Science and Religion
Any coherent idea in theology must take into account the facts and truths discovered by science. Any religion which claims that it's deity is the creator of this universe must be able to account for what we observe in this universe.
The Paradox of Science and Religion:
"A bit beyond perception's reach, I sometimes believe I see,
that Life is two locked boxes, each containing the other's key." - Piet Hein
“The study of science is the study of something eternal. If we study astronomy, we study the works of God. If we study chemistry, geology, optics, or any other branch of science, every new truth we come to the understanding of is eternal; it is a part of the great system of universal truth. It is truth that exists throughout universal nature; and God is the dispenser of all truth.” - Orson Pratt
Some would assert that science disproves the claims of religion, but it cannot be true. We may know a creator through his creations. We learn a lot about Michelangelo by viewing the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, or by admiring his Pieta. In the same way, we may learn about the Creator through the study of Creation.
Granted, it may be, and frequently is, the case that our understanding of Him is incorrect, but it has not been shown that He simply does not exist. On the contrary, the perfect order and harmony of the universe and all things in it is evidence that He is there.
“…The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.” - Alma 30:44
“It is hard to get the people to believe that God is a scientific character, that He lives by science or strict law, that by this He is, and by law he was made what He is; and will remain to all eternity because of His faithful adherence to law. It is a most difficult thing to make the people believe that every art and science and all wisdom comes from Him, and that He is their Author.” - Brigham Young
Philosophy and Religion
“Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.” -Thomas Jefferson
“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 Galilei
Science, Philosophy and Religion
Science, Philosophy, and Religion seem to be at odds these days, though in the beginning it was not so. Conflict between Science, Philosophy and Religion is a modern idea. At very least, they do have one thing in common: they all seek the Truth through different methods.
Many in philosophy claim that it is illogical to believe in a God, because one assumes his existence based on evidence that may be reasonably explained through other means. Atheists are equally illogical, though. I will admit that, in purely logical terms, the belief in God is essentially an assumption, but to say that He does not exist is also an assumption in the opposite direction. Atheists are equally guilty of poor logic as theists. No sound argument in philosophy disproves the existence of God.
Many in science claim that science disproves religion. Nothing in science disproves any claim of religion. To the contrary, many modern discoveries in science confirm the claims religion has been making for centuries. No sound theory in science disproves the existence of God.
All things denote there is a God.
2 comments:
I like this argument, but I'm curious: do you believe in Creation ex nihilo? The argument seems premised upon the idea that the Universe itself has a design and a purpose, as opposed to the atheist idea that the universe is intrinsically meaningless, but can be used for meaningful purposes.
My latin's rusty. You mean creation from nothing? I don't know if I believe that. I believe what science tells us of the universe's origin. I guess if you can call a singularity "nothing", since it had zero volume, then yes.
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