A. Science & Religion:

When it comes to science and religion, the subject of faith often comes up. Society generally says that science is about fact and religion is about faith; however, they are not distinguished this clearly. I will shortly discuss how science and religion both rely on faith and fact. Scientists must have faith in science, otherwise why would it be practiced? That faith comes from experiments that have been successful in the past, yet there have been many scientific theories, such as Lamarck's idea of acquired characteristics as it pertains to evolution, that have been wrong. Difficulties in understanding do not prevent scientists from persisting and discovering better theories, like the concepts of gene flow, natural selection, and the other mechanisms of evolution; however, faith is as simple as hoping for tomorrow when there is the possibility that one may not live to see tomorrow. Every plan involves a measure of faith, and scientists set out to either validate or invalidate their hypotheses with faith in their purpose for performing the experiment or traveling to to dig up the past.

Scientists would argue on the measure of faith. They might say that it requires much less faith to do research in the scientific field than it requires to believe in God or a certain religion. While measures of faith vary, so do measures of fact. As you have seen on this website, there is evidence, even empirical evidence, to support the claims of several religions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism especially, as they are very much the same today and in their origins. With thousands of manuscripts to compare from the Old and New Testaments, it can be seen Christ matches the fingerprint of the Messiah in the Old Testament. You will find with some research that the authors of the Bible are credible historians who wrote much of the New Testament within the lifetime of those who attested to their witnessing the resurrection, more than 500 people to be exact. With this and much more, faith is not the only part of religion, but fact has a place too. With a fair share of evidence, one must go the extra mile and place faith in a God he or she cannot see. On the other hand, paleoanthropologists must have faith when they spend their lives searching for human bones that may or may not be where they are excavating, much like Raymond Dart had when he spent his life searching for the Taung Child.

B. Faith & Morality:

Faith has a place in every person's life. As I mentioned before, it even requires faith to make a plan for tomorrow, for how do you know for sure that you will live to see tomorrow? You will most likely be alive, yet millions die each year from accidents, cancer, and for other reasons. Each step is a leap of faith, as nothing in life as certain, which is claimed by both religious figures and prominent atheists and agnostics. As long as time cannot be traveled through, each action requires a measure of faith. Scientists have a good reason for practicing science. This field has explained how many processes work in our universe. On the other hand, it has not explained why things work. Macroevolution will tell you that humans evolved from apes, but it cannot tell you why life began, as evolution does not create but only changes what is already in existence.. It cannot describe purpose and direction; for if God does not exist, purpose and direction are entirely subjective, and each person is entitled to create his or her own set of morals. For example, if you like to kill people and I don't, why are you wrong while I am right? There is no objective authority, or God, to say otherwise. While atheists have suggested that the majority can decide what rules are objective, many cultures have their own majorities which follow extremely different trends. The majority once felt that slavery was okay, and many companies still resort to slave labor; does that mean that slavery is moral? In this light, science may contain the how, but religion contains the why; this is why it is absolutely necessary to have both science and religion. Religious people need to accept science as scientists needs to accept religion, and many do.

C. Evolution & God:

Continuing with science, there presently is a large gap between many Christians, and people of various other religions, and atheistic evolutionists. Some religious people feel that evolution is a threat to God, and atheists use evolution as a measure to disprove God's existence. On the contrary, atheists must realize that evolution only acts on existing life forms, and Christians need to realize that evolution can just as well be another of God's processes which governs life and helps animals to adapt to their surroundings in order to survive. As the climate changes, life needs to change as well to adapt; humans also adapt even when we develop resistance to diseases, another form of evolution. Therefore, evolution and God are not divided as much as many people feel they are. While there are atheistic evolutionists on the far left, theistic evolutionists in the middle, and creationists on the far right, a disagreement on origin should not prevent humans from coexisting peacefully. Perhaps the real issue is where we are going, and not where we came from. It is impossible to know for sure how life began, and studying the subject has brought some clarity, yet we can never go back in time and be sure. In any case, evolution has a lot more to do with religion today than it did in Darwin's day. Initially people used evolution to reject God, yet now more people are realizing how God has always worked naturally throughout the universe, as is demonstrated in the Bible. Science and God are coming closer together now, and so should those who follow them.

D. Culture & Religion:

One must accept that fact that many people simply accept the religion into which they are born. If a child's parents are Catholic, that child has a high chance of staying Catholic. On the other hand, there are plenty of exceptions. On the whole, it seems that religion relates much to one's culture. In order to have a peaceful society, we must accept other people's religions, even if we believe in another religion, for it is respectful to the other person. Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which make up more than 55% of the world's religions, present a great deal of evidence to support the validity of their religions over others; therefore, as these religions all preach about Christ as the savior, members of these religions are very eager to share their religion with others. Often this sharing comes off much more forceful than it should, and this is because the listener may not desire to hear what's being said. People of Abrahamic religions, and people of all religions as well, need to accept that each person has free will, a free will that God gives each person. Each person must choose to listen and not be forced. Though eagerness can become impatience, remember that each person is accountable for their choices. Religious people feel the need to save others from eternal death, and that is based on their love for their neighbors, but this love must remain love and not intolerance, for love is patient and enduring. For a peaceful society, we must share religion and not force it on others; we must listen, and not merely speak; and we must be patient and understanding of other religions and cultures. Ethnocentrism is a barrier between people; we should all trade our ethnocentrism for cultural relativism.

E. Conclusion:

Thank you for taking the time to visit these webpages and open your eyes to new kinds of religions and people. While each religion may differ from others, each contributes to our understanding of God, existence, and nature. There is an ancient Buddhist teaching of three men who are blindfolded and led to an elephant. Each man feels a different part of the elephant and describes it in a different way. While all three men are feeling the same elephant, their descriptions of it are entirely different; on the other hand, they are all describing the same elephant, so they are all right in one way or another. In this light, each religion describes a different part of God. Buddhism focuses on the spiritual and introspective aspects of finding God. Buddhists meditate and search for the image of God that is inside everyone of us. Christians spread the good news of the salvation of humankind and identify with the love and passion of God. Muslims focus on the law of God, on respecting and observing all that He commands. Hindus focus on the many aspects of God which represent different attributes, and Jews focus much on the law as well and on understanding the many messages that the Bible contains. You can see that each religion focuses on different parts of God, for other cultures have their own concerns and views. Each culture is entitled to what part of God they want to identify with most, yet we must recognize that in order to be free of sin, that sin must be covered and paid for.

In my own opinion, I believe that Christ paid for the sin of humankind. He, the Son of God, was the only one holy enough to cover every sin. Before him people had to sacrifice their flock to remember that sin is serious and harmful to society and God, but sacrifice is no longer necessary, as Christ paid for everyone. Whether each person accepts him or not, salvation is there waiting at only the cost of believing. I accept other religions, yet I feel that Christ is necessary for salvation, as this is what the Bible states; however, God is perfectly just. Those who may have not heard His message as well as others will be judged accordingly. Now you must decide what you believe. Remember that God's existence is an issue of life and death, and it is to be considered carefully. Without intimidation, I encourage you to meditate on the subject and discover what you feel and believe to be true. Reading the Gospels of the New Testament may help you consider Christ's message, and I would recommend it just to see what Christianity, Judaism, and Islam claim, but I will always carry aspects of Buddhism, Hinduism, and various other religions with me while I follow Christ, for each help me understand God better. Whether you accept God or not, the choice is fully yours. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

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