![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Science & Religion, Part II
Apr. 5th, 2005 11:31 amI don't understand why "religious" people are so against science. I can (barely) understand those who believe that the bible is "actual truth and has never been corrupted by human's writing down the wrong thing" and how they could be against the theory of evolution, but how many people is that really?
Why can't they look at the science & think "wow, God did a pretty cool thing! I'm soooo glad that he/she made solid water less dense than liquid water so that ponds don't freeze solid from the bottom & choke off all life"?
Why are some religious people against medicine? Can't they see the divine in everything, including in the skill of the surgeon?
Sure, science has sometimes acted without considering the ethics or morality of the situation -- and people of faith should be wary and point out these issues. However, there are many instances of religions causing untold number of deaths as well (see "The Crusades" or the "conversion" of the native peoples of the Americas, or even the current religious terrorism going on the middle east). But science isn't bad "per se".
One of my favorite stories sums up my feelings:
The weather forecasters predicted rains of epic proportions, but Joe said "God will provide".
The streets started to flood, and a neighbor came by & offered to take Joe with him in his 4wd truck, but Joe said "God will provide".
The water continued to rise, forcing Joe up onto his roof. A helicopter came by, but Joe said "God will provide".
Joe died & went to heaven. He said "God, I counted on you, and you let me down". God replied "I gave intelligence to mankind so that the weather forecasters could predict the rain, and I gave compassion to mankind so that the neighbor and helicopter people could help you. How many chances do you need before you see me helping you?"
Learn to see the beauty in everything, and gasp at the wonders that you can barely understand.
Why can't they look at the science & think "wow, God did a pretty cool thing! I'm soooo glad that he/she made solid water less dense than liquid water so that ponds don't freeze solid from the bottom & choke off all life"?
Why are some religious people against medicine? Can't they see the divine in everything, including in the skill of the surgeon?
Sure, science has sometimes acted without considering the ethics or morality of the situation -- and people of faith should be wary and point out these issues. However, there are many instances of religions causing untold number of deaths as well (see "The Crusades" or the "conversion" of the native peoples of the Americas, or even the current religious terrorism going on the middle east). But science isn't bad "per se".
One of my favorite stories sums up my feelings:
The weather forecasters predicted rains of epic proportions, but Joe said "God will provide".
The streets started to flood, and a neighbor came by & offered to take Joe with him in his 4wd truck, but Joe said "God will provide".
The water continued to rise, forcing Joe up onto his roof. A helicopter came by, but Joe said "God will provide".
Joe died & went to heaven. He said "God, I counted on you, and you let me down". God replied "I gave intelligence to mankind so that the weather forecasters could predict the rain, and I gave compassion to mankind so that the neighbor and helicopter people could help you. How many chances do you need before you see me helping you?"
Learn to see the beauty in everything, and gasp at the wonders that you can barely understand.