Science as a Religion

It would appear to me that science is a religion. If you look at the scientific theories of modern physicists like Galileo Galilei, Sir Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein, you will notice a striking truth about how these theories are accepted by society. This truth being, that while these theories have been scientifically vetted and are considered truth, they still remain a theory in principle. Arguing against the Theory of Gravity, for example, would subject a person to the same kinds of scrutiny in the scientific community as arguing against the Doctrine of Christian Salvation would subject a person to in the Christian community. I am not implying at all that scrutiny in and of itself is a bad thing, however keep in mind that the word “scrutiny” comes from the Latin word, “scrutari,” which means to “sort trash,” which implies to me, that the very nature of scrutiny is to find something negative and not positive. Now any rational person might argue, that scientific theory is rooted in human observation that has been conceptualized, rationalized, and contextualized through academic means, and is also available to all people through scientific documents. This same person might argue that it would be foolish to question these theories, because after all, all a person has is their ability to perceive, and how can you question theories that the scientific community has perceived, and that the general population of Earth has concurred with? My answer to this argument would be that while generally accepted scientific theories are safe and useful as something that a person can rely upon to make sense of the world around them, these same generally accepted scientific theories do not give concrete insights into the nature of the mind of the people that form these theories. There is still much about the human mind that science has to answer, and I for one am enthusiastic for and eagerly awaiting these answers. In my view, in order to believe in scientific theories as a way to understand the material universe, you have to also believe that natural scientific processes are set in their workings, and that they will not necessarily change over time. Although most people will never know the technical particulars of why the Earth rotates around the Sun, people will accept that it is the Sun’s gravitational pull that causes Earth to rotate around it; this being because every living person to ever grace the face of the Earth has experienced gravity in some capacity during their lifetime. Furthermore, if a person hears Sir Issac Newton’s theory of gravity, and experiences its validity, then through faith, they will believe other more mysterious scientific theories such as the theory of evolution, which has circumstantial evidence at best to its credit, or the big bang theory, which no one was alive to witness. This faith mechanism can also be applied to spiritual and religious concepts. A person can read holy texts, which for all intents and purposes are guidelines to the supernatural, and by following their precepts, can in faith, test their validity. For example, if a person reads from the book of Proverbs, chapter 13:4, which reads, “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” This verse means that lazy people want things, but hard workers obtain things. If a person reads this verse and sees the validity and provability of these scriptures in their daily life, then that person will have faith in other more mysterious concepts of the Holy Bible such as in the book of Acts, chapter 2:38 which reads, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” In addition to my assertions on science as a religion, I also assert that the major scientists in the history of mankind are held in the same regard in men’s minds as the major prophets and apostles in the Holy Bible. Scientists like Galileo Galilei, Sir Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein, are in many respects “apostles” of scientific reasoning in the same way that the apostles, Peter, James and John are in many respects the “doctors” of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When people want to know more about science, they will reference the work of noted doctors and scientists, and when they want to know more about the Bible, they reference the work of prophets and apostles. Both scientists and apostles are seen as authorities in their areas of expertise, and are generally relied upon for accurate information on matters relating to their areas of expertise. In summary, Science has become the “default” religion to people who have not accepted religious assertions as accurate in describing the nature of the material universe. In my opinion, the reason for this is because while many scientific theories require a measure of faith in the theories from people, these theories are rooted in observation and little faith, while religion is rooted in observation and audacious faith. Furthermore, observation and little faith while forming opinions on the material universe, is more universally appealing to people and is more universally relatable to people than forming these same opinions using religious concepts that require observation and audacious faith.

What does the Apostle John's description of Heaven in the book of Revelation have in common with the philosopher Plato's “Theory of Forms?”

