I used to think there isn't really any conflict between religion and science. All we have to do is apply a liberal interpretation to the religious views that seem to conflict with science, but there are too many religious people who can't seem to do this, like the literal Bible interpreters and the creationists. What are they thinking and why do they profess to believe proven facts are false! I believe one big reason is that everyone, at least to some degree, has a very basic need to show the rest of the world that they stand for something important and religion stands ready for them to use. They have been taught almost since they were born that the Bible is the Word of God and it takes no reasoning on their part to say; "This is the Word of God. It cannot be false!" Well, I know beyond any reasonable doubt that the Bible can not be interpreted literally. I don't mean that it MAY not be interpreted literally. I mean it's impossible. The Bible is a book that was written almost 2,000 years ago and translated several times at least. Furthermore, I don't believe it was written to be interpreted literally. If you gave ten people the same chapter from the same book of the Bible and asked them for a literal interpretation of that chapter, I'm fairly certain you would get ten different interpretations. The Bible can be a wonderful source of moral ideas and rules that if followed will provide some chance for the survival of the human race, but it must be interpreted liberally enough to agree with established facts!
Hey Dad I finally read your blog!
While I don't agree with everything, I think it makes sense and I understand that you need proof! But it is to sad and scary for me to think that there is not a higher being out there looking over us.Which to me is, God and I pray and have faith that there is a heaven and I believe that good people will go there ,but I believe that God is a loving God who will give people like you a chance to believe in him when you die. I don't feel you should force your beliefs on others but show by example how you want to be treated ,as some say "Do what Jesus would do" I don't believe everything in the bible especially not literally, they are stories and analogies to get points across and stories long ago meant different things then they do now.
I have heard you say if there is a God then why to babies die and why are people murdered.....well I believe that God gave us free will and people are human and don't always make the right decisions we make mistakes. If everything was good and there was no bad we'd have no gage to judge what is good and bad....sad and happy?.....so we have choices.
Faith and Hope are important and I need them.When I was a kid I remember believing in Santa Claus and I loved that ,it was magical. Well I hope that I am right and there is a loving God looking over us and that everything will make sense someday.But maybe I will be disappointed like I was when I found out there was no Santa Claus but I HOPE not!
I also read about communication and I totally agree with you that being a good listener is the most important thing and you can get your points across without yelling or raising your voice ,way to many people do that.And those people who can bring themsleves down to anothers level and help them without making that person feelunimportant or worthless have a gift and I feel that is what we are here for to learn as much as we can and help each other regardless what religion,color etc we are :O)
Love you Dad
Tracy.
Posted by: tracy | 01/02/2008 at 09:36 AM