Results 1 - 8 of 8
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | By the bible, is nuclear winter possible | Gen 8:22 | Just Read Mark | 84422 | ||
Godly Science. OK -- I don't particularly want to open up the whole Old Earth / Young Earth / A Day is a Thousand Years line of inquiry. I just want to say that there are different fields of knowledge -- and not everything that is true is in the Bible. We can say that the Bible is true, and at the same time understand that observing nature is useful. In fact, the rise of Science in Renaissance Europe had to do with a sense of God creating an orderly, intelligable creation. "But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" --- Job 12:7-9 Some science is poor. Some theories are disproved (by theories built on still more data). But we use scientific knowledge every day -- and base decisions upon it -- and humans always have. (In Luke 12:55, Jesus uses weather forcasting as a teaching example.) So the question is: do we ignore warnings about global warming, because the Bible doesn't explicitly speak about it? Or do we weigh evidence, and -- since these things are contested -- take a conservative (ie. conserve the natural ecosystem) approach? As for the heat in Arkansas, imagine if the average temperature rose just a little? I live in Canada, and people often joke about how global warming would be welcome in January. But the arctic ice IS shrinking considerably every year -- and the polar bears don't like the change. All the oceans are linked -- how will the retreat of the ice (part of our global thermostat) affect animals in the other oceans? Please, as Christians we have to move beyond glib humour on this issue. I think God calls out for Godly, faithful scientists. And there are already many. |
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2 | By the bible, is nuclear winter possible | Gen 8:22 | Hank | 84432 | ||
My friend, I have moved beyond glib humor on this issue and on all other momentous issues, but thank God I have not lost the sense of humor that God gave me. An abiding faith in the providence of God keeps me from being a Chicken Little and running around like a scared chicken yelling, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling." On the other hand, the Bible is a book that does not dilute the stark realities of man's existence; thus, I don't play the role of the ostrich and hide my head in the sand or go around chanting the silly mantra promoted by Emile Coue a few years ago: "Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better." Neither do I believe the world is getting better and better day by day. Jesus never promised that. The peace I have, the emotional and spiritual stasis that I maintain, the sense of humor that I enjoy are not fed by the rise and fall of the stock market or by the latest scientific discoveries or warnings, but by the hope, both sure and steadfast, that I have as a sinner who has been redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus. It is foolish in my view to ignore modern advances in science, medicine being a good example. But it is equally foolish to place absolute faith in science or scientists. That is tantamount to having absolute faith in fallen, fallible man. Along with Paul, I must confess that I believe that nothing in all creation shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. See Romans 8:35-39. --Hank | ||||||
3 | By the bible, is nuclear winter possible | Gen 8:22 | Just Read Mark | 84438 | ||
Environment, morality, and science I agree with all you have said. My life is in Christ --- but I am able to investigate all kinds of questions because it is God's world. I, like you, do not espouse naive notions of progress. So, since we agree on so many things.... why did you respond to the discussion of global warming by taking a broad swipe at science in general? You're not putting your head in the sand, and I am not saying the sky is falling -- so we should be able to move forward here. I just wish to reiterate that Christians need to look at our impact on the environment as a moral issue -- and science is part of understanding what that impact is. |
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4 | By the bible, is nuclear winter possible | Gen 8:22 | Hank | 84441 | ||
Just Read Mark: Please "Just Read My Post" again! I was not taking "a broad swipe at science in general." What I am taking a broad swipe at is that it is foolish to give credence to every so-called scientific disovery, warning, or theory that comes down the pike. For example, evolution is not a science. It is a theory which has never been proved. More than that, it has in fact become the religion of secular humanism, the disciples of which have wormed their way into the public school system of the United States and proceed to teach evolution as scientific fact and forbid not only the teaching of creationism but prayer and Bible study. If this is "science" then I plead guilty of taking a broad swipe at it. It is easy for man to practice idolatry; he has thousands of years of experience at it. We don't bow at the feet of the golden calf any more, but if we find ourselves bowing at the feet of "modern scientific truth," paying obeisance to it more than or in place of God, we are no less guilty than the golden calf worshipers of the sin of idolatry. --Hank | ||||||
5 | By the bible, is nuclear winter possible | Gen 8:22 | BradK | 84442 | ||
Dear Just Read Mark, Without attempting to stray too far from "Biblical" topics, I'll offer my 2 cents-worth on the issue of Global Warming. First off, I think it fair to say that much of what is reported in the "mainline media" is not entirely unbiased, especially when it comes to emotionally charged topics like global warming:-) In case you haven't looked at the other side of this issue, I might recommend "Hot Talk, Cold Science: Global Warming's Unfinished Debate" by Dr. S. Fred Singer. he is an atmospheric physicist who leads the Washington-based Science and Environmental Policy Project. From my reading on this, there is vastly conflicting scientific data regarding this matter- despite what our Media portray! It is not at all a "slam-dunk". However, "Your word is settled in heaven"(Psalm 119:89). Speaking The Truth In Love, BradK |
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6 | By the bible, is nuclear winter possible | Gen 8:22 | Hank | 84443 | ||
Excellent point, Brad! The fellow who said, "Everything I know I read in the newspapers" would be in deep trouble today. Unfortunately, the media mainly crank out stories that attract attention and bring in revenue. Whether they are the whole truth and nothing but the truth is questionable. I like the quote from British novelist Joyce Carey who was born in the 19th century: "It is the tragedy of the world that no one knows what he doesn't know -- and the less a man knows, the more sure he is that he knows everything." ..... This is true, I think, of scientist and theologian and just perhaps, to a tiny degree, of People Who Live In the Ozarks of Arkansas like -- for example -- Hank | ||||||
7 | By the bible, is nuclear winter possible | Gen 8:22 | Just Read Mark | 84467 | ||
Disagreement: what to do? Hank: the reason I said "a broad swipe at science" was because, in a discussion about global warming, you jumped immediately to secular humanism and creation. That seems like a very wide paint-brush to me. Your other posts seem to imply that either I don't know what I'm talking about -- or that I am worshiping human contructions. Or were you writing to a hypothetical reader? Brad: thanks for a useful contribution. As for the fact there is a lot of discussion for and against global warming, that was why I made my statement about "taking a conservative approach --ie. conserving the environment." When we don't know for certain, it is better to be moderate. North American society, presently, is anything but moderate. While some scientists contest global warming, animal extinctions and deformations are hard to dispute. To wait until these concerns are plain for all to see seems irresponsible. |
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8 | By the bible, is nuclear winter possible | Gen 8:22 | Hank | 84470 | ||
Just Read Mark: I'm sorry you read into my posts the implication that I think you don't know what you're talking about or that you are an idolater. From my vantage point I don't think that my addresses to you carried sufficient reason for you to draw either of these inferences; but if you feel they do, then let me hasten to assure you that the intent was absent from my mind when I wrote the lines. It has been my observation that highly creative people (you are an artist, unless I am mistaken) tend to be more sensitive and possess a higher degree of awareness than less gifted people. I, who have not the artistic ability even to draw flies, admire good art and appreciate the gifts that God gave good artists. When it comes to not knowing what one is talking about, whom do you know who can talk about every subject under the sun with knowledge and authority? I like what Mark Twain said, "An educated man is as ignorant as the rest of us when you get him off the subject he was educated in." Sincere good wishes for your continuing success in your art ministry. --Hank | ||||||