To give a brief summary of the Greek philosopher Plato’s “Theory of Forms,” also known as “Metaphysics,” everything in the material universe is but a mirror image, and an imperfect, “form” of something that already exists in an original, perfect, and supernatural realm. In the book of Revelations, the Apostle John gives the reader a vivid description of his visions of the ultimate state of Heaven, which for all intents and purposes would be seen by Plato as the ultimate “form” in terms of a realm or sphere. In Revelations chapter 21:9, we see one of the seven angels of the apocalypse reveal “the Lamb’s wife,” namely the bride of Christ; to the Apostle John, this designation, in the Christian cultural tradition is believed to be the “body of Christ,” or the Church of Christ. This shows the reader, that the concept of marriage, or the concept of eternal unity originated, and has its ultimate and most perfect form in Heaven and was later bestowed upon mankind and womankind in the Earth. Furthermore, in Revelations chapter 21:10, we see the Apostle John’s vision of “that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” This shows the reader that the ultimate concept, or “form” of cities, namely organized entities containing societies originated in Heaven, and were later bestowed upon mankind after the Creation. It also shows the natural capacity of mankind to develop traits that compel them to organize, which for all intents and purposes is a trait that God holds in its ultimate form in Heaven. In Revelations chapter 21:18–21, we see where there are vast gates made out of precious stones such as gold, jasper, sapphire, emerald, etc… This is significant because it shows that these precious stones were first precious in their Heavenly form, and then later precious in their imperfect earthly forms after creation. In Revelations chapter 22:1, we see one of the seven angels of the apocalypse show John in a dream, that the “water of life” flows from the throne of God, and the Lamb, namely Jesus Christ, throughout Heaven. This indicates according to scripture, that water itself, originated in Heaven in a perfect form, and the water we have on Earth is an imperfect mirror image of heavenly water. In Revelation chapter 22:2, we see where the perfect formation of the “Tree of Life” is present in the “street” in midst of God. This tree of life “yields her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” According to Plato's concept of metaphysics, this indicates that "cycles," namely points in time that yield a certain result in accordance with nature, have an original and ultimate form in Heaven. This further indicates that “streets,” namely foundations that can be maneuvered upon, and built upon, have a perfect form in Heaven as well, and man developed the capacity during his physical, and psychological evolution to devise and create imperfect forms of similar streets here on the Earth. Furthermore, the Tree of Life is present in the Creation story, namely in the book of Genesis chapters 2 and 3, and is apparently an imperfect mirror image, or form of the “eternal” tree of life that is in Heaven. Furthermore, a tree yielding its fruit every month is something we see in Revelation chapter 22:2, as a mechanism that originated in Heaven in its perfect form, and then later in the Earth after the creation of vegetation and greenery by God. In the book of Genesis, chapter 1:26, we see God tell a pre-mortal Jesus Christ, (John 1:1,) that he wanted to make man in our “image.” According to Plato's metaphysics, this indicates that man himself, is an imperfect mirror image of God himself, who by Plato’s estimation, would be the original, ultimate, and most perfect form in terms of his ability to perceive and create.

What is the more beneficial Testament of the Bible to read from in modern times, the Old Testament, or the New Testament, and why?

The Old and New Testaments in the Holy Bible are of equal importance in relation to one another. In the Old Testament, we see the Creation story, the Law of Moses, and the prophets, and in the New Testament, we see the life of Jesus Christ, the work of the Apostles, and the end of time. In the Old Testament we see the trials, tribulations, and victories of the Israelites, and their journey with God. In the New Testament we see a widening of God’s blessings through his son, Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, we see in Romans 15:4, the Apostle Paul write, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. This means that while the New Testament is more palatable in the present day in terms of making covenants with God, that the Old Testament is relevant, significant, and meritorious, and is here for our learning. I prefer to study the Old Testament and the New Testament in unison so as to gain historical, cultural, scriptural, and spiritual insights.

What does the creativity of man in relation to the creativity of the beasts of the field say about God's "likeness"?

In the book of Genesis 1:26, we see God, namely, (El-ohim, or Gods) tell Jesus Christ (John 1:1–5), that they should jointly create man in their “image” and “likeness”. Given that the heavenly bodies, the earth, and the beasts of the field were already created up to that point, what unique qualities do humans have in relation to God as opposed to the beasts of the field? My answer to this mystery is the ability to create. Now mankind neither has the ability to create or destroy matter, (The law of the conservation of mass,) neither can he cause energy itself to be created or destroyed (law of the conservation of energy;) furthermore man has not been able to define the nature or magnitude of the material universe presently, or pre-big-bang, or how or why the first particles of material matter came into existence. Given man’s natural limitations in his ability to know the universe, the nature of nothingness, and the negation of nothingness, man’s ability to create appears to separate him from the beasts of the field in the Biblical sense, and bring him closer to God in the Biblical sense. If you look at the creation of governments, nations, corporations, cities, the order that constitutes the family unit, local, state, and federal laws, organized religion, and religion itself, it causes one to wonder what the root cause of these inspirations are. Man’s ability to create and organize in relation to Gods ability to create and organize as presented in Genesis, sets him apart from the beasts of the field both figuratively and literally.

