Bonjour tout le monde! Another week had passed and the posts keep on coming in! What a tiring week that was really! I was so busy preparing my assignment for my Chemistry course at UPOU and still haven't figured out how to finalize it. In fact, I haven't finished reading chapter 7 of the book among the 4 chapters (4 to 7) we were advised to read by our chemistry professor. Well, I visited my virtual classroom and checked on the latest posts for Biology, which also I am currently enrolled, and found that some of my classmates were discussing issues about the stand of Faith in Science which I was quite intrigued. I want to share with you my recent post which details the interplay of Science and Faith in an environment of intellectual discourse in search for truth and how well we can achieve wisdom using the two values mentioned. Enjoy reading!
Julius
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I have always been fascinated by people who has an unrelenting belief about their God, be it classified as paganistic, Islamic or Christian, its truly worth the commendation. I may not be a religious person but definitely I believe in God. Seriously, its not bad to believe in God, neither it is bad not to according to my own belief. I do not usually profess my faith in public unless people are ready to listen which I know is bad. My dad even seconded the motion! (hmpt pero tama sya) :( But that is how "Life" is shaping everybody else's perspective. Life has to adopt to continuing demands for reality and faith. Anything that is regarded as "true" cannot always be regarded as true. The same thing applies to stuff which are classified as untrue. What is just in one society cannot be considered improper to other societies which is why I try to question things and dad don't like it! hahaha. Its like forcing a child to believe that his mother is an alien when he or she see her as a human. Have scientists confirmed the existence of an alien? Why do many people believe them. Everything has to be taken on faith don't you think?
You see, the same reason why people is searching for the truth is because they want to know their God. Science works that way as I see it. People do not do things for nothing. Since the beginning of time, man has endeavored to know the true nature of their own God and that is the same reason they created Science (at the very least). Science is innate to people and so as the process (scientific method) that consolidates the facts that explains a phenomenon. One way to know God is by studying His creation sabi nga ni Stanley White and that is the very same reason why Science operates. Do you even believe that God created the cells? Yes? Fine. Shall we stop from there? I guess not. Humans were endowed of reasoning ability by nature that is why he searched for this answer though he believes there is God though he didn't actually see Him (let's exclude Adam and Eve, that is if they really existed). That is one reason why I do not encouraged my students to engage in religious deliberation inside a Science class. Let's leave that to the Theologians and to subjects which pertain to the very nature of God. How can Science advance if we will never give it a chance?
If we talk about God in a Science class alone, will it advance our understanding on how cells divide and how that same division is manipulated? I think the fact that God created humans with brain is because He wants man to think of his own, and discover how great He is and how compassionate and loving God He is. God never tolerated ignorance that is why He gave us the brain to think. If we question the process that involves Science and stop from there, we will all be like dead humans now for there is no way for Science to advance and reap the vitamins of its fruits as in the case of medicine and other therapeautic machineries. I guess we have to take God on faith and allow Science to progress as a tool to know God through the continued examination of His creation.
An interesting argument about the teacher and the student which I got from a friend is particulary interesting when Science and Faith is viewed as two separate conflicting entities. I always hate forwarded e-mail but this one is an exception! I hope this will serve as a guiding principle to all Science students in order to maintain peace and respect in a world where everybody wants to build their own churches. :( I hope I did not offend anybody with my post. I just want to share. Learning is preserved when everybody respects anybody else's opinion. Should you have contradicting views please do share them in here. I would love to learn from you as well. Peace mga pare at mare?! Fish tayo! ;-)
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Sounds like a good argument.
