Science and Religion
Recently, the Board of Education in Florida voted to allow alternative theories to evolution. Some have argued that these theories are no more than religion dressed up as science. “It opens the door to teaching theories of creationism and intelligent design in public schools. The critics say those theories belong in church and at home.”
Through the debate of creationism, critics have “discovered” a noodly god known only as the “Flying Spaghetti Monster™.” Bobby Henderson, a critic of intelligent design, created a fake religion to show just how foolish he thought creationism is.
The reality is that he is right.
Most evangelical Christians have argued that the statistical probability for life to evolve is so astronomical, that creation screams of an intelligent maker.
The reality is that they are right, too.
So where does this leave us? The same place we started.
Below the choppy waters of the debate, beneath the mine-filled battlefield, lies a deeper reality that critics on both sides refuse to address. It’s a reality that must be understood and taken into consideration when debating sciences verses religion. The odd thing is that both sides assume and make misinformed judgments based on their vague understanding of this reality, but few venture there.
That reality comes down to this question: What if they are right?
Take those that are on the side of intelligent design and creationism. They wholeheartedly debate with fervor that this world, this universe, was created by a being of compassion. It was created for a purpose. That purpose is up for much debate but let’s assume this notion for a moment and continue with this thought experiment.
Now let’s assume that the evolutionists are right. What would happen to their beliefs? Would they doubt? Was Jesus just a man? Does God really exist or is he a product of man?
Now, move over to the other side. Evolutionists debate that changes over long periods of time contribute to what we see in the world today. Every plant, animal, fungus, virus, and bacteria originated from a single organism. What that organism was is still up for much debate but let’s assume this notion for a moment.
Now assume that the creationists are right. Does God exist? Is there an eternal plan that I am a part of? If God does exist, do I have to know him?
These questions speak to something very deep in our hearts. All of us, even the scientists, put their faith in a belief. (Evolutionists, stay with me for a minute!) At the end of the day, we don’t know what happened when the universe was formed. We have made very educated guesses. For example, it is pretty much accepted that there was a big bang. What that big bang created or caused it to explode is up for much debate. But at the end, no one knows for an absolute certainty.
Allow me to take this a step further. At the end of the day, does this question of creationism verses evolution really matter? I would submit that it doesn’t.
One of the things that I’ve come to understand is that the questions we ask are rarely the questions we really want to ask. Confused? Let me explain: The question here is not about creation verses evolution. The question is not about religion verses science. The question is not even about education and the scientific method. The question pierces much deeper that this. The real question is about free will.
Every person struggles with the notion and idea of freedom. We want to be free. Many of us believe we are free. See, if a god doesn’t exist, then it doesn’t matter what we do. There would be no standards, except for the ones we agree to, and we would simply live life until we expire.
But if a god does exist, all of the sudden, the question of morality, right and wrong, sin, and, more importantly, free will comes into question. Do we really have control over our lives? If so, how much? Are the choices I make really mine or are they influenced?
Can science and religion co-exist? Does it matter?
All of us must decide what we believe. Can we be a product of accidents of coincidences or could there be a purpose?
So what is my answer? The honest truth is, “I don’t know. I don’t need to know.” I already made the decision that questions like creation and evolution are way beyond my understanding. What I’ve come to know is God. What I believe is that I am sinful. I do bad stuff all the time. Sometimes, I don’t like to talk to my parents because I just want to play video games. Sometimes, I look a little too long at a woman’s cleavage. Sometimes, I want to invest in companies that exploit children just so I can make more money. What I believe is that Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to earth to be like me. He played by his own rules and took the form of a man. Then, out of his own free will, Jesus died on the cross a sinless man to become sin and to free me from the bondage of lust, greed, and selfishness.
To some Christians, they want to understand creation. I’m not one of them. Just like understanding how my car works wouldn’t help he to drive better, understanding the “science” of creation wouldn’t help me understand God. I hang my hat on what God has done for me in my life. That’s it.
And to me, that’s all that matters.