doesn't phase me at all. Heck, I was planning on being an astrophysicist before i got into the arts. There is a balance that is there (if you can accept it) between faith and science.
However, if you're looking for science to somehow dovetail with faith, you might want to look at the Bell Quantum Particle Experiment, and a bit of cosmology (at least the philosophical aspects of the infinite universe.
I do question myself as to whether I've permanently suspended my disbelief. The answer that keeps coming back is "no."
The power is in the question....
sorry for the babble, too much coffee, I guess.
peace respects regards
2007-12-20 02:32:02 · answer #2 · answered by Green is my Favorite Color 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There should be no problem reconciling science and God. i did not use the term "faith" because it can be as varied as snowflakes.
Science has not been able to prove the bible in error or that there is no God, yet. Actually science does not attempt that. Humans do-and unfortunately some attempt to use science to do that. They turn science into pseudo-science, attempting to support the false idea that evolution is real. This is where the problem with science enters the picture. Some try to make it say what it does not say.
Now, you are part Southern Baptist and part Catholic? You must be one or the other, but you can not be both.
You say you have read the Bible-but have you studied it?-no. Study about the Bible from a non-Catholic perspective, and you will see that is is not just an old tale from days gone by.
2007-12-20 02:22:27 · answer #3 · answered by Poor Richard 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Of course there's a middle ground simply because the bible, although it contains many verifiable scientific and historical truths, never claims to be a science or history book but rather a book of faith and a guide to living. Science, on the other hand, doesn't claim to be faith or morality, just the cold hard theories and facts.
Science does not answer all questions, such as from what does morality arise.
There is definitely room for both and neither contradicts the other, IF one knows when NOT to take the bible literally,
2007-12-20 02:22:23 · answer #4 · answered by mzJakes 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Charles Darwin based his theories of evolution on both research and sound theological principals. He was a man of great faith as were Einstein, Leonardo DaVinci, Galileo and others. It was not his desire to create a rift between the two communities. The two need not be contradictory except in the case of small minds.
All faiths have one core principal (the golden rule). However, ancient eastern metaphysics has a lot in common with recent discoveries in physics in helping to explain the "nature of the universe" i.e. the "thought" nature of the universe, the falseness of time & space etc. Recently scientists have begun to explain the universe as "one great thought", which is how it was described by the Indian Yogi's. Also that all matter is merely condensed and concentrated energy, a very old concept that has been "rediscovered". It has been "proven" scientifically btw, that time is actually malleable in that it slows down in space.
All "ethics" are also "faith based". Science does not create right and wrong and we are still "discovering" right & wrong ways to live (as in eternal principals that don't change). Spiritual "laws" or "karma" are just as reliable, true and unchanging as gravity and the other laws of nature. Like God, energy or however you would like to refer to the current that gets you up in the morning, it is unchanging and eternal.
Try this: replace "Energy" in every place in the Bible where it says "God".
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same
god who has endowed us with sense, reason and
intellect has intended us to forgo their use.
—Galileo
2007-12-20 02:52:10 · answer #5 · answered by justasking 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best way to find an answer, if you're really wanting one, is by talking with other "men of science" and faith about their experiences - both those who have no trouble "reconciling" the two and those who have rejected faith for what they perceive to be "fact."
My experience with science has been through my medical education (I am currently studying for my MSN - but have advanced degrees in other fields). I've also taken some advanced courses in biology and physics simply because the subjects interest me. While I once considered myself "too educated and intelligent to accept Jewish Fairy Tales" - today, the more I learn about science, the more my faith increases.
Because of my experiences, I know several scientists who are devoted to their field of study and their God - and am aware of thousands more. I also know several who have struggled with this question and found a hopeless disconnect between the two. I seriously believe these people would be your best source of information as you seek your answer.
2007-12-20 02:41:29 · answer #6 · answered by Marji 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can never reach God with Your Physical Senses;That is the Area Satan works in;;
It boils down to Belief or Non Belief;
Do You Believe God"s Word?
You are a Spirit,capable of Knowing God,This Spirit has an Earth Suit,called the Body;You decide which One You will feed,The Body or the Spirit;The one You nourish most will control Your Life;There is Balance;Your calling to be a Scientist ,Be the best,Just don"t throw God away;
Note if being a Scientist cause You to reject God;
find the Profession that Exalts God;
2007-12-20 02:31:11 · answer #7 · answered by section hand 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have no problem with the two existing together. Why does the idea of a science understanding the mechanics of something mean that there isn't something different than us out there?
How does understanding the why behind the Northern Lights make them any less magical? We understand how babies are made, but does it make them any less of a miracle? We understand phernomes help to bring 2 people together but love (or even lust) still is a glorious ride.
So, I continue to appreciate how complicated life and the world is as science unravels mystery after mystery. And I continue to thank the Goddess for her grace and wisdom.
2007-12-20 02:25:27 · answer #8 · answered by halestrm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Science and Faith have nothing to do with each other. They only conflict if in your mind if you make both be 100% truths. Let's be honest here, science is not 100% truth or it would not be science. Science is continually trying to re-define it's theories/thinking to match closer to how they really are in the world...that is what science is....constantly changing....constantly adapting to new discoveries. Now lets look at Faith...what we put our faith into is also not 100% truth. The Bible was written by men...even inspired by God, men are imperfect so the written word will also be imperfect. I think the Bible is the best we have to understand God...but I don't for one second believe that it is perfect.
So we are left with two things that neiter are 100% truths. Further, we are left with two things that are neither 100% truths or do they directly relate to each other. So when we think of it that way, is it still hard to reconcile science with faith? In my opinion, only if you really try to.
2007-12-20 02:27:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The easiest way to do that is to assume that anywhere the Bible conflicts with science, it is speaking in allegory. Like making the sun stand still for Joshua, any scientist knows that that would have necessitated the earth to stop rotating and everything would have flown off into space. So the scientific believer says, this was just an allegory illustrating God's power for those he supports.
2007-12-20 02:20:34 · answer #10 · answered by mommanuke 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