Science meets belief as couple put evolution in a sacred context

[treme]

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Features -- Science meets belief as couple put evolution in a sacred context

For nearly six years, Dowd, a former United Church of Christ minister, and his wife, science writer Connie Barlow, have traveled the country preaching the gospel of evolution with evangelistic zeal. It's time to declare an end to the war between science and faith, he argues. He says the facts are indisputable: Earth and its inhabitants evolved over billions of years. But that's OK, he adds, because God, or whatever name you want to give to a higher power, was and is still involved.

Is Christianity evolving?

[another day]

Yes, it's evolving... dogmatic religions like christianity are changing to adapt to the truth, because they evidently were false to begin with.

[nerdvincent]

Or maybe this man wasn't talking about the christian god, but a deist god or a pantheist god. A God who talks through science instead of disproven fairytales and merry miracle like the bible.

[Zhavric]

Quote by: treme Is Christianity evolving?

I wouldn't call it "evolving". More like "desperately trying to stay relevant".

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Zhavric I wouldn't call it "evolving". More like "desperately trying to stay relevant".

Need proof?


Survey: Americans switching faiths, dropping out - CNN.com

[Technosoul]

Nay, woman power.

His wife the science buff talked him into preaching that evoltion is okay with God.

Now he can remain a preacher and keep his wife happy at the same time, perhaps Darwin would call that "adaptation".

Needless to say his views would not be popular in most chruches.

[Maryjane]

Nay, woman power. His wife the science buff talked him into preaching that evoltion is okay with God. Now he can remain a preacher and keep his wife happy at the same time, perhaps Darwin would call that "adaptation". Needless to say his views would not be popular in most chruches.

He can blame it all on Eve...Ooops,I mean Connie.

(welcome back Tech)

[Technosoul]

Quote by: Maryjane He can blame it all on Eve...Ooops,I mean Connie. (welcome back Tech)

I thought about using the old "temptation thing" but then put another slant on it.

Thanks for the welcome back.

Sometimes I pop up like those weeds after a little rain. the lawn crew cannot keep a good weed down forever.

[tivodan1116]

I don't see what the problem is with his way of thinking. Maybe if a few of you read the article...

“We're suggesting that a science-based understanding of the universe gives us a more grounded way of being,” Dowd told the Solana Beach group.

Science provides the facts, he adds, while religion provides the meaning.

Mesecher, a 61-year-old Encanto resident, also echoes Dowd about a commitment to be more environmentally aware and to help rescue a planet they consider to be in peril. “We are having vast negative effects on the planet,” says Mesecher. “What we need is to learn how to live in mutually embracing relationships with other species.”

Yep, sounds like a real good candidate for smug ridicule...

[Whilletal]

I am amused by some of the posts. I am a Christian and in the process of gaining Ordination in my denomination and I think (and always have) that science and faith are not in conflict with each other. If one believes that God endowed man with the ability to reason then it would follow that man would be able to logically explain the unfolding of the universe and the things contained within it. Of course this knowledge will itself evolve over time as our understanding deepens. Why should this not be so in the realm of faith as well? I think that if we understand our universe better then by default it leads us to a better understanding of God and his nature. Now you do not have to agree and thats fine. However to dismiss people of faith who are also using reason as being less than honest is just sad. I find it amusing that the most criticism leveled at people of faith on these boards is because they do not accept scientific theories. Yet when people of faith do accept scientific theories and have struggled to understand their faith in the light of scientific knowledge they are disparaged.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: Whilletal I am amused by some of the posts. I am a Christian and in the process of gaining Ordination in my denomination and I think (and always have) that science and faith are not in conflict with each other. If one believes that God endowed man with the ability to reason then it would follow that man would be able to logically explain the unfolding of the universe and the things contained within it. Of course this knowledge will itself evolve over time as our understanding deepens. Why should this not be so in the realm of faith as well? I think that if we understand our universe better then by default it leads us to a better understanding of God and his nature. Now you do not have to agree and thats fine. However to dismiss people of faith who are also using reason as being less than honest is just sad. I find it amusing that the most criticism leveled at people of faith on these boards is because they do not accept scientific theories. Yet when people of faith do accept scientific theories and have struggled to understand their faith in the light of scientific knowledge they are disparaged.

I like the new message presented by that couple. But the fact stands that most Christian religions are based on what the Bible said and modern scientific knowledge is not conforming to those acient biblical writings about creation as currently interpreted by mainsteam, bible based religion.

