Creation Vs. Science
By Irwin N. Graulich (03/29/05)
So whom do we believe? Our brilliant scientists or eminent clergy? How about this? They are both right!
The recent controversies in America and Israel were not healthy occurrences for religion. Evangelical Christians in the south decided to ban a new IMAX film, "Volcanoes of the Deep," because it mentions evolution. A group of 23 rabbis in Israel signed an open letter denouncing a book by an Orthodox scientist and scholar who discussed the world being millions of years old. Why are some "believers" afraid of the truth?
The simple fact is that creation and evolution are not in conflict at all. Indeed, they are partners, not opposition forces. Anyone with a serious understanding of the Bible knows that God created evolution as the process for creation.
The Bible was never designed to replace our science books. Its entire purpose is to teach values and life lessons, not molecular biology or DNA replication. Religion explains the reasons "why" life evolved, while science expounds on "how" life evolved. Our Holy Scriptures are an amazing analysis of the human condition and the optimum way to live it. Humans are caretakers of two Divine gifts--life and this world.
It is impossible for the Bible to be in conflict with truth. There is a well known Talmudic passage which states, "Chatimato Shell Hakadosh Baruch Hu Emet--The Signature of God is Truth." Only a fool on the right or left, or an ACLU lawyer can view creationism and evolution as opposites. Any religious person who denies the true age of the earth or facts of science is breaking the Third Commandment, by taking the Lord's name in vain and embarrassing God.
A religious figure who refutes dinosaurs or million year old fossils is deluding himself. A secular individual who denies the probability of God is equally foolish. It is important to have rational thought and modesty on both sides of the Darwinian/religious aisle. Creation could not possibly have taken place in seven, 24 hour periods, when the sun was not created until the fourth day.
The biblical story of the beginning of the world is meant to show everyone that there is a God who cares for His creation, like parents who care for a newborn child. Remember getting everything ready for the new "baby?" The lighting, the room temperature, the humidity, the food, the clothing, the crib, the stuffed animals, etc. Our Parent in Heaven was equally busy "creating" an optimum atmosphere for our home here on earth. The lighting ("let there be light"), the temperature, the humidity, the food, the clothing, the crib (aka planet earth), the animals, are all designed to make us better individuals.
Loving parents construct a safe and secure environment, in order for their children to grow up with the healthiest of character, mind and body. To fulfill our human potential, we need an order to our physical environment. Ask any social worker about the importance of order vs. chaos in a home.
Each time God made the environment better, like an excited, expectant parent, He ran around saying, "Hey, this is good!" The tremendous problem with teenage self esteem issues today emanates from the fact that there is a lack of religious belief.
Psychologists tell us that the worst thing one can tell a child to mess up their psyche, is that they were the result of an accident. That is the difference between a religious and secular world view. People who believe they were conceived as unplanned accidents, face a difficult struggle with building self-esteem.
In order to feel positive about ourselves, we need the feeling of being wanted and planned for by those who created us; parents and God. Generally, serious religious people think a great deal of themselves and the world because this incredible, caring God planned it all out for them.
The choice is clear. Either a loving God created us millions of years ago, or gases made people and everything else, all by themselves. Which do you think is a healthier way to live a life; to thank God for everything or thank hydrogen and helium?
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