I remember being in like 7th grade and going to youth group, and our pastor sat everyone down, and he was like “I’ve done a lot of thought and research, and concluded that evolution isn’t real” and it hadn’t occurred to me there was tension between the bible and science (not because it’s not obvious but it just wasn’t on my radar) but I was a creationist for a while there. Atheist now…
As a still believer… I don’t if I’m the odd balls, but I genuinely don’t see any conflicts. Science is the foundation of my understanding due it’s reproducibility. The Bible in it’s current form has a lot of variables that need to be considered. But I seem to talk to a lot of people not understanding either each other’s views or context. Like I’ve talked to a lot of people and as long as I don’t directly say we’re discussing evolution… They tend to be like ‘yeah that all makes sense.’ Then I’m like ‘that’s evolution.’ lots of blank stare or worse, people saying that my definition isn’t evolution… Like I made it up. 🤷
I ended up a few credit hours away from finishing a bible degree, and in the introductory biblical interpretation class the first thing the professor said was “it doesn’t matter whether genesis is talking about a literal 7 days or a figurative 7 days” the bible is still the inspired word of god. And that “everyone interprets, don’t trust anyone who tells you ‘I’m just reading what’s written’” Which would have been good to hear earlier but still very valuable.
I’d argue that reconciling christian faith with modern science requires an understanding and interpretation of the bible that’s significantly different than a huge percent of christians today would recognize. Still, all the best to you. Being able to believe in an afterlife and a personally involved higher power certainly has its appeal.
That’s wild. Sorry you had to work with her.
I remember being in like 7th grade and going to youth group, and our pastor sat everyone down, and he was like “I’ve done a lot of thought and research, and concluded that evolution isn’t real” and it hadn’t occurred to me there was tension between the bible and science (not because it’s not obvious but it just wasn’t on my radar) but I was a creationist for a while there. Atheist now…
As a still believer… I don’t if I’m the odd balls, but I genuinely don’t see any conflicts. Science is the foundation of my understanding due it’s reproducibility. The Bible in it’s current form has a lot of variables that need to be considered. But I seem to talk to a lot of people not understanding either each other’s views or context. Like I’ve talked to a lot of people and as long as I don’t directly say we’re discussing evolution… They tend to be like ‘yeah that all makes sense.’ Then I’m like ‘that’s evolution.’ lots of blank stare or worse, people saying that my definition isn’t evolution… Like I made it up. 🤷
I ended up a few credit hours away from finishing a bible degree, and in the introductory biblical interpretation class the first thing the professor said was “it doesn’t matter whether genesis is talking about a literal 7 days or a figurative 7 days” the bible is still the inspired word of god. And that “everyone interprets, don’t trust anyone who tells you ‘I’m just reading what’s written’” Which would have been good to hear earlier but still very valuable.
I’d argue that reconciling christian faith with modern science requires an understanding and interpretation of the bible that’s significantly different than a huge percent of christians today would recognize. Still, all the best to you. Being able to believe in an afterlife and a personally involved higher power certainly has its appeal.