God, Can You? (p.s. Ning me if you can.)
In life, there are certain questions that are just not allowed to ask. Several of the questions that are prohibited in my house are about church, the Bible, and the God. I would first like to assure that my parents are the most wonderful human beings on this planet, and I sincerely respect and love them. Yet my parents and I have different beliefs, although my mom and dad have never allowed me to have those.
Every Sunday morning that I went through in my life was spent in the church. I had thought that I believed in the words of the Bible. I had considered myself as a Christian. I have used past perfect tenses (obviously), which indicates that I changed. Oh, yes I did. Apparently, I began to think with my own brain instead of admitting beliefs that are force by others to trust. Additionally, I began to develop ability to question.
Every Sunday afternoon, my family spends time together (with some forceful compulsions) reading the Bible. I was in Japan this Sunday; but no exception was allowed. We still had to read the “Holy Book”. I wanted to waste some time and give my eyes a short break from reading off of such tiny fonts.
“Can Science and Christianity co-exist?” I asked. I bit the forbidden fruit.
My father—after staring at me for a moment—gave a negative answer, saying “No, they cannot co-exist.” Then, I asked him another question, whether he goes to hospital or depends on medicine when he’s sick, with additional comments that they are also part of science and Christians including you (father) do accept those things. He slowed to speak a word out. However, he didn’t stop. He said, “Believers and devotees do not accept certain logics and concepts of science, and that’s why there are high controversies emerging constantly between religion and science.”
“What do you mean by ‘certain logics and concepts of science’?” I asked, and another hesitation occurred. After few seconds of hesitation, “Big Bang theory and idea of evolution are some examples of scientific beliefs that Christians do not agree with,” he said. “Dad, then why do you accept medical treatments? Isn’t the God the one who decides one’s health? Shouldn’t he be the one who release a person from pain of disease? What is a standard for us to decide what to accept and not?” My father told me that we should look at the Bible, yet it didn’t really make sense to me. The Bible is an old book. We have completely different society with new technology that the Bible cannot give specific example to look at.
My father couldn’t give me a clear answer that released me from an endless and heavy doubtful point. Nor the Bible could help me. I don’t think my preacher can help me out. I think no one can. Then what about you, God? Can you give me an answer to my questions? If you can, please “ning” me.
May 4th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Hi,saw your blog after your comment.
Well,Faith was never supposed to coexist with Science despite the fact that they are built from the same foundation:Assumptions.
What everyone is taught to do right now is to separate both entities and respect them as two different rules of life.
However,if you ask great science devotees ,you will find that they are huge believers in the Higher power.(And i refer to higher power and not religion) These science devotees do realise that science in many aspect is answer to all miracles in form that Human will be able to understand.As such they do not conform their beliefs to one religion but rather the ‘omni-potent’ power.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Hi! I was very interested in this post because I have been asking questions all the time about my religion. I feel that if we don’t ask questions, then we are losing one of our rights of being human. But I do believe science and religion do parallel because God would not create something that would contradict itself. Miracles are different though-they are meant to transcend human understanding by nature. But everything must flow together-God is perfect-He does not create anything imperfect. He does not do anything without reason. He is all knowing, all wise, most merciful and most kind. We may not see the sun at night, but we know it is still there-like God. Maybe it isn’t a matter of God coming to you, but you approaching Him. Keep asking questions, but ask Him for the answers and in time I truly do believe that He will reveal the answers to you in a way no one else can. We just have to trust Him.
I hope I said something insightful, and if I have said anything offense, I meant no harm and I apologize. But I feel like people like you who question are so similar to me and seem more real than people who live life blindly.