What does the ancestry of Joseph, the father of Jesus, say about Christ being the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, regarding his birth?

Matthew 1:1–17 shows the lineage of Jesus Christ, through his Father Joseph going back to the prophet, and patriarch, Abraham. In Genesis chapter 49:8–12, which was written 1400 years before the birth of Christ, we see the Hebrew patriarch Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel by a pre-mortal manifestation of Jesus Christ, give blessings to his son Judah. Among these blessings was one that stated that the tribe (lineage) of Judah is a Lion’s pup, and that the seed of Judah would be a particularly blessed people that would “hold the scepter,” namely in relation to Jesus Christ, (Genesis 49:10.) And we do see in the Bible where Jesus Christ is called the “King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords,” (Revelation 19:16). In the book of Matthew, chapters 1:1–17, we see a picture of Jesus Christ’s lineage going back to the prophet Abraham. Abraham’s great-grandson was indeed Judah, (translated in this verse as “Judas,” however this is not “Judas the betrayer” that we see in the Four Gospels; and it is the line of the house of Judah specifically that lead to the birth of King David, (the slayer of Goliath,) and later to Jesus. The lineage of King David is important because in the book of Isaiah, chapter 9:6–7, which was written 700 years before Christ’s birth, we see two of the most well-quoted scriptures we have ever seen in relation to the prophecies concerning Christ’s birth, and in these scriptures, we see that the Messiah, Jesus Christ would :rule upon the throne of David,” meaning that he would be a descendant of King David. The timeline, of these prophecies, and the historical, and genealogical accuracy of Old Testament prophecies regarding Christ’s birth, and their significance in relation to Christ’s ministry in the Four Gospels has compelled and inspired Bible readers even to the present day,

What is the "Curse of Cain" as described in Genesis chapter 4:2-17, and what does it say about God's concept of judgment?

The “Curse of Cain,” which takes place in Genesis chapter 4:2–17, is a scenario that has vexed Bible readers for centuries. In this story, we see interactions between Cain and Abel, the first recorded children of Adam and Eve. Eventually, Cain and Abel grew in to adulthood and went into vocations. Abel was a shepherd, and Cain was a “tiller of the ground, Genesis 4:2,” which for all intents and purposes means a farmer. When the time came to offer sacrifices unto God, Abel offered God the firstlings of his flock, namely a living sacrifice, and Cain offered God vegetation. God respected Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. Cain was upset at the outcome and conspired to kill his brother Abel. He later slaughtered Abel in an open field. God questioned Cain about his deed, and the whereabouts of his brother, adding that “the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground;” Genesis 4:10. Abel then replied sarcastically with “ I don’t know where Abel is, am I my brother’s keeper?” God then proceeded to curse Cain with a curse. This curse on Cain had the consequences of no rest or vindication from his crime, applied social stigmas for his deeds, and hard work to earn his living with little to no gain for his efforts. This curse is similar to the curse that God placed on Adam in Genesis 3:17. Cain then told God that he would be seen as a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth, and that his punishment was more than he could bear, because anyone that saw him would immediately criminalize him, and try to kill him; Genesis 4:14. God then placed a protective “mark” upon Cain that made it so that if anyone did slay Cain, vengeance would be taken upon that person “sevenfold,” or seven times worse than their actions upon Cain. The Bible does not specify what this mark was, however it could of been any number of things. My speculation is that is was a legal implementation that God placed in the earth that made violent retaliation against a person without proper cause, a crime in and of itself. Cain then left from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in a land east of Eden, (the geographical location, not the state of Earth as it was known as the Garden of Eden.) This land, East of Eden, that Cain dwelt in after he murdered his brother Abel, is referred to in the Hebrew lexicon, as “Nod” or “Wandering,” which was essentially the state that Cain was in all of his life up to that point; he was without direction or purpose. The curse of Cain was somewhat of a blessing and a curse. His life was protected in such a way that no person could kill him just because of his stigma, at least not without punishment; however at the same time he would be eternally stigmatized by mankind for the act of murder. The curse of Cain has unfortunately been misinterpreted by many people in Judeo-Christian cultural traditions as a racial designation. Some people in these groups have speculated that the “mark” that God placed on Cain was both a curse, and a racial designation, namely color in his skin, and namely blackness. This assertion is for all intents and purposes a man-made tradition, and has no place in Biblical discourse for two reasons. Firstly, because the “mark” that was placed on Cain was not a curse, but a mark of protection. Secondly, because there are no Bible scriptures that allude to racial designations in relation to the mark. In relation to the corrupting influence that man-made traditions have on the scriptures, we see Jesus proclaim in the Gospel of Mark 7:13, “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. This verse is applicable to any and all man-made traditions that contradict the scriptures as indicated in the Holy Bible. In summary, the Cain and Abel story ultimately shows that while God takes crimes seriously, namely violent crimes, he will never give the perpetrator a punishment that is more than he can bear.

