Thursday, November 11, 2004

The elephant in the room

If I were to announce that an elephant were in the room with me most casual observers would look, see that there was no elephant, and then disagree.

If I were to announce that God is in the room with me most (I'm guessing about 70%) observers would look, see that I was alone, and then agree with me.

This visualization shows why religious people have nothing to fear from science. Science is, at heart, an attempt to explain the physical world, while religion is faith in a higher power.

Just because science and religion approach the world differently shouldn't mean they are mortal enemies. For instance, I have often wondered why people in Kansas don't want evolution taught to their children. Are those people convinced that God isn't smart enough to use evolution to carry out his will?

And, why did religious people insist the world was flat even as ships disappeared over the horizon and the shadow of the earth upon the moon was round? Why can't they simply accept that science, in it's effort to understand the physical world, will surely and inevitably lead to an appreciation of God's handiwork?

I was raised Catholic and am a computer programmer and I feel like I have a foot in both camps. My belief in computers does not shake my belief in God and my belief in evolution doesn't either. Likewise I can believe that we are called to a higher purpose than flying to Disneyland and gambling at the local Casino without the need to have the earth be flat or the promise of stem cell research excommunicated from society.

My guess is that the planet will need both good morals and sound science to combat global warming. One without the other will surely be a failure. Morality will lead the human race to realize we have only one planet, while science will give us the tools to save it.

In other words, I believe that either we will stupidly create an apocalypse or the meek will inherit the earth. I also believe that this is natural selection at work.

You see how harmonious religion and science can be?

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Foot Quotes

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"

Charles Darwin