.
The very first verse of the first chapter of Genesis doesn't waste words with
an argument to convince skeptic minds that a supreme being exists; rather,
it starts off by candidly alleging that the existence of the cosmos is due to
intelligent design. I mean: if the complexity of the cosmos-- its extent, its
objects, and all of its forms of life, matter, and energy --isn't enough to
convince the critics; then they're pretty much beyond reach.
The creation story wasn't written for the academic community anyway, nor
was it written for people who indulge in debating and perpetual bull sessions
that never get to the bottom of anything, nor for people who regard Genesis
as just another chapter of "Pride And Prejudice" to dissect in a Jane Austen
book club; rather, the creation story was written for the religious
community.
"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so
that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Heb 11:3)
Galileo believed that science and religion are allies rather than enemies--
two different languages telling the same story. He believed that science and
religion complement each other-- science answers questions that religion
doesn't bother to answer, and religion answers questions that science cannot
answer.
For example: theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking understood pretty well
how the cosmos works; but could never scientifically explain why it should
exist at all. Well; in my estimation, the only possible answer to the "why" is
found in intelligent design; which is a religious explanation rather than
scientific. Religion's "why" is satisfactory for most folks. No doubt most
scientists would prefer something a bit more empirical.
Science has been chasing its tail, and pursuing a carrot on the end of a stick,
ever since the 200 inch Palomar telescope was conceived back in the first
half of the 20th century. Astronomer George Ellery Hale envisioned his
monster optic would see all the way to the far side of the universe. Instead it
only saw more universe. And then the Hubble, a.k.a. HST. It too has only
managed to see more universe. Lately the same hopes are in the James
Webb, a.k.a. JWST. But thus far, it too has only seen more universe: same-o,
same-o, same-o.
_
The very first verse of the first chapter of Genesis doesn't waste words with
an argument to convince skeptic minds that a supreme being exists; rather,
it starts off by candidly alleging that the existence of the cosmos is due to
intelligent design. I mean: if the complexity of the cosmos-- its extent, its
objects, and all of its forms of life, matter, and energy --isn't enough to
convince the critics; then they're pretty much beyond reach.
The creation story wasn't written for the academic community anyway, nor
was it written for people who indulge in debating and perpetual bull sessions
that never get to the bottom of anything, nor for people who regard Genesis
as just another chapter of "Pride And Prejudice" to dissect in a Jane Austen
book club; rather, the creation story was written for the religious
community.
"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so
that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Heb 11:3)
Galileo believed that science and religion are allies rather than enemies--
two different languages telling the same story. He believed that science and
religion complement each other-- science answers questions that religion
doesn't bother to answer, and religion answers questions that science cannot
answer.
For example: theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking understood pretty well
how the cosmos works; but could never scientifically explain why it should
exist at all. Well; in my estimation, the only possible answer to the "why" is
found in intelligent design; which is a religious explanation rather than
scientific. Religion's "why" is satisfactory for most folks. No doubt most
scientists would prefer something a bit more empirical.
Science has been chasing its tail, and pursuing a carrot on the end of a stick,
ever since the 200 inch Palomar telescope was conceived back in the first
half of the 20th century. Astronomer George Ellery Hale envisioned his
monster optic would see all the way to the far side of the universe. Instead it
only saw more universe. And then the Hubble, a.k.a. HST. It too has only
managed to see more universe. Lately the same hopes are in the James
Webb, a.k.a. JWST. But thus far, it too has only seen more universe: same-o,
same-o, same-o.
_