What does Luke 23:39-43 say to readers about the concept of salvation?

In the Gospel of Luke, verses 23:39-43, reports a scene where while nailed to the cross, Jesus had an interaction with the two criminals that were crucified along side of him. One of the criminals said, “If you’re truly a God, save yourself and save us as well.” The other criminal said to the first, can’t you see that this man is innocent? We deserve to be crucified but Christ does not.” The repentant criminal then said to Jesus, “Remember me when you comest into thy kingdom.” Christ then said to the repentant criminal, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” To me, this verse shows that faith in God, and his son, Jesus Christ are the only ways to salvation and that there are free and open blessings to those who approach him sincerely. It also indicates that divine ideas of justice and salvation, are different than earthly ideas of justice and salvation. The criminal who repented no doubt committed an offense to the State that mandated his execution; however the Bible shows that Jesus Christ, still displaying his divine nature, forgave the criminal, and promised him a home in Heaven.

What does the "Curse of Noah" in the book of Genesis 9:18-29 mean, and why is it considered significant in the present day?

In the book of Genesis 9:18-29, we see a scenario that has perplexed and confounded scholars and laymen alike. In this chapter and verses we see Noah, the patriarch, and the prophet that oversaw the building of Noah’s Ark, act rather inappropriately. He decided to plant a vineyard as a vocation, and sometime later became intoxicated with wine. He then fully undressed himself in his tent, (namely “galah,” in KJV Bible lexicon; it means to “strip down” in an inappropriate manner) and as the Bible reports, began acting in a vulgar and disgraceful manner. His youngest son, Ham saw this scene, and went out of his Father’s tent and announced the scene publicly (“Told his two brothers without,” this means “told his two brothers out in the open” in Bible lexicon). Japheth and Shem then went and got a garment and put in on their shoulders, and walking backwards, laid the garment on their Fathers body so as not to see his nakedness. After waking up from his stupor, Noah, knowing what Ham had done, “The Bible does not indicate “how” he knew,” proceeded to angrily curse the descendants of Ham, and bless the descendants of Japheth and Shem. Among the curses given to the descendants of Ham, is that they would be the “servants of servants,” which for all intents and purposes made the descendants of Ham beneath their cousins hierarchically. This curse is in many respects the go-to verse for people who look to justify slavery, and other historical atrocities from Biblical perspectives. The Bible lists the nations of the world that descended from each of Noah’s sons, and as it turns out, the nations that descended from Ham, are many respects war-torn, and impoverished nations even to the present day. This verse is significant because it has mysterious coincidences to the state of the world in the present day, and it has to do with various nations and peoples. The book of Galatians 3:13–14 however, shows the negation of all curses presented in Genesis. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, (non-Hebrews,) through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” This verse is significant, because it shows that the seed of Abraham, namely the Israelites, of whom the law of Moses was originally presented to, are no longer the sole heirs of the blessings of God. This verse further indicates that Biblically, Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophesies and the was the end of all Old Testament curses, and traditions in relation to their necessity for salvation. This verse further indicates that all people on the earth are hereby free from the curse mechanism through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

What does the book of Luke 11:27-28 mean; and does it undermine Roman Catholic theology?

