We have the fossils... We Win.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
When a sticker keeps bumping into your day sooner or later you have to write a blog about it. I have two questions I need help answering.
Who are we? And what exactly did you win?
I am assuming the “we” on this bumper sticker is referring to those who believe in evolution. If this is the case, that would include me, so what did I win? Seriously, if this cute little animal trapped inside of the Jesus fish is intended to infer that because evolution is true then God is not, please pull over so we can have a discussion.
The theory of evolution has been widely accepted by well-informed Christians throughout the decades. Pope John Paul II in his 1996 message delivered to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences specifically spoke to and expanded upon his predecessor’s position on evolution elevating it from a hypothesis to a well accepted theory. What is a theory? A theory is a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena. Evolution? Evolution is a process that results in heritable changes in a population spread over many generations. In other words, the Pope put evolution into the same “yep, that appears so” boat together with relativity and gravity. I believe it is unsatisfying for our scientific next generation to throw up our hands saying, "Evolution is just a theory." In the same way, I believe it is unsatisfying to the Creator and Sustainer of our amazing brains to not keep using them to search for the unification of truth.
This brings us to the overarching discussion, science and theology. What is theology? Theology is the rational discourse about God. Science? Science is the systematic accumulation of knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation. OK, enough of that, but definitions are really important. Why? Definitions are critical because we talk and think in words. As humans, we are constantly interpreting through experience an understanding of revealed truth. There will always be a struggle between the attempt to define in words what science has currently discovered as workable fact and the ultimate and unchanging truth of the universe. Truth will always transcend facts.
Science and theology have been intertwined since the dawn of humanity and will be forever. You can separate church and state, but you cannot separate science and theology if you desire to successfully move forward with either. Saint Augustine of Hippo during the 4th century put forth the doctrine of the unity of truth. Saint Augustine argued there is not one truth for theology and another for natural or scientific knowledge stating they are the, "two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth." A solid majority of the deepest thinkers of all times have believed in a transcendent Creator.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, another icon of synthesis, states,
“Both the light of reason and the light of faith come from God, he argued; hence there can be no contradiction between them. Faith therefore has no fear of reason; but seeks it out and trusts it.”
Unfortunately the history of man tells a story mired in distrust and fear of emerging scientific discovery. Feeling a version of truth threatened, humanity has frequently engaged in oppressive, unjust, and bloody conflicts between science and theology. This missing of the mark, fueled by position, politics, and power, reveals it is the ego of man which continues to stand in the way of our evolution both natural and spiritual.
Danger lies in the strict and literal interpretation of words written in a different time and to a specific people. Theologians have long ago assured us the Bible is inspired truth not dictated words. Saint Augustine's belief that the Bible's ultimate divine authorship is partly obscured behind the human words expressed by human writers became fundamental to Christian theology. Jesus himself taught in parables. I often wonder if we should think more about why He chose to do this. His message was the renewal and rebirth of humanity through the humility of accepting His gift of love and the mystery of the Two Great Commandments… Dare I say our evolution toward the truth?
The link between the meaning of those words and their unchanging truth must always be our selfless goal. Wisdom must move us beyond ego whether it be for our belief in the religion of the One God or the religion of atheistic humanism. Both are religions and both require leaps of faith. One religion requires the leap of faith to random spontaneous origin, and the other requires the leap to a transcendent Creator.
Wisdom knows all and understands all. Wisdom 9:11
Life is movement. Experience, relationship, and perception are movement. Creation is movement. In my opinion, evolution is the most obvious proof of the Divine creative movement of all things seen and unseen. Our human evolution brings us ever closer in form, mental capacity, and spiritual consciousness to the ability of the creature to know the Creator. The ability to accept His gift and reflect His image through our lives.
Humanity culminates in the creative infusion of an eternal soul and the consciousness of a being who can ponder the meaning of life, the afterlife, and the Creator of life.
How cool is that… We win!
One opinion, one blog, complex topics beckon for your comments.
Michele
Who are we? And what exactly did you win?
I am assuming the “we” on this bumper sticker is referring to those who believe in evolution. If this is the case, that would include me, so what did I win? Seriously, if this cute little animal trapped inside of the Jesus fish is intended to infer that because evolution is true then God is not, please pull over so we can have a discussion.
The theory of evolution has been widely accepted by well-informed Christians throughout the decades. Pope John Paul II in his 1996 message delivered to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences specifically spoke to and expanded upon his predecessor’s position on evolution elevating it from a hypothesis to a well accepted theory. What is a theory? A theory is a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena. Evolution? Evolution is a process that results in heritable changes in a population spread over many generations. In other words, the Pope put evolution into the same “yep, that appears so” boat together with relativity and gravity. I believe it is unsatisfying for our scientific next generation to throw up our hands saying, "Evolution is just a theory." In the same way, I believe it is unsatisfying to the Creator and Sustainer of our amazing brains to not keep using them to search for the unification of truth.
Science and theology have been intertwined since the dawn of humanity and will be forever. You can separate church and state, but you cannot separate science and theology if you desire to successfully move forward with either. Saint Augustine of Hippo during the 4th century put forth the doctrine of the unity of truth. Saint Augustine argued there is not one truth for theology and another for natural or scientific knowledge stating they are the, "two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth." A solid majority of the deepest thinkers of all times have believed in a transcendent Creator.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, another icon of synthesis, states,
“Both the light of reason and the light of faith come from God, he argued; hence there can be no contradiction between them. Faith therefore has no fear of reason; but seeks it out and trusts it.”
Danger lies in the strict and literal interpretation of words written in a different time and to a specific people. Theologians have long ago assured us the Bible is inspired truth not dictated words. Saint Augustine's belief that the Bible's ultimate divine authorship is partly obscured behind the human words expressed by human writers became fundamental to Christian theology. Jesus himself taught in parables. I often wonder if we should think more about why He chose to do this. His message was the renewal and rebirth of humanity through the humility of accepting His gift of love and the mystery of the Two Great Commandments… Dare I say our evolution toward the truth?
The link between the meaning of those words and their unchanging truth must always be our selfless goal. Wisdom must move us beyond ego whether it be for our belief in the religion of the One God or the religion of atheistic humanism. Both are religions and both require leaps of faith. One religion requires the leap of faith to random spontaneous origin, and the other requires the leap to a transcendent Creator.
Wisdom knows all and understands all. Wisdom 9:11
Humanity culminates in the creative infusion of an eternal soul and the consciousness of a being who can ponder the meaning of life, the afterlife, and the Creator of life.
How cool is that… We win!
One opinion, one blog, complex topics beckon for your comments.
Michele
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