Science vs. Belief

I was inspired write this post after reading a letter that was on Indystar.com. Here's the link if you are interested: Evolution contradicts Bible and good science

And here is my response to the letter and my general response to the Evolution vs. Intelligent Design debate that will not die:

Round Earth (Science) vs. Flat Earth (Belief)
Result: The Earth is round. Science wins.

Infection (Science) vs. Curse (Belief)
Result: Disease is caused by infection. Science wins.

Cigarettes cause cancer (Science) vs Cigaretts don't cause cancer (Belief)
Result: Cigarettes cause cancer. Science wins.

Global Warming (Science) vs. No Global Warming (Belief)
Result: Global Warming is occurring and is caused by man. Science wins.

(Anyone starting to see a pattern here?)

Evolution (Science) vs. Creationism (Belief)
Result: The theory of Evolution has been proven. Science wins.

What is important to remember is that Science is our way of understanding and knowing that which we can prove. Beliefs are just assumptions that cannot be proved. Science, rather than Belief, is a better way of understanding that which God has created (if you believe in God).

It was not so long ago, when people believed that God had made the Earth flat, but Science proved that the Earth was round. Did this disprove the existence of God? No. People just changed their Belief to reflect the evidence of Science. They still think that God made the Earth, but now they think that God had made it round.

Why should the theory of Evolution be treated any differently? Science has proved Evolution, so why fight it? Why continue to believe that the "Earth is flat"?

Evolution doesn't disprove the existence of God. It perhaps shows us how God changed life on this planet. Just change your thinking to reflect the evidence; God used evolution to create many diverse species.

Science and Belief may sometimes be in conflict, but Science and Faith are not in conflict. I think God would want us to use Science to make our world a better place.

I think God would want us to use Science to cure disease and care for the sick.

I think God would want us to use Science to end poverty and hunger.

I think God would want us to use Science to work for peace and to end war.

Our understanding of Evolution has helped us to move forward in good causes like curing disease and fighting hunger, so why would God be against it? Why would God be against Science that improves our ability to do good? I do not think that he would be against it.

On the other hand, I do think God would be disappointed, if not outright against it, if we did not use Science for the benefit of humanity.

So for those of you who use your Belief to fight Science, just stop. It is silly. It is holding the rest of us back from making the world a better place which is what God wants, and if you are working against what God wants by fighting Science, then you are insulting God, who you hypocritically claim to support, and all of mankind.

Science is our way of seeking the Truth. God wants us to work with the Truth, not lies. Everyone is entitled to their own Belief, but no one should use their Belief to fight Science or Truth.

If you are fighting Science and Truth, then you are fighting for lies, and what is more hypocritical than fighting for lies in God's name?

This is, in essense, what Gordon B. Rose is doing. He is fighting for lies in God's name. He does not seek Truth. He seeks to disprove Truth and Science because they do not fit his Belief. He is using his Belief to fight and distort Science and Truth. He is using his Belief to deceive others.

Rose claims that the theory of Evolution contradicts good science because science "totally rejects the spontaneous generation of life". In this, he is either lying or misinformed because the theory of Evolution does not address how life was created. Evolution only addresses how life evolved. Therefore, Rose's claim that the theory of Evolution contradicts good science is a false conclusion based on faulty logic and an inaccurate premise.

Regardless of whether Rose is intentionally lying or ignorantly misleading, the result is the same, and this behavior of fighting Science and Truth is detrimental to all mankind.

Rose may have the Belief that he is defending God, but I have the Belief that he is offending God. Neither of us can prove that our Belief is the correct one. He could claim the Bible as the basis for his Belief, but so could I. He may believe in a literal interpretation of Genesis's story of creation, but I believe it should not be taken literally. (No one takes the last book of the Bible, Revelation, literally, so why do they take the first book literally?)

My point is that Belief cannot be proven. Science can be. Sometimes, we can use Science to prove or disprove Belief. If Science shows that a Belief is wrong, like "the earth is flat", then we need to adjust our Belief.

That does not mean we have to change our Faith. Instead, we can and should use Science to adjust our Belief and strengthen our Faith. However, if you are the feel that an increase in Science equals a decrease in your Faith, then perhaps your Faith is not sincere.

True Faith is magnified by Science and withstands false Belief. When you understand that, you will understand that Science is not a threat, but ignorance is.