In the book of Luke 11:27-28, we see a point in Jesus’ ministry where he is famed throughout the land of Roman occupied Judea. One woman declares to Jesus that his mother, Mary, must be Holy. Jesus replies to her that rather than Mary, those that hear God’s commandments and keep it are the ones who are blessed. The word “rather,” in these verses derive from the Greek word, “μενοῦνγε,” or “menounge,” which means the same as “rather” or “on the contrary.” To me this verse states that God, and his son, Jesus would that people believe in and keep the commandments rather than assume that Jesus parental or familial relations are the factors that define holiness. In the book of Mark 3:34–35, we see the passage: And he, Jesus, looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. There are compelling passages, namely in the Book of Revelation chapter 12 however, that Catholics believe uphold the divinity of Mary Mother of Jesus. In contrast, I, in my readings of the book of Revelation have identified this chapter in Revelation to be a representation of Earth, and mankind's dealings with Satan. The woman in this chapter of Revelation could however be very easily interpreted to be Mary, the mother of Christ, and the trials and tribulations she faced in relation to the birth of Jesus Christ. Canonization, particularly in the Catholic cultural tradition holds that their are Christians that live lives and perform works that surpass the natural tendencies of man to a degree that mandates their sainthood. I hold that the Bible verses quoted in this essay declare saints to be those that keep God’s commandments to the best of their ability in relation to the scriptures. Some would argue however that Sainthood is a tradition in the Catholic church, and that the Saints themselves may or may be considered divine, or deities by adherents of the Catholic faith.

Is mankind an animal like any beast of the field, or does he possess a supernatural God-given quality?

In the book of Genesis, chapter 2:5, the Prophet Moses writes that after God created the heavens, the earth, and the beasts of the field, that there was not a man in the earth to till the ground. Verse 7 states that God later created man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living breathing soul. This indicates, at least according to scripture, that mankind is distinct from the beasts of the field. Man further appears to have the ability to reason and comprehend on an exponentially higher level than the beasts of the field. Man exhibits many of the same natural tendencies that animals do, namely other mammals; however, man’s ability to communicate, reason, and act in vastly superior capacities than other mammals brings into question how and why man developed these characteristics in such an obvious and powerful way. The Bible verses previously quoted speak of a “soul,” which is an intangible quality that is not described as something that the beasts of the field have. While not proven, the concept of a soul is something that mankind seems to identify with, and some people in religious cultural traditions even speculate that this intangible quality is what puts human faculties over and above the faculties of the beasts of the field.

 

Are Bible characters allegories, comparable to movie characters, or are they divinely inspired mirrors of the state of mankind?

Truly some of the most intriguing studies in human creativity are based in Bible lore. It isn’t difficult to find similarities if not outright derivations of modern day movie, television, and comic book characters from Bible characters. I have always held that Bible characters such as God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and even Satan, namely, the Devil and Lucifer, exhibit very human characteristics that make them relatable to mankind. Creativity, authority, sacrifice, altruism, defiance, and rebellion, are all hallmarks of the actions of many if not all Bible characters. Every prophet in the Bible at some point committed offenses against God, and were chastised in various capacities. And while all of their sins were not recorded in the Bible, Romans 3:23 in the NT proclaims that “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” This means that no human soul to ever walk the earth is blameless. In my opinion, the thing that makes the Bible so relatable to people, and as a result of this relatability having the designation as the best selling book of all time, is that the characters in the Bible have a very human quality that makes them identifiable. This quality makes people want to engage in, study, and understand the Bible and its capacity to inspire. In my opinion, there are good, honest, clear thinking, productive members of society that believe that the Bible is purely allegorical, and has no basis in fact or reality; however there are other people that fit this same set of positive criteria that believe that the Bible is literal in its assertions and that the Bible is the divinely inspired and spoken word of God. The thing about the Bible that is the most fascinating to me is its ability to inspire contemplation and good works in people generation after generation for 2,000 years and counting with absolutely no end in sight.

What are some of the most difficult Bible verses for you to accept, and what is their significance to you?

One of the verses that I have read during my study of the entirety of the Holy Bible that amazed me beyond description is found in the New Testament. Luke 14:26 in the KJV states: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” This verse has many implications and significances. Firstly, we see in the Old Testament in the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mt. Sinai in the wilderness, that you should “honor thy Father and thy Mother so that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12) However the verse in Luke appears to contradict that. What the verse in Luke is saying is that in relation to The Holy Trinity, namely the Son, Jesus Christ, you should for all intents and purposes negate your personal and familial relationships in order to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. In other words, you should revere Jesus Christ, his ministry, sacrifice, and divinity to the point were your other earthly relationships appear menial. Not to say they should be abandoned, but that your reverence for Jesus Christ should be at the immediate forefront. There are surely those who read such scriptures with curiosity, however, these are the scriptures that the Bible refers to at the “meat” of the Gospel, as opposed to the “milk” of the Gospel which are the softer, easier to digest scriptures. (Hebrews 5:11–14). Nonetheless, the Bible continues to inspire contemplation and good works in many souls, and this, for all intents and purposes, is the core function of all of the scriptures and the prophets.

