Science vs. Faith

            Is there a conflict between science and theology? In Greek Logos and Mythos.

And, God speaks to me:

            “You know so little.

            Picture all you know inside a paper bag. You do not know what is outside of the bag. When you study and learn, you just get a slightly larger bag. No matter how large the bag is, the universe is larger. Everything inside the bag is what you can or do know. That is science. The rest, that outside the bag, is unknown.

            Even the existence of that has to be faith. You cannot know. You are really not supposed to know. You can only believe. You can only have faith that there is something outside the bag; something you have to believe exists. You cannot know what that is, you can only guess. You can only believe.

            Even the most advanced scientists are aware that there is more outside the bag than inside. The most advanced religious leaders know that we cannot know, we must believe. That is what your faith is. That is how you perceive the elephant.

            Sometimes when we approach the edge of our knowledge, the side of the bag, we see shadows, light, darkness, movement. It is only in this manner can we determine that there is anything outside the bag. There is more that we do not know.

            You cannot see the components of the atom. You probably never will in your lifetime. You cannot see God. You probably never will in your lifetime. No way does that mean these things do not exist.

•          Some things we can see with our eyes.

•          Some things we can see with the aid of our instruments. Our microscopes and telescopes.

•          Some things we cannot see but can detect through other senses. Things like smells, taste, warmth, electricity, gravity.

•          Some things we cannot in any way see or feel, but through our science we can detect them by the effects they produce under certain conditions. Things like radio waves and magnetism.

•          Some things cannot be detected at all, but by rational progression we can theorize their existence. Only because they or some other things have to exist to explain the universe around us.

            God is beyond even that. We can only theorize when we attempt to deal with the question of God.

            We can only see the part of God that He has revealed to us. That is only that part that is within the bag with us. God fills all the universe. God also occupies all that space that is outside the bag we are in. God occupies all. That includes the unknown as well as the known.

            Science and theology are not incompatible as one really has no relationship to the other. If it does then you may be practicing bad science or worshiping a false god.

            If you find a conflict between science and faith, then you need to think it through. When God reveals knowledge to scientists, it does not change what He is.

            Most scientists make an obsession of using the word theory. When they make statements, they always attach the word theory to it, because they realize all of their knowledge is within that bag of knowledge. They realize there is still more they do not know. They realize what they think they may have discovered might be proven wrong by further discoveries.

            They cannot even understand the universe we live in. How can we understand that which is greater than the universe? All of our science cannot bring us closer to understanding God.

            Science cannot detect or describe reality. Science can only see that small part of reality visible using the tools available. The vision of science ends where our capabilities end. Beyond that we can know nothing. Our science can never give us the total truth, the total knowledge, the total of anything. Science cannot tell us if there is intelligent life on other worlds. At least not yet. The scientist is no more capable than any of the blind men approaching the elephant. We are blind to that which is beyond the limits of our sight. The atheist refuses to accept this limitation. In this way, he too is blind. It is in this respect that science and religion are the same! In science as well as theology we are only blind men.

            You cannot measure an atom with a yardstick. You cannot measure the universe with a yardstick. Therefore, it is ignorant, even stupid to think that you can measure God with a yardstick. It is ignorant, even stupid to think that you can measure or even detect God with any of our tools of science.

            Science deals with nature, with physical things, with things. Religion deals with your soul, your morals, your ethics.

            In science you must remain detached from whatever it is you are studying.

            In religion you must become involved - - changed.

            Faith should not be something derived from logic. Faith should spring from the heart. Once faith comes to you, then you may use logic to feed it, direct it, help it grow.

            Without God, there is no morality. Without God there are no morals. Without God morals and ethics become meaningless. If God does not exist, then the meanings of good and evil become interchangeable. They become whatever is going to work for you at the moment.

            If you read the writings of people like Steven Hawking, you will find there is an undercurrent of faith. Read between the lines. Scientists make an effort to not refer to God. But, there is still that unstated, unknown entity or power or direction. There exists some unknown cause. Scientists continue to search for this unknown cause. In order to be scientific, they cannot base any of their observations on faith. They cannot make any statements that include God and still retain their scientific objectivity.

            I find it entertaining to discover that many still have faith even though they avoid mentioning God.

            I would like to have a discussion about God with Steven Hawking. That would be extremely interesting.

            The Dalai Lama once said, “If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change.”

            As I said before, there is no conflict between science and religion. There should be none. There cannot be any.

            Only one who is ignorant of science, religion, or both can possibly believe there is any conflict. Or, that there ever can be any conflict.

            I do not think the Dali Lama needs to worry about any change in Buddhism.

            But, some who call themselves Christians might discover a need to reexamine their religion. To reexamine their faith.