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... II. The Framework ...
values
paradoxes
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This eldo includes examples of the negative impact of ego in regards to building of bridges between
scientific and religious world views. For instance,
“Why do most religious individuals limit any kind of evolution as being a tool God might have
used to create man?”
Likewise,
”Why can scientists not acknowledge there is often an improved quality and greater length of
life accompanying religious conviction?”
As an earth scientist with religious convictions, and as mentioned above,
it was fascinating to follow the debate on both sides of this divide by professional colleagues through letters to the Editor of the
AAPG Explorer (Appendix V: AAPG Reader’s Forum).
How many people are there in Houston, Texas convinced the 2005 Hurricane Katrina
turned to the east as an answer to prayers? There are a lot of these folks, and who knows but what they might be right.
It is a common tendency among the religiously inclined to be absolutely certain about all of their facts. Possibly this is based
on extrapolating experiences accompanying a spiritual witness to other parts of their life, where there is not a correlation.
From the soldier in the trenches in Iraq to someone who survived a tornado destroying their house, there is a tendency to
attribute all positive events to an unseen spiritual force, to God. As these feelings confront scientific data which does not fit
their world view, the tendency of religionists is to dismiss the scientific data, and to follow the feelings. Sometimes this works,
and sometimes it doesn’t. The questions are hard, and if there are to be reasonable answers found, ego must be put aside and
minds must be opened.
How many people are there in Houston, Texas convinced there are enough hydrocarbons
available on planet earth to last mankind for several millennia? There are a lot of these folks, and who knows but what they
might be right. It is a common tendency among the scientifically inclined to be absolutely certain about all of their facts.
Possibly this is based on extrapolating professional successes to other parts of their life, where there is not a correlation.
From the geologist picking the well location to the driller guiding the drill bit, there is a tendency to attribute all positive
results to their knowledge and experience and expertise. As this experience confronts those driven by religious feelings,
the tendency of scientists is to dismiss the feelings, and to follow the data. Sometimes this works, and sometimes it doesn’t.
The questions are hard, and if there are to be reasonable answers found, ego must be put aside and minds must be opened.
Note how the previous two paragraphs are identical, except the position is reversed.
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