Religious ramblings

[Caleb]

I'm well aware that there are many atheists in the free state project.  This post isn't directed at you guys. 

There are also Christians in the free state project.  I count myself among them.  But I've struggled with trying to reconcile science and religion, with finding a faith that is both satisfying and rational, as well as dynamic and spontaneous.  Its not an easy trick to pull off.  As a child growing up, I loved science, and when I entered college, I decided to become a physics major.  If it wasn't for atrocious math skills, I never would have deviated from that path.

So ... I guess what I'm trying to figure out is how other Christians have tackled this problem.  Anyone here familiar with Process Theology.   Process theology, to me, has been a uniquely satisfying spiritual journey.  Is anyone else aware of other strands of thought within the Christian community that seek to reconcile science and religion in a way that is intellectually honest?

Caleb

[KBCraig]

But I've struggled with trying to reconcile science and religion, with finding a faith that is both satisfying and rational, as well as dynamic and spontaneous.  Its not an easy trick to pull off.  As a child growing up, I loved science, and when I entered college, I decided to become a physics major.  If it wasn't for atrocious math skills, I never would have deviated from that path.

I've never seen the conflict. Science explains the "how", and faith explains the "why" and "by whom".

The only conflict is with misperceptions, some of which are widely held.

Anyone here familiar with Process Theology.

I hadn't heard of it, but a quick glance at the Wikipedia entry raised one red flag for me: disallowance of the possibility of miracles.

Is anyone else aware of other strands of thought within the Christian community that seek to reconcile science and religion in a way that is intellectually honest?

There's Hugh Ross and the Reasons To Believe organization, a coalition of Christian physicists and other scientists who reconcile the Bible and science. http://www.reasons.org/

They're fairly neutral on most issues, focusing on what is actually known, not popular misconceptions of science.

Kevin

[Michael Fisher]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_theology

I've been an atheist or nonreligious person from birth and I can actually agree with process theology to a very large extent.  My older scientific theories on three-dimensional interactions between light and DNA could, for me, explain how a god could operate in a free universe.

My old college physics professor and I had some very interesting discussions on x-ray electromagnetic combination theories whereas two wavelengths of light combine at right angles to form a 3D single-helix x-ray (a known theory) and two of these combining could create a 3D double-helix x-ray of electromagnetic energy the same size AND shape as DNA.  Electromagnetic lightwaves from the sun are well-known to combine in the atmosphere because light, which is electricity, takes the path of least resistance through any medium in which it can travel.

In theory, a god could use combined three-dimensional double-helix energy to slowly manipulate the creation and evolution of life over time while allowing all living beings to exist with completely free will.

It is often said that god is light.  Perhaps god exists, and perhaps god is light, literally.

*shrug*

[toowm]

There's a Yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fsp-christians/ of some FSP Christians that has had some good discussions. Varrin is the moderator and he's good at keeping the peace. LewRockwell.com also has alot of Christian bloggers - there's a strong Catholic group like the late Scholastics in Spain.

Process theology seems to address God through science. I tend to go the other way on matters of faith.

Here's a thought - can a Christian Libertarian truly follow ZAP? Discuss amongst yourselves...

[Russell Kanning]

Trying to bend the Bible around what some scientists believe makes no sense to me.

[Dreepa]

Trying to bend the Bible around what some scientists believe makes no sense to me.

So was the Earth created in 7 days?

Does being a Christian imply that the Bible is 100% correct?

I think Kevin has it right:

I've never seen the conflict. Science explains the "how", and faith explains the "why" and "by whom".

[Russell Kanning]

Absolutely ...... the Bible is correct.

The Bible was not written as a textbook, but it is accurate. It is mostly about the why, but also has much history and other facts included.

[Dreepa]

Did Noah really get two polar bears in the ark?
Two Kangaroos?
Two Dodo birds?

That is a really big ark. With animals from different continents that the people of that time did not know existed.

Is Moses really that dumb that he got lost for 40 years?  The Sinai is just not that big.

I have heard some people say that Jesus was married? Was he? Where does it say that?

The Bible says you should stone gay people (according to Joey et al)-- then shouldn't you go do that?

I still am confused about much of this stuff.
I think if you are a good person and follow one rule then that is all you need in life.

[president]

Did Noah really get two polar bears in the ark?
Two Kangaroos?
Two Dodo birds?

As a matter of fact, yes he did. I just read it on the internet the other day.
http://www.answersingenesis.org

He even had two of each kind of dinosaur.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2001/dinos_on_ark.asp

Dinosaurs and the Bible

That is a really big ark.

Duh.

Although there are about 668 names of dinosaurs, there are perhaps only 55 different 'kinds' of dinosaurs. Furthermore, not all dinosaurs were huge like the Brachiosaurus, and even those dinosaurs on the Ark were probably 'teenagers' or young adults.

Creationist researcher John Woodmorappe has calculated that Noah had on board with him representatives from about 8,000 animal genera (including some now-extinct animals), or around 16,000 individual animals. When you realize that horses, zebras, and donkeys are probably descended from the horse-like ?kind?, Noah did not have to carry two sets of each such animal. Also, dogs, wolves, and coyotes are probably from a single canine ?kind?, so hundreds of different dogs were not needed.

According to Genesis 6:15, the Ark measured 300 x 50 x 30 cubits, which is about 460 x 75 x 44 feet, with a volume of about 1.52 million cubic feet. Researchers have shown that this is the equivalent volume of 522 standard railroad stock cars (US), each of which can hold 240 sheep. By the way, only 11% of all land animals are larger than a sheep.

Without getting into all the math, the 16,000-plus animals would have occupied much less than half the space in the Ark (even allowing them some moving-around space).

Conclusion

The Bible is reliable in all areas, including its account of the Ark (and the worldwide catastrophic Flood). A Christian doesn?t have to have a blind faith to believe that there really was an Ark. What the Bible says about the Ark can even be measured and tested today.

I think if you are a good person and follow one rule then that is all you need in life.

If you keep talking like that the jews will kill you.

[freedombabe]

Absolutely ...... the Bible is correct.

The Bible was not written as a textbook, but it is accurate. It is mostly about the why, but also has much history and other facts included.

Religion is the historic root of most strife, hatred, and lost freedom in the world.  To be totally free, one must free themselves from all the religious bulls*** that was force fed to us as children in the religious schools/classes/sunday-school.  Many wars are fought in the name of religion or god.

Religion was born from the fear of the unknown.  What man couldn't explain, he attributed it to a god.  Why does it rain?  Must be the god of rain.  Why does the tide go up and down/  Must be the god of the ocean. etc.

[president]

Absolutely ...... the Bible is correct.

The Bible was not written as a textbook, but it is accurate. It is mostly about the why, but also has much history and other facts included.

All versions of the Bible are correct?

What version are you talking about?

[Dreepa]

Adam had Cain and Abel and Seth and 'others'.
Cain and Seth had kids.... with whom?

[mvpel]

So was the Earth created in 7 days?

Depends on your relativistic inertial reference frame.

[Dreepa]

Well the bible is literal is what I am hearing.
One day = 24 hours.

[freedombabe]

I suppose it must've been god's plan to have creepy priests molest innocent children by the hundreds just to "test" their faith or the faith of their parents.

yup.  Makes sense to me. ???

Please may I have another cup of kool-aid?