Subject: Signs vs Science on Sunday
"Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand. "You're a Christian, aren't you, son?" "Yes sir," the student says. "So you believe in God?" "Absolutely." "Is God good?" "Sure! God's good." "Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?" "Yes." "Are you good or evil?" "The Bible says I'm evil." The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!"He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help them? Would you try?" "Yes sir, I would." "So you're good ... !" "I wouldn't say that." "But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't." The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?" The student remains silent. "No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?" "Er ... Yes," the student says. "Is Satan good?" The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No." "Then where does Satan come from?" The student falters. "From ... God ..." "That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?" "Yes, sir." "Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?" "Yes." "So who created evil?" Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred?Ugliness. All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?" The student squirms on his feet. "Yes." "So who created them?" The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them? " There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized."Tell me," he continues. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?" The student's voice betrays him and cracks."Yes, professor. I do." The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you.Have you ever seen Jesus?" "No sir. I've never seen Him." "Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?" "No, sir. I have not." "Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter. "No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't." "Yet you still believe in him?" "Yes." "According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?" "Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith." "Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith." The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?" "Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat." "And is there such a thing as cold?" "Yes, son, there's cold too." "No sir, there isn't." The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than -458 degrees. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it." Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer. "What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?" "Yes," the professor replies without hesitation."What is night if it isn't darkness?" "You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light ... but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it?That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, Darkness isn't.If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?" The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?" "Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with and so your conclusion must also be flawed." The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?" "You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. "Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?" "If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do." "Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?" The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester indeed. "Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?" The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean?" The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?" Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
Julius
---------
I have always been fascinated by people who has an unrelenting belief about their God, be it classified as paganistic, Islamic or Christian, its truly worth the commendation. I may not be a religious person but definitely I believe in God. Seriously, its not bad to believe in God, neither it is bad not to according to my own belief. I do not usually profess my faith in public unless people are ready to listen which I know is bad. My dad even seconded the motion! (hmpt pero tama sya) :( But that is how "Life" is shaping everybody else's perspective. Life has to adopt to continuing demands for reality and faith. Anything that is regarded as "true" cannot always be regarded as true. The same thing applies to stuff which are classified as untrue. What is just in one society cannot be considered improper to other societies which is why I try to question things and dad don't like it! hahaha. Its like forcing a child to believe that his mother is an alien when he or she see her as a human. Have scientists confirmed the existence of an alien? Why do many people believe them. Everything has to be taken on faith don't you think?
You see, the same reason why people is searching for the truth is because they want to know their God. Science works that way as I see it. People do not do things for nothing. Since the beginning of time, man has endeavored to know the true nature of their own God and that is the same reason they created Science (at the very least). Science is innate to people and so as the process (scientific method) that consolidates the facts that explains a phenomenon. One way to know God is by studying His creation sabi nga ni Stanley White and that is the very same reason why Science operates. Do you even believe that God created the cells? Yes? Fine. Shall we stop from there? I guess not. Humans were endowed of reasoning ability by nature that is why he searched for this answer though he believes there is God though he didn't actually see Him (let's exclude Adam and Eve, that is if they really existed). That is one reason why I do not encouraged my students to engage in religious deliberation inside a Science class. Let's leave that to the Theologians and to subjects which pertain to the very nature of God. How can Science advance if we will never give it a chance?
If we talk about God in a Science class alone, will it advance our understanding on how cells divide and how that same division is manipulated? I think the fact that God created humans with brain is because He wants man to think of his own, and discover how great He is and how compassionate and loving God He is. God never tolerated ignorance that is why He gave us the brain to think. If we question the process that involves Science and stop from there, we will all be like dead humans now for there is no way for Science to advance and reap the vitamins of its fruits as in the case of medicine and other therapeautic machineries. I guess we have to take God on faith and allow Science to progress as a tool to know God through the continued examination of His creation.
An interesting argument about the teacher and the student which I got from a friend is particulary interesting when Science and Faith is viewed as two separate conflicting entities. I always hate forwarded e-mail but this one is an exception! I hope this will serve as a guiding principle to all Science students in order to maintain peace and respect in a world where everybody wants to build their own churches. :( I hope I did not offend anybody with my post. I just want to share. Learning is preserved when everybody respects anybody else's opinion. Should you have contradicting views please do share them in here. I would love to learn from you as well. Peace mga pare at mare?! Fish tayo! ;-)
------
Sounds like a good argument.
Subject: Signs vs Science on Sunday
"Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand. "You're a Christian, aren't you, son?" "Yes sir," the student says. "So you believe in God?" "Absolutely." "Is God good?" "Sure! God's good." "Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?" "Yes." "Are you good or evil?" "The Bible says I'm evil." The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!"He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help them? Would you try?" "Yes sir, I would." "So you're good ... !" "I wouldn't say that." "But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't." The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?" The student remains silent. "No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?" "Er ... Yes," the student says. "Is Satan good?" The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No." "Then where does Satan come from?" The student falters. "From ... God ..." "That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?" "Yes, sir." "Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?" "Yes." "So who created evil?" Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred?Ugliness. All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?" The student squirms on his feet. "Yes." "So who created them?" The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them? " There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized."Tell me," he continues. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?" The student's voice betrays him and cracks."Yes, professor. I do." The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you.Have you ever seen Jesus?" "No sir. I've never seen Him." "Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?" "No, sir. I have not." "Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter. "No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't." "Yet you still believe in him?" "Yes." "According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?" "Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith." "Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith." The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?" "Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat." "And is there such a thing as cold?" "Yes, son, there's cold too." "No sir, there isn't." The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than -458 degrees. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it." Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer. "What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?" "Yes," the professor replies without hesitation."What is night if it isn't darkness?" "You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light ... but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it?That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, Darkness isn't.If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?" The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?" "Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with and so your conclusion must also be flawed." The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?" "You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. "Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?" "If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do." "Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?" The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester indeed. "Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?" The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean?" The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?" Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
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