I consider myself a man of science. Throughout my life, I have alternately believed in God, but eventually, the scientist in me tells me there's no such thing and that God is merely a character in an old story and nothing more. I've grappled with this quite a bit to figure out if there is a middle ground where science and faith can at least meet halfway, but the issue seems to require an "all or nothing" type of answer.
Before anyone quotes me scripture, I'm QUITE familiar with that book, since I come from a family where one side is Southern Baptist (I'm talking "olde time religion" kind of Baptist) and the other side is Catholic.
What are your thoughts on this?
IS there a middle ground or compromise between the two principles?
The U.P.2007-12-20T07:27:55Z
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I am a man of science and faith as well. I don't believe there is a middle ground because I don't think there needs to be. My understanding of science allows me to get a greater understanding of God. Did you know that there is a super massive black hole in the middle of every galaxy, at least every one we can see? On top of that it is exactly 1/2 of 1% of the total mass of the galaxy. Have you studied the Kreb's cycle? In my belief this is me seeing how God had worked it all out. One of the worst problems I run into people with misconceptions about what I believe. Just because one religious nut believes it does not mean we all do. If you really want to reconcile science and religion in your own mind then you need to learn about many religions and discover if their is one that allow for science. I have found one.
You all seem to have this weird global view that all theists are mindless robots and willfully ignorant.
I don't think its so black and white (this issue). In my mind it is NOT an either/or proposition. Assuming an infinite universe, truly, ALL things are possible. Somewhere...out there, in "real" space our understanding of physics doesn't exist. Where 2+2 equals something other than 4. Remember, its an INFINITE universe.
The challenge is to know when you don't have the answer(s). My faith isn't bullet proof. You guys could shoot all kinds of holes through it. But I would also submit that science isn't bullet proof, either. IT doesn't have all the answers.
IS the compromise "what science can't finish, faith, at least, can grapple with?" Perhaps.
The science argument doesn't phase me at all. Heck, I was planning on being an astrophysicist before i got into the arts. There is a balance that is there (if you can accept it) between faith and science.
However, if you're looking for science to somehow dovetail with faith, you might want to look at the Bell Quantum Particle Experiment, and a bit of cosmology (at least the philosophical aspects of the infinite universe.
I do question myself as to whether I've permanently suspended my disbelief. The answer that keeps coming back is "no."
There should be no problem reconciling science and God. i did not use the term "faith" because it can be as varied as snowflakes. Science has not been able to prove the bible in error or that there is no God, yet. Actually science does not attempt that. Humans do-and unfortunately some attempt to use science to do that. They turn science into pseudo-science, attempting to support the false idea that evolution is real. This is where the problem with science enters the picture. Some try to make it say what it does not say. Now, you are part Southern Baptist and part Catholic? You must be one or the other, but you can not be both. You say you have read the Bible-but have you studied it?-no. Study about the Bible from a non-Catholic perspective, and you will see that is is not just an old tale from days gone by.
Of course there's a middle ground simply because the bible, although it contains many verifiable scientific and historical truths, never claims to be a science or history book but rather a book of faith and a guide to living. Science, on the other hand, doesn't claim to be faith or morality, just the cold hard theories and facts.
Science does not answer all questions, such as from what does morality arise.
There is definitely room for both and neither contradicts the other, IF one knows when NOT to take the bible literally,
The best way to find an answer, if you're really wanting one, is by talking with other "men of science" and faith about their experiences - both those who have no trouble "reconciling" the two and those who have rejected faith for what they perceive to be "fact." My experience with science has been through my medical education (I am currently studying for my MSN - but have advanced degrees in other fields). I've also taken some advanced courses in biology and physics simply because the subjects interest me. While I once considered myself "too educated and intelligent to accept Jewish Fairy Tales" - today, the more I learn about science, the more my faith increases. Because of my experiences, I know several scientists who are devoted to their field of study and their God - and am aware of thousands more. I also know several who have struggled with this question and found a hopeless disconnect between the two. I seriously believe these people would be your best source of information as you seek your answer.