Scientists' spirituality surprises

[hvp05]

The story @ the Times...

"Science is often perceived as incompatible with religion and spirituality, but few have asked how scientists themselves think about religion," said study director Elaine Howard Ecklund, a sociologist at Rice University in Houston.

You may have seen surveys like this before, and here's a new one. It is somewhat more interesting on the heels of Pres. Bush's statements regarding the inclusion of ID in public school science classes.

I don't believe the two fields must be at odds; people just so often become ensconced and defensive of their perspective [whatever it is] that any hope of fairness rapidly evaporates.

 

[Railroad]

The story @ the Times...

You may have seen surveys like this before, and here's a new one. It is somewhat more interesting on the heels of Pres. Bush's statements regarding the inclusion of ID in public school science classes.

I don't believe the two fields must be at odds; people just so often become ensconced and defensive of their perspective [whatever it is] that any hope of fairness rapidly evaporates.

I agree!

My Dad was a physicist - a very accomplished and well-repected one. He was also a very devout Christian and led the family in a Bible reading every night of the week.

 

[Tonio]

I don't believe the two fields must be at odds; people just so often become ensconced and defensive of their perspective [whatever it is] that any hope of fairness rapidly evaporates.

I agree. As I see it, science seeks to answer the question "How did we get here?" while faith seeks to answer the question "Why are we here?"

 

[Bustem' Down]

I agree. As I see it, science seeks to answer the question "How did we get here?" while faith seeks to answer the question "Why are we here?"

Bingo!

 

[2ndAmendment]

I agree. As I see it, science seeks to answer the question "How did we get here?" while faith seeks to answer the question "Why are we here?"

That is true.

Another perspective is that the evolution/science invokes that we are nothing special. Humans are just another animal. We have no real significance. We are an accident. The Biblical account of creation and the teachings of Jesus tell us that we are very special, that the hairs on our head are numbered, that we are precious to God and that every creature is subject to us. Quite different points of view.

 

[Tonio]

Another perspective is that the evolution/science invokes that we are nothing special. Humans are just another animal. We have no real significance. We are an accident.

I've never seen anything in science that says, or even implies, that humans are an accident. I think that's mostly an interpretation or a perception that some people get from science. In my view, humans can still have evolved from lower forms of life and still be considered special.

 

[Bustem' Down]

You know, a lot of people believe that god is without form correct? The creation story then leaves a lot of room to include evolution based on that. Adam created from the earth by god, microbs evolving from the primodial ooze. I'm just hypothisizing and rambling, but you can see wat I mean right?

 

[ocean733]

I agree. As I see it, science seeks to answer the question "How did we get here?" while faith seeks to answer the question "Why are we here?"

 

[hvp05]

the hairs on our head are numbered

I know God has already condemned me... my number is dropping every day.

 

[2ndAmendment]

You know, a lot of people believe that god is without form correct? The creation story then leaves a lot of room to include evolution based on that. Adam created from the earth by god, microbs evolving from the primodial ooze. I'm just hypothisizing and rambling, but you can see wat I mean right?

That does not really coincide with the story of creation. The account in the Bible says God created man in His own image, i.e., we look like Him. So I don't know where people would get the idea that God is without form. We aren't without form.

Genesis 1:24-31

<sup id="en-NASB-24">24</sup>Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind"; and it was so.

<sup id="en-NASB-25">25</sup>God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

<sup id="en-NASB-26">26</sup>Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

<sup id="en-NASB-27">27</sup>God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

<sup id="en-NASB-28">28</sup>God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

<sup id="en-NASB-29">29</sup>Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;

<sup id="en-NASB-30">30</sup>and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so.

<sup id="en-NASB-31">31</sup>God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I've never seen anything in science that says, or even implies, that humans are an accident. I think that's mostly an interpretation or a perception that some people get from science. In my view, humans can still have evolved from lower forms of life and still be considered special.

Maybe to some, that is the case. But I see it as evolution teaching that I am just some product of an accident where my ancestors were basic elements that came together through some process to form proteins. Those proteins became one celled animals and eventually became more complex animals and voila humans. Does not sound special to me. Now God creating me in His own image to rule over all the creatures of the earth and sacrificing His body on a cross for me because of my failures sounds very special.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I know God has already condemned me... my number is dropping every day.

It is not too late for salvation until you are .

2 Corinthians 6:2

<sup id="en-NASB-28901">2</sup>for He says,
"AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU."
Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"--

 

[fishinfool]

If there is inteligent life elsewhere in the universe, do they look like us? Can there be other life out there? Does the bible talk anywhere about other worlds or did God just create us and stop or continue working? Most scientists seem to believe we can't be alone in the universe but why wouldn't God tell us if there are more like us?
Just some questions of mine.

 

[2ndAmendment]

If there is inteligent life elsewhere in the universe, do they look like us? Can there be other life out there? Does the bible talk anywhere about other worlds or did God just create us and stop or continue working? Most scientists seem to believe we can't be alone in the universe but why wouldn't God tell us if there are more like us?
Just some questions of mine.

The Bible is silent in these questions as far as I know. I guess you will just have to ask Him if it is still that important at the time.