Monday, March 17, 2014

Science and Hope Chapter 2 part 1/2

       Science is an attempt to understand the world, to get a grip on things, to get hold of ourselves, and to steer a safe course. Science is far from a perfect instrument of knowledge but has a built in error correcting machinery at its very heart. Science carries us toward an understanding of how the world is, rather than how we would wish it to be. It's findings may not all be comprehensible or fulfilling at first. Some science is very simplistic and when it gets complicated it is usually because the world is complicated or because we are complicated. We shy away because it appears to be too difficult causing us to surrender the ability to take charge of our own future. This causes our self confidence to erode.
         Science may be hard to understand. It may challenge beliefs. Think of how many religions attempt to validate themselves with prophecy. Think of the people who rely on these prophecies to support or prop up their beliefs. Carl asks if there has ever been a religion with the prophetic accuracy and reliability of science? He goes on to say that there isn't a religion on the planet that doesn't long for a comparable ability to foretell the future events.  No other human institution comes close....
           I do agree with the first paragraph. Science has been a very important tool in the expansion of our knowledge and the world around us. I would have to disagree with Carl in the second paragraph. Carl asks"Has there ever been a religion with the prophetic accuracy and reliability of science?". I would say yes. Science means knowledge, and true science always agrees withe the observable evidence. Scientific research, as shown in paragraph one, continues to unfold the wonders and mysteries of our universe. There is one book that has anticipated many of these scientific facts. That book is the bible.
           The link provided below demonstrates many fulfilled prophecies in the bible.
http://www.matthewmcgee.org/prophesy.html





3 comments:

  1. I am so completely with you. It is so DIFFICULT to sit through a science class and be religious. It kind of hurts to sit there and hear people poke fun at the Bible when you believe in it so whole-heartedly. And if we say anything, then we are pushing our beliefs on them. Some Christians do push the Good Book down others' throats, but that doesn't mean everyone does. I have my own theories about how Christianity can tie in with the science world, but no one will LISTEN to them without bombarding me with criticisms. I guess all that matters is that we hold on to our faith through being ridiculed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I fully agree with you of every aspect of that. I hate sitting in class and i watch people ridicule the Bible as to how it is "false" or "misleads children". Don't get me wrong, i love science and i recognize it, but i do not see why people go out of there way to prove the Bible wrong. There are instances when the two coincide and that is a glorious moment. I agree that we need to hold on to our faiths and do not be discouraged when someone jumps on us about it. We need to stay strong but i also believe that it is possible to be religious and a true scientist without humility.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I feel the same. It's amazing how so many people can just turn a blind eye to the truth, and still criticize everyone else's religions.

    ReplyDelete