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Blog 467 – 11.16.2016

Several of my religious friends have a problem with some of my blogs because they think that sometimes I am preaching and that sometimes I am trying to tweak the noses of conservatively religious people. I assure you, dear reader, than neither one of those things is my aim. I only aim to share my thinking in the most entertaining, thoughtful, and encouraging way that I can. I know that I do not always hit the mark but that is what I am shooting at – not at you or at your beliefs.

I heard someone say, “Science is the new religion.” It seems there is always a new idea contending for ascendancy. I have said previously that I do not believe the United States of America was founded as a Christian nation but that the majority of the founding fathers were educated men who were influenced by The Age of Enlightment, which was a child of Science and was therefore to some degree a rejection of the formal religions of the day. They were Masons, Deists, and some Christians of mostly the Episcopal or Presbyterian variety but they had had enough of state sponsored religion and set up a firewall they called, “the separation of church and state” to prevent any one religion from forcing others to believe and practice as they did.

The scientific view is in a nutshell to follow the facts wherever the lead, question and keep on questioning till the answers are irrefutable. Religion on the other hand tends to crystalize upon a few tenants or articles of faith and hold to them despite all evidence to the contrary. Sometimes scientists do that too and are hard to convince even when the new evidence is overwhelming.

Everyone is entitled to believe whatever they wish the only caveat being no one has a right to force their beliefs on others. History is littered with examples of this sort of thing and sadly it still goes on.

I guess what I am getting at with this piece is that in my view even a belief in Science is a sort of religion too. Sheldon on Big Bang is just as devout to his ” scientific proofs” as is his very conservative Katy, Texas Christian mother to her religious teachings. And they love each other despite their vastly different view points.

Both Science and Christianity have made contributions but then again when in charge they have each been at times intollerant of other views. It is one of the great down falls of being so sure of anything that it is still possible to get it wrong and be slow to admit it. Well, that’s how I see it. It is alway possible to see things and people a little more clearly when you try looking from a different angle – hence my sometimes slightly skewed view theory.

Remember those cool pictures popular a few years back that had another picture within the picture that you could only see if you relaxed your focus. There is a great lesson in that I think, not very religious or scientific. Relax your focus, don’t be so sure there is only one right way to see things, and you just might see something new and exciting.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White