Texas Baptist Forum: Science vs. faith

letters

image_pdfimage_print

Science vs. faith

I have a problem with the whole science vs. religion thing (Feb. 9).

What is religion? One definition of religion is: “A cause, principle or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.” This is a perfect definition of evolution!

Science should be about what can be measured or proved. The theory of evolution is more religion than it is science. Pick up a National Geographic or any science textbook, and you will almost always find these words, “scientists believe.” Why does this carry more weight than “theologians believe”?

The article quotes Michael Zimmerman, dean at Butler University, who says, “But for far too long, strident voices, in the name of Christianity, have been claiming that people must choose between religion and modern science.” I disagree with this statement on many levels.

First, if scientists “believe something” rather than “prove or know something,” we are in the realm of religion and not science. Second, this is clearly not the choice that God has presented to us. God tells us to choose between Christ and everything else. Third, Christianity is not supposed to be a religion. It is supposed to be a relationship with God in Christ Jesus. Fourth, I wonder why so many people are so determined to keep even the mention of intelligent design out of every classroom in the nation.

Buddy Helms,

Big Lake

 


Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays


The Feb. 9 publication was the best ever. I especially liked the broad coverage of Darwin’s theory of evolution and the debate regarding intelligent design.

My husband and I, along with a group of friends, had just watched Inherit the Wind, which we had seen originally many years ago. It would be very fitting for Christians to take a second look at this movie.

While I can respect the fact honorable people differ on their opinion regarding creation, I must admit that I cannot understand why thinking people cannot allow that God could use science as a part of his creation. I see no discrepancy in merging science with religion.

Marjean Kitts

Arlington

 

A few words to encourage those who want to believe God created, out of nothing, simply by a “word,” through the Word (Jesus).

There has never been any “evolution”—one species evolving into another. We see changes in the created spectrum only as they have the genetic code already in place that allows them to adapt and change.

Equally intelligent and informed people can either believe in “evolution” or creation. It is not a matter of science!

Science is too limited to prove or disprove. I am afraid many Christians who have little scientific backgound may be intimidated by the voices of the Richard Dawkinses. Do you think he believes in the resurrection of our Lord? Of course not. He doesn’t believe in anything “supernatural.” So, if you do, you are able to have a different set of “tools” of logic.

If God can raise from the dead, he can create out of nothing!

The only reason to propose millions of years of evolution is that it couldn’t have happened in an instant (by a word). Anything that can be proven is compatible with the Bible.

Please, when you look at a flower, or a kitten, or that 1-year-old toddler (who is grabbing my keyboard!), begin to praise and thank and worship this unfathomable Creator who tells us to walk by faith, informed by reality and “real” truth. You will find the power and joy you have been missing!

Dale R. Lucus

Cleburne

Truly ethical

It’s ironic, and fitting, that your editorial on integrity would appear in the same issue as news of the death of former Samford University President Thomas E. Corts (Feb. 9). You raised the question, “Is it too much to ask people to behave the same in private as they do in public?”

Tom Corts always did just that. His family, friends and colleagues all knew the character and integrity he displayed in public was the same found at home and in his private life. He “validated the faith he proclaimed” in every setting. The many tributes to his legacy in newspapers, on Facebook and MySpace, and in other venues all attest to his integrity.

When an unexpected opportunity came in 2003 to return to higher education administration after an absence of several years, the only reason I considered it was because the offer came from Samford University and Tom Corts. His personal reputation, intricately entwined with the strong international reputation he helped to build for Samford, mattered most to our family.

As fate would have it, we also had the opportunity to share church membership with Tom and Marla Corts after our family moved to Birmingham. There were no better friends or encouragers in that venue than the Cortses. It was the same encouragement I received every day at Samford. With Tom Corts as a mentor and model, I hope I can strive to be the same person in public and private—a person of unquestioned integrity.

Philip Poole

Birmingham, Ala.

 

Cause more trouble’

I want to respond to Shirley Taylor, who has formed a website to cause more trouble by asking women to join in her fight against “Cold heart toward women” (Feb. 9).

It is about time these disgruntled women learn what the New Testament has to say about women pastors and deacons.

Remember, God told the Apostle Paul these instructions. They did not come from the men of the church. I refer Taylor and her female friends to refer to, and study and digest the following Scriptures: 1 Timothy 3:2-13, 2:12-13; and 2 Timothy 2:36.

These words, when analyzed prayerfully, show plainly that God does not want women pastors or deacons.Why? Well, they will have to take that up with God.

I admire churches who have the spiritual backbone to stand up to the women’s movement to destroy the church. The churches are just following the teachings of Jesus. Should we not all be?

Neal Murphy

San Augustine

Climate ‘myths’

I read with considerable dismay the Feb. 9 article on environmental damage. It perpetuates three of the myths about our climate that have become prevalent.

First, scientists have not reached consensus about so-called global warming. In fact, thousands of scientists, many with actual meteorological credentials, believe the earth is in a perpetual state of climate change, there is no absolute evidence connecting global climate change to human activity and the earth has actually begun to cool in the last few years.