However, I would agree that their new para-Christian religion would not conflict with the teachings of Jesus, as I do not recall him teaching anything about creationism or even mentioning those concepts. The idea to seperate from some of the Jewish ideas and to establish better ones was a project originated by Jesus but never totally completed by the churches that use his name as their foundation. The idea that the Bible is "god's word" and is 100 percent correct in every detail as the "truth" still has not been overcome by the Christian organizations that dominate our culture.

I do not know what they are teaching you at your church-collage to become a authorized preacher, perhaps you can enlighten us on how they are dealing with adapting to our new age of reasoning based on scientific knowledge.

To suggest that religion is now merging faith and fact together is miss-leading, two people hardly can be called the mainstream religion called "the christians".

But I wish them "God's speed" in their mission to rebel from the older bunch. It's about time someone gets the ball rolling in that respect.

[Jack]

Yet when people of faith do accept scientific theories and have struggled to understand their faith in the light of scientific knowledge they are disparaged.

I haven't witnessed this. When theists ask honest questions in an attempt to understand science the responses are sincere though perhaps a bit more complicated than they need be.

It's when believers presume to understand science and pontificate from their misunderstanding that those who do know science tend to become abrasive in their rebuttals.

Honest ignorance should not be disparaged. Presumed and erroneous knowledge elicits correction. Proclaiming falsehood to be absolute truth invokes ridicule.

[Technosoul]

"Teaching evolution as something sacred" is the punch line.

How did the theory of evolution become sacred? If such is the case then why are they teaching it in public schools where "sacred religion dogma" is not allowed due to the Consitution?

What has that hairly looking up-right Ape got to do with God's image in which the Bible said we were created in the likeness there-of? In the drawing next to this post the Ape had a big dong, is that how we should picture the God that made us in His image? And where is my big dong, am I being punished by not being hung due to some sin?

[Maryjane]

Tivodan1116

I don't see what the problem is with his way of thinking. Maybe if a few of you read the article...

I have a problem with it...there's nothing new in his message.

When one man asked him where religion fits into this, Dowd spoke of how knowing that God is in the midst of all that is evolving inspires him to be a better person, to be filled with awe and appreciation, and to be a more responsible member of planet Earth.

It's the same old song and dance...You can't be good without god. My question is...WHY NOT?

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Maryjane It's the same old song and dance...You can't be good without god. My question is...WHY NOT?

Because without the permanent guilt complex laid on you by religion, you just might go getting ideas, and come to think your life is worth something more than being a saccrificial lamb.

[tivodan1116]

Quote by: Maryjane Tivodan1116 It's the same old song and dance...You can't be good without god. My question is...WHY NOT?

Please quote me where he says that.

Umm, give up? HE DOESN'T. That's you putting words in his mouth and hearing what you want to hear.

The article quote said, to simplify:

"Knowing A inspires him to B"

That did not exclude the possibility that "C inspires someone else to B". He never said that. You have no evidence that's what he thinks.

Good try, though. I refer you to my original post:

Maybe if a few of you read the article...

Perhaps I should have added a corollary about not adding your own preexisting biases to it.

[Maryjane]

I'm amused as well.

I think that if we understand our universe better then by default it leads us to a better understanding of God and his nature.

Which god would you be talking about? The one YOU belive in? Atheist dismiss ALL gods, not just yours. Drop the persecution complex.

[Technosoul]

The idea that people who are saved will be able to fly, or that Angels have wings is evidence of potential evolution by means of faith or belief.

Although they did not use the word evolution the idea that humans can rise to that better state of being would suggest they understood that such a process is possible.

[Whilletal]

Quote by: Technosoul "Teaching evolution as something sacred" is the punch line. How did the theory of evolution become sacred? If such is the case then why are they teaching it in public schools where "sacred religion dogma" is not allowed due to the Consitution? What has that hairly looking up-right Ape got to do with God's image in which the Bible said we were created in the likeness there-of? In the drawing next to this post the Ape had a big dong, is that how we should picture the God that made us in His image? And where is my big dong, am I being punished by not being hung due to some sin?

Yes you are being punished lol

[Whilletal]

Quote by: Maryjane I'm amused as well. Which god would you be talking about? The one YOU belive in? Atheist dismiss ALL gods, not just yours. Drop the persecution complex.

Wow! How do you derive I have a persecution complex? I did not say I was being persecuted. I just simply stated my understand. Key word here is my. If you are an atheist good for you. That is your choice and I don't have a problem with it. Thats the cool thing about having the ability to choose. I can not, nor would I, force you to agree with my views. But to answer you initial question of course I am talking about my God. Sorry if that offends you.