What is free will, and how does the Bible work in relation to law and justice to impede free will?

According to the Holy Bible, “free will” is something that mankind discovered it had access to after the “original sin” namely the eating of the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” in the Garden of Eden. However, philosophy and science would agree that free will is the realization that any person comes to when they realize that they can physically do anything at anytime as long as it is within their physical and psychological capacity to do so. The Bible in many respects suggests that free will is dangerous in that it can lead people to do harm to one another, and in many respects without consequence if the offender is not caught and tried. Laws and commandments checking free will were given by God to the Prophet Moses in the Old Testament, namely the Torah, the Pentateuch, and the Law of Moses, which are all titles given to the first five books of the Old Testament. Many of the laws that are set up in today’s societies are heavily reflective of the Laws given in the Old Testament (namely The Ten Commandments, found in Exodus Chapter 20,) (Thou shalt not….), and even in the New Testament (Render unto Caesar) (paying your taxes, being a reputable member of society). Other laws such as giving 10% of your increase, namely your gross income, to God, (mentioned in the OT and NT,) are laws that check free will, both spiritually and naturally. Laws regarding tithing check free spending, increase loyalty to your church, and increase covenants with God as described in the scriptures. I hold that the Bible, is a significant source of the concept of justice in the modern world, excluding the governments that practice Sharia Law. The governments that do practice Sharia Law appear to take their Holy laws very seriously; they believe that Sharia Law has natural and spiritual consequences, and is an efficient standard for human behavior. Sharia Law is however, based upon the Holy Quran, which in many respects is derivative of the Holy Bible. In summary, the Holy Bible has apparently had a greater influence on the behaviors and affairs of mankind more than any other book when factoring in its historical, political, religious, and social influences. How has the Bible’s ability to check free will with its teachings and implications contributed to the checking of the actions or non-actions of mankind? Is it the promise of the glory of Heaven, or the threat of the flames of Hell? Is it the promise of a relationship with God? Perhaps it is that the Holy Bible makes people want to negate their free will in exchange for the opportunity to be a more decent, more reputable person through the study and practice of its teachings.

Who was Jesus Christ, and why is he more significant than Socrates, Plato, or Aristotle?

Jesus Christ is a figure that appears in pre-mortal form in the Old Testament, many times as “The Angel of The Lord,” and in the New Testament as Jesus Christ the Son, and The Living Word of God. The Bible professes that Jesus was the literal Son of God, namely God the Creator of the material universe. We see his birth, life, ministry, trial, conviction, and execution in the Four Gospels. Furthermore we see him perform what can only be described as miracles, including immaculate conception, the turning of water into wine, healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish, knowing people’s thoughts, and his own resurrection from the dead. Some would argue that Jesus’ greatest miracle is saying things that have captured the human imagination even to the present day. Why does Jesus appeal to human contemplation in such a direct and powerful way in relation to other philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle? Socrates’ existence has never been proven, however he is in many respects considered a historical figure. My opinion is that the figure, Jesus, as we know him claimed to be divine, and his works on earth as depicted in the scriptures are indicative of that. None of the other noted philosophers in history claimed divinity and they even proclaimed the unknowablity of many aspects of the material universe. Is Jesus Christ merely an allegorical figure meant to inspire faith in the God of the Bible, or was he a living breathing divine person who was able to do works that run contrary to nature?

 

What does consciousness tell us about the unknown, namely God?

Science tells us the physiology of consciousness. The physiology of brain activity in particular has been extensively mapped and can even be traced with medical equipment due to natural electrical impulses that the brain generates. However, human thoughts have never been proven or mapped. Human dreams experienced during r.e.m sleep have also never been proven or mapped. We see manifestations of thoughts, namely through human activity, however “thoughts” and “dreams” are unproven phenomena that each person that is living and breathing either has or doesn’t have. In the philosopher Rene Descartes’ “Dream Hypothesis,” he challenges any person to prove at any given point in time whether he is asleep or awake.” To paraphrase his assertions, he says that he has identical sensations while he is dreaming to when he is awake, and in many instances he is not able to tell the difference. What can science tell us about the unprovability of human thoughts? What is the essence of a human thought, and what are the consequences of thought in relation to a higher being? In the Bible, which was written more than 2000 years ago, we see the thoughts and opinions of its writers in relation to mankind and God. In Isaiah 55:8, we see an acknowledgement of the mystery of mankind in relation to God and the universe; “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.” And in Psalms 139:14, we see the Psalmist, King David, comment on the complexity of the human form. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” What do the unknown processes of human thought tell us about the potential existence of a higher power?

