Reflections of a Jesuit Scientist
George Coyne, SJ, associate pastor at St. Raphael the Archangel Church in Raleigh, N.C. He was formerly director of the Vatican Observatory.
Evolution as a scientific explanation of origins is often viewed as atheistic.
It is not.
Science, by its very methodology, is completely neutral with respect to religious considerations. But if one does believe in God, creator of the universe, can scientific knowledge be helpful in supporting and nurturing that belief?
I would like to discuss how a believing scientist like myself views, based on scientific knowledge, the nature of God and the nature of the human being. Such knowledge is basic to any discussion of faith, and I hope such knowledge complements that derived from philosophy and theology. Several criteria exist to determine the veracity of scientific theories, such as predictability, repeatability of experiments, simplicity or economy of explanation. There is, however, a growing awareness among scientists of another criterion: “unifying explanatory power” – not only are the observations at hand explained, but the attempt to understand is also in harmony with all else that we know, even with that which we know outside of the natural sciences.
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Evolution says man come from ape.
ReplyDeleteGod in Genesis 1:27 says that 'So God created man in his own image, the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.'
Both cannot link in any ways. It's like saying God looks like ape. Since He the Greater One created man in His OWN Image.
My pastor said that before that the one, who come up the theory of evolution, claimed that he did it wrong before his death. But this theory has been passing on for ages like those who believes in idols.
I choose to believe in the Truth in the bible, the words breath by Holy Spirit, the word of Christ, rather than what man said.
Shalom!
Hi Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteThe scientists who studied evolution never claimed that man descended from the apes. Though closely related, both come through different evolutionary branches.
Charles Darwin, the person who came up with the theory of evolution did not claim that it was wrong before he died. This is a historical fact and may be verified.
I don't think Genesis 1:27 is meant to be read literally. If it is read literally, then there will be no image because God is spirit!
I posted about the image of God here
It's either Alex Tang was wrong or your pastor was wrong, in the issue of Darwin turning back on evolution (natural selection). They both can't be right. And the wrong guy better repent because both spoke in public forum and in the context of god's dealing with his Creation.
ReplyDeleteI choose to believe the Truth, in the bible and elsewhere (well you can't get "2+2=4" or "Lee Hsien Loong is the PM of Sg" in the bible) rather than what syiok sendiri pastors or doctors said. God help me...and us.
Steven Sim
Hi Alex,
ReplyDeleteThis is my meditation on the verse Genesis 1:27 and what Lord reveals to me:
'I created man as the same image as I have. You have different appearance because Father God is creative. No, the theory of evolution is not the Truth.'
Since my knowledge on evolution is donkey years ago from school, I shall not argue on that. Now I only know that the bible is the Truth.
I trust in what Lord revealed to me.
I have just read your image of God post.
Just like to add it here. There is a spirit, a soul and a body for each of us. Lord is in the spirit realm of us when we know not much of him. As we learn more and more till we believe Him as He had done for us at the Cross, Lord will move from the spirit realm to combine with us the soul realm. Once this 2 realm is combined, the body have to come align with the other 2.
Soul is our will power, our emotion and our thoughts.
From personal experience, when I learn about Lord Jesus to a certain level, Lord came to combine with me one day. He told me to get go of all my body and mind, then He started moving into me. Now He and me is 3 in 1, this is His disclosure to me.
Sometime, He let me speak for Him but when needed assurance, He came out to talk as 1st person thru me. Amazing, isn't He?! :D Praise the Lord!
For each stage of my spiritual encounter, I did post in my blog.
As for your comment on no image as God is spirit, you can check on my mediation on the book of John 1:1-5. Lord revealed how He made us and the world.
Briefly say here. Father God is the one who spoke, Lord Jesus is the spoken word that forms into what Father God spoke. Holy Spirit is the one that form Lord Jesus into the physical thing that we can see and touch.
These whole world, living or non-living things, are formed bec of Lord Jesus. He keeps all things together.
Shalom!
This is the link to my meditation on the book of John that Lord asked me to post:
ReplyDeletehttp://stephanienjesus.blogspot.com/2008/08/christ-word_30.html
wow, Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteYou continue to amaze me with your understanding of the Bible.
Hi Alex,
ReplyDeleteIt is all by the Grace of Lord, nothing of us. As I sit on His Foot and learn more about Jesus, Lord disclose more of Him to me.
It's His saying in the bible. Those who have will be given even more. Those who don't have much will have more taken for them. I just realised the meaning of this verse just now. On the way home from church, listening to sermon and Lord explains to me.
Shalom!
Just sharing my life with you.
ReplyDeleteLord put me on a super fast bullet train and gives me lot of Grace to pick up all about Him in these 2 years. He even gave me a 2nd, more feminine bible when I didn't like to read the black leather one that He first bless me.
I am one who do not like to read book, yet He gives me lots of Grace to read the bible and then lots of Grace and strength to meditate His Words.
All bec He needs me to go out there ASAP to save the lost world. Those people that was in bondage by their sickness. He gives me a heart to feel for them and wanting to heal them.
All is about His Grace and nothing about me.
It's what the bible say, when you empty of yourself, Lord fills you up and give you more than what you expected of yourself.
When I first accepted Christ, I thought there is nothing more for Daddy God to bless me, as I have a pretty good and comfortable life.
Now that He is giving the power and the status and the money, which is coming soon...in terms of millions....just bec I believe in all that is said of Him and look to Him and learn more about Him all this while. Praise the Lord for His Goodness and Majesty! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for all that You have done for me on the Cross, for me to receive all your goodness!
Amen!
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteHow long have you been with New Creation Church, Singapore?
Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing about yourself and your spiritual experiences. Now I understand you better. God is good.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Coyne. Evolution and God can co-exist.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the "unifying explanatory power" can be short-handed as "worldview"?
Hi Sze Seng,
ReplyDeleteNo, I do not think that 'unifying explanatory power' is a short hand for worldview and I do not think Coyle meant it as such. Coyle and others are trying to solve an epistemological problem in a Theoistic worldview i.e. to reconciliate the apparent conflict between science and theology.
My own attempt here
Oh I see. I get what you meant. Thank you :)
ReplyDelete