Thank you for this post! I've found that science gets at the "how" of the universe and that faith gets at the "why". They're complements, not opposites.
Another great post, Sarah. I also kept my new faith a secret while working as a scientist. But like you, I regretted that, and have tried to atone for that by writing books and articles. One thing I think is important is to counter the very frequent retort by atheists that scientists of faith use a "God of the gaps" approach for evidence of creation or design. This is true for the three creation events you mention. For the origin of life (my own specialty) the fact that there is no known chemical or physical phenomenon that can possibly explain it, is definitely a gap in knowledge, but it is the kind of gap that cannot be filled unless we take an entirely new approach. This has often happened in many fields of science (as you know), including the nature of light and subatomic particles. In the case of life we need to search for agency and purpose, which are outside the domain of standard physical sciences. A creator (of whatever nature) is the only viable solution.
Materialism is matter + motion; unguided, random, purposeless energy acting on matter over time; just stuff happening. Math is conceptual, universal, abstract, invariant, exceptionless. Equations are only representations of the “Law of Mathematics”. The laws exist even if they are not written down. Materialism cannot explain abstract, universal laws like logic, mathematics, and ultimately even scientific laws, as they are based on logic and mathematics.
Then why does the material universe obey the “Laws of Mathematics”?
From what I’ve experienced and observed for decades in the corporate world, I think most spiritual folk there tend to view separation of state and religion as germane to the secular work environment too - a prudent tempering of one’s passions as expected in most companies’ codes of conduct. And now more than ever it’s advisable to keep those two aspects of life apart, with the more common ways of getting termination for cause due to having offended someone’s ear with but a mere comment in a work environment setting. So that on the end it’s best to refrain from certain topics - while tabloid news, sports and weather are still permitted to some extent. I enjoyed your writeup here - am just adding some cautionary mention is all. Cheers, Tom
Thank you for this post! I've found that science gets at the "how" of the universe and that faith gets at the "why". They're complements, not opposites.
Another great post, Sarah. I also kept my new faith a secret while working as a scientist. But like you, I regretted that, and have tried to atone for that by writing books and articles. One thing I think is important is to counter the very frequent retort by atheists that scientists of faith use a "God of the gaps" approach for evidence of creation or design. This is true for the three creation events you mention. For the origin of life (my own specialty) the fact that there is no known chemical or physical phenomenon that can possibly explain it, is definitely a gap in knowledge, but it is the kind of gap that cannot be filled unless we take an entirely new approach. This has often happened in many fields of science (as you know), including the nature of light and subatomic particles. In the case of life we need to search for agency and purpose, which are outside the domain of standard physical sciences. A creator (of whatever nature) is the only viable solution.
Materialism is matter + motion; unguided, random, purposeless energy acting on matter over time; just stuff happening. Math is conceptual, universal, abstract, invariant, exceptionless. Equations are only representations of the “Law of Mathematics”. The laws exist even if they are not written down. Materialism cannot explain abstract, universal laws like logic, mathematics, and ultimately even scientific laws, as they are based on logic and mathematics.
Then why does the material universe obey the “Laws of Mathematics”?
Same thing goes for Hollywood... https://sdgmorgan.substack.com/p/why-didnt-the-dream-work?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1kd7j
Thanks.
From what I’ve experienced and observed for decades in the corporate world, I think most spiritual folk there tend to view separation of state and religion as germane to the secular work environment too - a prudent tempering of one’s passions as expected in most companies’ codes of conduct. And now more than ever it’s advisable to keep those two aspects of life apart, with the more common ways of getting termination for cause due to having offended someone’s ear with but a mere comment in a work environment setting. So that on the end it’s best to refrain from certain topics - while tabloid news, sports and weather are still permitted to some extent. I enjoyed your writeup here - am just adding some cautionary mention is all. Cheers, Tom