Question:
Lars brought up an interesting issue concerning the above mentioned. I have never figuired out why that science and religion have such a difficult time co-existing.
I have always been interested and excited about scientific discoveries. My interest in science has NEVER interfered with my beliefs in God or Jesus. Is the scientific mind so precise that is it unable to grasp the concept of faith?

Answer:

Hairbear,
Science is a question and answer process. For science to be true, there must be answers that are verifiable for all questions. Not only that, the answers must work in all cases everywhere under all circumstances.
Can you imagine how science is going to explain creation coming from the mind of God? There is no comprehensible way of understanding what was going through the mind of God or even that He has a mind in the first place. Get the connection - we have not seen God, we do not know what God looks like, we do not know how God functions - science would never accept that which it can not explain.
That is why there has to be a big bang theory in the theory of evolution. Even evolution can not be explained by science without the manufacture of some big bang idea. To me it is easier to just accept that God did it than to dream up some kind of big bang theory.
No, science and faith can not meet on equal terms. One is to demanding upon the other. One will not accept the basis for the other. Faith wins out due to its foundation - God. Science in the mean time, continues to answer man's questions about matter - which can not be created, but can be explained. Science can explain how a tree is formed, but can not make a tree for example.
Faith accepts without explanation.
Bob CRyder Hataway
CP

Answer:

No, not true. In science there has to be a certain amount of faith to believe in evolution or the big bang theory. Everything started from SOMEWHERE. We do not know the methods that God used to create life. Science may be right. We may have evolved. There very well could have been a big bang. But who or what caused these chain of events? God, of course.

Answer:

Hairbear,
You are right in your thinking that it takes a certain amount of faith to accept science. But for the true scientists, they do not believe in faith. Everything to them has to have an explanation even if it is a big bang explanation.
You are right everything did start from something. And you are right that it did start from the mind of God. Scientists want us to believe that we came from scum. Well, as the song goes I want to know where did the scum cume frum ... The problem for scientist is that they will not accept from God of course.
Again, faith does not have to have an explanation.
Bob CRyder Hataway
CP

Answer:

I think you are somewhat off the mark about scientists not having faith. I have met many that are very religous.
But you are correct about faith and explanation. I would even state, that if it can be explained, you don't need faith.
But I think the important aspect, is to realize there is a spiritual side to life. And as Mr. Wilson recently proposed, it may very well be biologically grounded.

Answer:

But Lars, God can be explained. That is not considered scientific. Explainations and theories are based on some kind of faith. A true scientist must believe only in TANGIBLE substance. Having faith is like theories.You believe it to be true and eventually someone will prove it to be true...........making it palpable.

Answer:

Lars,
I did not mean to put scientists down as people who could not have any faith in God. I was merely relating to scientists in general. I too, know of a scientist who has a deep faith in God.
I was just speaking in general terms and not specific terms.
Some years back the Southern Baptist tried to get what was called Creation Science into the curriculum of the local schools as another way of getting Bible teachings back into the school systems. It did not work and currently is not being taught.
I was concerned that they even wanted to place the possibility of putting God on the same level with science and for the student to choose. There is a passage in the Old Testament when the Philistines in a battle stole the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites. They took it back to their camp.
They thought, "Boy we have it now, we have our god and we have their God as well." They placed the Ark near their statue and the next morning, their statue had fallen. They thought nothing of this and placed their statue back in it upright position. The next morning, the statue had fallen and broken into many pieces and could not be put back together again.
God is not going to accept a level playing field. He is God, He is going to be God and there is no other god who can stand before Him.
This was my concern about the Creation Science. God was not going to accept a position that He could be chosen like picking out what desert you wanted at a meal. He is the meal. He is the creation. Nothing goes beside Him, in front of Him or with Him. He is!
Point here, is that science is not going to embrace Christianity except in the heart of the scientist and God is not going to embrace any theories that deal with what He did in creation. He did it and that is it!
Bob CRyder Hataway
CP

Answer:

A scientist believes in reproducable results. Which have very little to do with spirituality. And I challenge you to have an Unitarian explain God to you. In a manner, easily understood by both you and an animist.

Answer:

Lars,
I agree with you about science since my original statement was:
Science is a question and answer process. For science to be true, there must be answers that are verifiable for all questions. Not only that, the answers must work in all cases everywhere under all circumstances.
I always enjoy having anybody explain God to me including a Unitarian if they so desire. I am sure that we can find many things about the Trinity to share that will bring joy to our hearts.
As to the animist, who believe that the spirit can be separated from the body, it would be a privilege to share the wonderful work of Jesus and what He can do for the soul within the body. Jesus says that His Spirit will witness with our spirit and we will know that He exists. Our spirit is within us and we are one with the body, soul, and spirit only to be separated at the transition from this life to the next.
A good definition for faith is going to the edge of darkness and taking one more step.
Thanks for your post, Lars.
Bob CRyder Hataway
CP

Answer:

Hebrews 11:3 "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" Hebrews 11;6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him"
"MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS" "HE IS" present, no past and no future. God lives in the present. He has always been and will always be. God lives in "today" always.
Man cannot understand this, because man is a prisoner of "time". "Time" did not begin until God created this world and man. Our loved ones who have gone on before us are no longer prisoners of "time", they have passed out into Eternity. At some point in the future, time will end for all.
Revelation 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away"
Revelation 21:5 "And He said unto me, "It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely".

Answer:

Bob: Do you know what you get, if you cross an Unitarian with a Seventh Day Adventist?
Somebody knocking on doors, for no appearant reason....

Answer:

Lars,
Good one - I will have to remember that one.
Bob CRyder Hataway
CP