Second, the intensity of hurricanes has not increased significantly over the past several years. Damage may have increased due to more people building in coastal areas, but hurricane scientists will not attribute any intensity increase to the warming of the seas, since the seas have actually not become warmer in the past few years.

Third, our atmospheric quality has not become worse. Actually, atmospheric quality in and around major cities is considerably better now than three or four decades ago.

Nevertheless, we could and should do much better in protecting and preserving the quality of our air. There is no doubt that children, the elderly and others suffer because air quality is not as good as it could be.

However, we need to work to protect and preserve in the right way, through cooperative efforts among government, the public and industry.

R. Terry Campbell

Big Canoe, Ga.

 

U.S. & torture

Former Vice President Dick Cheney emerged to criticize President Obama after Obama had been in office a little more than two weeks. Cheney likes to say the “enhanced interrogation techniques” (torture) kept America safe. He says other than the 9-11 attacks, America has not suffered any terrorists attacks since that day. I am reminded of the infamous question supposedly asked in the spring of 1865, “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?”

Did we suffer the attacks of 9-11 because of a lack of torture? Or could it be that we were attacked because those elected to protect us ignored vital intelligence and failed to act in a competent manner?

In 1692, the daughter and niece of a preacher in Salem, Mass., started hysteria about “witches” that resulted in the torture and deaths of 24 people—19 by hanging and five died in prison. Since that time, to the best of my knowledge, there have been no attacks on America by “witches.” Is this further proof that torture works?

I find it difficult to believe Americans, especially Christians, are even discussing this subject. I am thankful this shameful chapter in America’s history has ended.

Carl L. Hess

Ozark, Ala.

Acts of God

Many of my life’s storms sometime identify with Elijah. Jezebel was in hot pursuit of Elijah; he had slain all the false prophets. God sent an angel to touch Elijah and provide him with food, but Elijah had a pity party. He was the only one left who loved and obeyed God.

The angel took Elijah out to the mountain, and the Lord passed by in a great strong wind, broke the rocks on the mountain into pieces, sent an earthquake and a fire, and Elijah finally recognized God in a still, small voice.

In 1960, when I started work in property insurance, policies actually cited causes of loss known as “acts of God.” Adjusters used that term often when settling a claim. Nowadays, insurance policies recognize windstorm, hurricane, hail and lightening mostly as “causes of loss.”

Law cited the definition I know in insurance as “acts of God” when I begin my insurance career. It described perils that do not require human help. Further, there was no way man could intervene or prevent the “God action.”

We no longer refer to windstorm, hurricanes, hail, floods, tsunamis, earthquake, etc. as “acts of God.” Global warming, and/or climate change are terms for natural disasters. In addition, we hear about man’s intervention with a green plan.

There is a God plan, too, an “act of God” known as the Jesus plan. This plan does require some intervention from humankind, known as a Christian’s voice.

Joyce Brumley

Grand Prairie

 

Truth not being represented

Absolutely no form of evolution is compatible with Genesis. Yes, there is a 600+ million-year record of escalating death, but the correct reading of the first chapter of Genesis told mankind about the geologic history of Earth more than 3,000 years before secular science discovered it.

Both creationism and theology have failed to do their homework, and the truth of Genesis is not being represented. Unfortunately, the news media has practiced censorship in ignoring the world’s leading expert on Genesis, keeping the public in the dark about the available truth of scripture.

There are no creation accounts in Genesis. Creationism is not the opposing view of evolution. Biblical Creation is the opposing view of “the Big Bang” theory. The Observations of Moses (Genesis 1:1–2:3) is the opposing view of evolution.

Therefore, there is no “creation/evolution” contest. There are Factual Genesis seminars available to educate the public if institutions are willing the host them.

Herman Cummings
Fortson, Ga.

 

Beasts of the earth

In a synoptic view of my biblical theory on evolution, I found it necessary to make a distinction between biblical man, Adam, and evolutionary man, the Homo sapiens or “beast of the earth” referenced in Genesis 1:24.

Adam was created as a human being, and the evolution species would belong to the “beast of the earth” creature category. Therefore, at the time Adam was created, this species of the “beasts of the earth”—Homo sapiens—would have pre-existed, which everyone presumes to be the same as a human being.

If, in fact, Homo sapiens belongs to the “beast of the earth,” it could have evolved from its original state such as the cave dweller and so forth, but not in the line of Darwin’s theory. It had all the faculties to form a social way of living as did most other mammals such as the elephant, lion, etc., by natural instinct.

While there are pages more to be said, which would also include Cain’s mate, I hope this outline might inspire some consideration from someone dealing with intelligent design.

I should state that I do not hold to each day of creation as being a day as we know it, but subscribe to what the Apostle Peter said in 2Peter 3:8.

Also this theory came to me after contemplating what Peter and Jude both said about “brute beasts” in 2 Peter 2:12 and Jude 1:10. However, I am not inferring these verses have any direct relation to Genesis.

Larry T. Judd

Dickinson

 

What do you think? We value your opinion. Send letters to Editor Marv Knox by mail: P.O. Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267; or by e-mail: [email protected]. Due to space constraints, length limit is 250 words, and only one letter per quarter per writer.

 


We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.

Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.

More from Baptist Standard