What do the limits in scientific knowledge tell us about the unknown, namely God?

I recently read a compelling article on Space.com that discussed the un-knowability of the pre-Big Bang universe. This article reported that according to scientific investigations, the universe before the big bang was compressed to the size of a peach. The Big Bang triggered the expansion of this peach to what we have in the material universe today. I saw another article on this same site that reported that science holds that the Big Bang was not really an explosion, but a simultaneous appearance of the modern idea of the material universe through a powerful expansion mechanism. Before the Big Bang however, before the peach sized universe, and before the formation of such celestial objects, there existed matter and processes that science has yet to explain. Science has yet to give us the cause of the first particles of material matter in the material universe, namely those that led to the Big Bang. My argument is that while science has made tremendous and amazing strides in helping mankind understand the material universe, its inability to explain how and why the first material molecules formed in the material universe pre-Big Bang, makes me believe that is not at all unreasonable or malicious for people to believe in unknowable causes, namely a higher power, namely God. Here are the links to the above named articles from Space.com. They were not easy to find on Google without knowing the titles of the articles. I had to search the entire web for their locations. I have found them however and am happy to share the titles of the articles, both of which are located on Space.com. The first article explains that the state of the material universe, pre-10^-36 seconds, (13.8 billion years ago) which is considered the time of the “true birth” of the material universe as we know it, is unknown and unaccounted for by science. This is a further acknowledgement by the greatest science minds of our day that the true origins of the material universe, namely the true creation of matter, and its origins are unknown. The second article, explains the scientific explanations of the Big Bang not being an explosion, but a simultaneous appearance of everything that constitutes what we know to be the material universe.

 

What Triggered the Big Bang? It's Complicated

 

Our Expanding Universe: Age, History & Other Facts

What is your concept of God?

My concept of God is as a creator, a self-sustaining supreme being, and as a watchful Father. The Holy Bible indicates that God has always existed in a spirit realm, namely Heaven, and had no beginning, and will see no end (Job 36:26), (Isaiah 57:15). My concept of God stems from analyzing the scriptures in relation to God’s dealings with mankind. God has always been stern with man, giving him laws and commandments to live by and strictly enforcing them. Furthermore, God has always allowed man a method of redemption should he err. In the Old Testament it was through animal sacrifices, and other ordinances, and in the New Testament it was through repentance, through his son, Jesus Christ. According to the Holy Bible, God throughout time has mobilized nations, peoples, and individuals to carry out his will in various capacities, the ultimate example of this mobilization being his son, Jesus Christ, also known as the “Living Word of God” (John 1:1). These factors contribute to my view of God as presented in the Bible, which for all intents and purposes is the first document to describe a supreme being, namely God, as a giver of commandments rather than a just a spirit being that creates and destroys.

What does the Holy Bible mean to you and why is it important?

To me, the Holy Bible is a theological and philosophical work that inspires contemplation, faith, and good works. Its authorship is purely speculative, and in my opinion, this fact adds to the appeal and mystery of this book which in many respects is the source of all modern concepts of law, order, justice, and the divine.

What is the significance of miracles in the Bible?

In the Bible, there are many instances of miracles. Miracles can be defined in the Bible as acts performed by God or persons that run contrary to nature or physics. Examples of miracles in the Bible are the creation of the material universe by God out of nothing, (Genesis chapters 1 and 2,) The parting of the Red Sea by the Prophet Moses, (Exodus chapter 14:21–22,) and Jesus Christ walking on top of the Sea of Galilee, found in Matthew chapter 14:22–34, Mark chapter 6:45–53, and John chapter 6:15–21. In the book of Matthew, the Apostle Peter walked on water as well after being reassured by Jesus. The Bible encourages faith in its teachings by asserting that acts such as these actually took place. These assertions are made to the reader to emphasize that the Holy Trinity, namely God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are Lord and Master over all things both physical and spiritual, and are able, through divine providence to nullify the effects of nature, and that nature itself obeys them. Miracles to me, are Biblical indicators that human knowledge and intelligence regarding the material universe are insufficient in relation to God’s divine intelligence and authority. The Psalmist King David proclaims in the book of Psalms Chapter 100:3, to “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.