"This act symbolizes our easily-shifting devotions to tangible, immediate sources of power and comfort when we lose sight of the spiritual, long-term rewards of glorifying God."
The State of our Union, unfortunately. Instant gratification. The "purpose" of life is to get high, instead of focusing on the opportunity given for that transformative, long-term glory.
Wonderful article. Thanks for the insights. I’ve just come across your stack today and look forward to exploring it. I argued in my graduate thesis that churches should be teaching apologetics, particularly the arguments you e highlighted here among others, to engage more meaningfully with a generation whose reality if frequently in the STEM fields. We should not cede ground to the belief that there is warfare between science and religion.
You write, "This belief in a progressing timeline ignited a culture where the accumulation of knowledge about the natural world was not just possible but required."
But we also have the story of Adam and Eve, where eating the apple from the tree of knowledge resulted in ejection from the Garden of Eden.
Over the last couple of centuries the accumulation of knowledge has resulted in miracles beyond the imagination of our ancestors. And, it has also brought us to the place where those miracles can be erased in a day, based on the decision of a single human being.
At what point does the further accumulation of knowledge stop being rational, and Christian?
It's sad on the one hand that we live in an age when "science" is at its most corrupt but, on the other, we stand on the edge of a realm of possibilities as true and truthful science frees us from the lies that blind us.
Your post was very well written; clear and cogent. Thank-you. Like “Finding Faith’s” response, I agree that the Church needs to be confronting the issues of faith, science, and God’s handiwork. As you state in your post, God clearly identifies himself as the Creator and Sustainer of all things and challenges us to discover and acknowledge His work. There are scientists who are discovering and quantifying His work in creation at all levels. We have answers for the skeptics, seekers, and deniers. Our apologetics need to include philosophy, which philosophical suppositions undergird the scientific program, and the contradictions inherent in those suppositions. You mentioned the multiverse as an example of this.
The Apostles in Acts took their arguments for Jesus’ offer of salvation, backed by his resurrection , to the streets for the average person to hear. We need to do the same.
Very comprehensive. Outstanding. Thank you. W.
"This act symbolizes our easily-shifting devotions to tangible, immediate sources of power and comfort when we lose sight of the spiritual, long-term rewards of glorifying God."
The State of our Union, unfortunately. Instant gratification. The "purpose" of life is to get high, instead of focusing on the opportunity given for that transformative, long-term glory.
Not that I haven't failed in this regard, myself. Many times.
We've all been there. Still are. That's always the battle.
Wonderful article. Thanks for the insights. I’ve just come across your stack today and look forward to exploring it. I argued in my graduate thesis that churches should be teaching apologetics, particularly the arguments you e highlighted here among others, to engage more meaningfully with a generation whose reality if frequently in the STEM fields. We should not cede ground to the belief that there is warfare between science and religion.
You write, "This belief in a progressing timeline ignited a culture where the accumulation of knowledge about the natural world was not just possible but required."
But we also have the story of Adam and Eve, where eating the apple from the tree of knowledge resulted in ejection from the Garden of Eden.
Over the last couple of centuries the accumulation of knowledge has resulted in miracles beyond the imagination of our ancestors. And, it has also brought us to the place where those miracles can be erased in a day, based on the decision of a single human being.
At what point does the further accumulation of knowledge stop being rational, and Christian?
It's sad on the one hand that we live in an age when "science" is at its most corrupt but, on the other, we stand on the edge of a realm of possibilities as true and truthful science frees us from the lies that blind us.
Your post was very well written; clear and cogent. Thank-you. Like “Finding Faith’s” response, I agree that the Church needs to be confronting the issues of faith, science, and God’s handiwork. As you state in your post, God clearly identifies himself as the Creator and Sustainer of all things and challenges us to discover and acknowledge His work. There are scientists who are discovering and quantifying His work in creation at all levels. We have answers for the skeptics, seekers, and deniers. Our apologetics need to include philosophy, which philosophical suppositions undergird the scientific program, and the contradictions inherent in those suppositions. You mentioned the multiverse as an example of this.
The Apostles in Acts took their arguments for Jesus’ offer of salvation, backed by his resurrection , to the streets for the average person to hear. We need to do the same.
Yes, excellent & very thorough. Addressed this from a slightly different angle here: https://open.substack.com/pub/drisin/p/the-endless-mandala?r=598tu7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false