Science and spirituality, my starting point.

-




     Some people may think that science and matters of faith are not compatible. A person of faith like a pastor or clergyman can not believe in science or alternatively, a scientist must not believe in a God. On the contrary, I've come to believe that both science and faith  go hand in hand, even support each other.  
    Since the beginning of time, cultures have wanted to know more about the world around them.  I just finished watching the movie 'Theory of relativity'  about Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant minds of our time.  He would be the first to propose this theory of cosmology in order to explain the origin of the universe and therefore creation.   His theory would claim the universe has a starting point.  This is an example of science finding an explanation for the universe. Religions find explanation for the universe in God.  
   The  bible actually has a lot of examples, verses that are consistent with scientific principles, but I'm not  writing today to talk about every example the bible gives supporting science because there is actually a lot.  Besides, it was not the intended purpose of the Bible to be a science textbook.  I wanted to share rather the starting point moment in my life.  The moment my own 'theory of everything' was revealed to me. That is the moment I was convinced there was a creator. 
    So when was this moment? Well, it wasn't in a pretty sunset or some other natural wonder.  It was,  are you ready? when I was I introduced to the periodic table of elements in my high school science class.  Yes, that dreary dusty chart hanging up in your science classroom.  A bit nerdy you think?  Good, cause now I'm going to nerd it up even more by refreshing your memory about what that weird chart was for anyway. 
  The periodic table of elements is a chart that organizes every natural (and some synthetic) ocurring element according to its chemical properties.   Every element that makes up matter, the earth, space, our bodies, is organized in this chart  into a useful logic all manner. Each one that exists has it's own unique properties such as atomic weight. Each element is given an atomic number. Elements are lined up in order of increasing atomic number and are arranged and placed in the same rows and columns as other elements that share similar properties.  Wow! I thought, to have all these elements come together in an orderly fashion and not just randomly appear in nature just astounded me! Not only that, those elements that are considered, the elements of life such as carbon, magnesium, nitrogen, iron and calcium had its own place and close proximity to each other on the chart!  AND, these same elements of life that make up our DNA, blood ,bones are also made in collapsing stars.   We are made of star stuff, to quote the late, great Carl Sagan.  I was a believer!  Sure, this was a chart first created by the Russian scientist, Mendeleev to assist early chemists.   But on this day, it became obvious to me that a higher creator and master planner was behind all this.  This was the moment my lowly human intellect can comprehend the idea of a creator of this universe.  I also felt from that point that to study science is an attempt to know the mind of God.  He was my creator and I am his created.  If the universe has a starting point as Hawking proposed, then this was where  my Faith had it's starting point .
That day a connection had been made between my God and my intellect, a connection with my creator and my humble limited scientific mind.  The connection between my heart and and therefore a relationship with my God would come at a much later time. 

 'Science is not only compatible with spirituality;it is a profound source of spirituality.' -Carl Sagan 
   He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.    Psalm 147:4-
   The Lord is the everlasting God,the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.   Isaiah 40:28

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crooked spine, crooked path

-
Image
  Today I went for a brisk 45 minute walk.  And that was the hardest thing for me to do. You might be wondering why.   Why would a  measly brisk 45 minute walk be such a big deal for this woman whos’ run marathons and 10 Ks and sprint triathlons before?  Well it all started in 2012. I was driving home from work in Orange County on the 5 rush hour traffic.  It was about a couple weeks after I ran the Huntington Beach half marathon, the one they have on super bowl Sunday every year.   It was stop and go traffic. Then suddenly, as my foot came off the gas, a lightening bolt pain shot me right in the ARSE!  or  right buttock that is.  Thereafter I would always have this tender spot or pain in the very crook of my right hamstring. Nothing severe enough to keep me from running , just a nuisance like that little kink you got in the back that tightens up every once in awhile.  I’ve got one of those too. On my right upper back, scapula to ...
Read more

Stay focused

-
Image
  It is interesting how some words of advice just stick with you. I wonder if my brother would be surprised that I still remember the words of advice he gave to me that seem to pop in my head as I read the verse above. My brother, Steve who is eight years my senior,  ha ha, ‘my senior’. That sounds so old. Anyway, my brother who is eight years older than me once told me right before I was about to go to college, to ‘STAY FOCUSED’.   He was an athlete and this was very appropriate advice for him to give.  He would know. He played baseball his whole life, first baseman  and would’ve gone professional if it wasn’t for a devastating injury during college.   On the other hand I was a horrible athlete , well in the beginning and before I found my love for endurance sports that is.  When I was in junior high, I was very awkward. I was made fun of a lot. I was a nerd! My athletic skills were nil to none  so my dear brother must have felt sorry for me and ...
Read more

Be still

-
Image
  Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. -Psalm 46:10 I have this sense of urgency, but I feel like God is working on me still, preparing me for something more.  I don’t know what that is, yet, but I’m to be still and do the work I have set before me.  My mind is never still.  In the stillness, I will praise God and worship him , glorify him with the work set before me.  The year is almost half way done and Ive been without social media. Although I do feel disconnected from those I know, I do feel more connected with my Lord. Have I gotten anywhere with my book? It is definitely slow going, but I will say I am further along then I was last year.  And even more then I was yesterday.   So I guess that’s something.  Instead of scrolling, I’ve just been filling my head with bible reading and studying.  I do watch YouTube, but mostly Christian topics appear on my feed.  S...
Read more