So the news reported this week that scientists now date tool-wielding man back 70,000 years, a good 40,000 or so years earlier than last estimated. Wow. Can you imagine? And, what does this do to Bible literalists? I mean, how can they still be placing the proverbial Garden of Eden at 4-5,000 years old? I once heard a member of the LDS church, well-educated professional, explain that artifacts and even evidentiary strata in the Grand Canyon, for example, were “tricks” put there by God to test the true believers. I do not know if this is a church claim, or just her rationalization. But, come on! How does science so threaten the “word of God?” In other words, couldn’t one still believe in the Bible’s teachings without buying the literal timing of it all? This is not just a rhetorical argument – as another school year begins, districts everywhere will have to respond every time creationists raise their heads in promotion of their agenda.
As I have written earlier, I do not see evolution in opposition to a deity, but rather as the universe’s (God’s) divine plan. Science is the extraordinary, ultimate intelligent design. Does it really threaten God’s omnipotence for Man to follow tracks using a God-given sense of reason and critical thinking? Ooh, maybe it does; maybe Science is that Tree of Knowledge. Mustn’t touch!
Confession #106: When I reflect on Man using tools 70,000 years ago, it leaves me with a greater sense of affinity for my very species. It actually gives me comfort to think how many, many, many, many, many humans walked before me. If anything, it gives me hope of a purpose behind it all, a feeling that we are all part of an amazing organism that somehow lives on and on.
1 comments:
I think for many people "critical thinking" is a slipperly slope that is an affront to religion, for obvious reasons. So it doesn't matter if science and religion can co-exist it is just bad thinking :-P
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