First, let me address the roomful of elephants before I begin: I have found no prerequisite forcing me to reject religion in order to accept science; the reverse is also true. As a Christian who is curious by nature, I find myself questioning *why* things are the way we experience them. Until recently, most ‘scientists’ were deeply religious (or spiritual) individuals. In fact, many still are, at least privately. They may have run afoul of church doctrine and/or dogma at certain points in history, but the deepest, most dangerous beliefs were (fortunately) saved for posterity in notebooks and/or student notes.
Two scientists, in particular, come to mind; they are famous enough to need only one name each – Galileo and Newton. Currently, Catholicism is embroiled in several tough, painful, ugly scandal(s). If I may, allow me to shine a light on a *positive* aspect of modern Catholicism. Vatican City has its own astronomical observatory, telescope(s), *and* scientists. They are on the cutting edge of astronomy in some areas. They have actually *helped* science, not fought against/condemned it. They do not see religion as good and science as bad. They accept that the two, when taken together, form a more complete picture than either could provide alone.
https://www.vaticanobservatory.org
https://www.icr.edu/man-science-man-god-galileo-galilei
¿I have often wondered why Newton rejected the Triune God, yet discovered 3 laws of motion? But I digress. Nevertheless, Newton was almost universally (pun intended) known as a Christian.
https://www.newtonproject.ox.ac.uk/view/contexts/CNTX00001
I have noticed a trend online lately, in particular on social media. As the political right has started using quasi-Christianity to reject ‘science’ more and more, people have embraced “flat earth” world views, and use parts of the Bible as source material for their argument(s) (Genesis KJV only seems to be a crowd favorite). You know, that pesky thing called the “firmament” — here’s an example: https://twitter.com/theflateartherr/status/1735460807717126164?s=46&t=njPqYaSLFi2ONjIIdVhppw
Before I opine and try to make a coherent defense, a warning is in order. I caution all of us – in particular other Christians – to be careful which scientific studies we adopt, and which ones we discard: we are warned about a falling away during end times prophecy.
https://www.gotquestions.org/great-apostasy.html
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%203&version=NIV
A declarative statement in the English language denotes, and requires, an authority to hold Truth – Gandhi called it ‘Satyagraha’. The dictionary definition (of Satyagraha) is incomplete – and, yes, I am serious. It only describes the process, and ignores the cause. Here is an example of Satyagraha being practiced:
https://twitter.com/redclayj/status/1737780605520142536?s=46&t=njPqYaSLFi2ONjIIdVhppw
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/satyagraha
https://novo.org/discipleship-blog/speaking-gods-words-and-will-declarative-prayer#:~:text=Declarative%20prayer%20is%20doing%20as,over%20a%20person%20or%20situation.https://www.gotquestions.org/verily-verily.html
So, here comes the soap ‘box’ and a way to “think outside the ‘box’”. Physics and Astronomy (Astrophysics) show just how ‘big’ ^and^ “tiny” our Creator truly is. I will never forget the first time I looked at Messier objects through a 12(twelve) inch Newtonian reflective telescope. My twin brother and I were fortunate to attend Jefferson High School. Their curriculum (and staff) were the best in this part of the world at that time. We used the telescope and some of the earliest Apple products created. (Believe it or not, typing on a typewriter was considered a more useful skill than anything computer related).
Jim finished multiple degrees in chemistry and IT. Me? I reckon I hafta learn everything the hard way – by the “seat of my britches”. Our high school computer lab, fully stocked with Apple IIe computers, was merely a preview of what was to follow in the near future. Apple released them in ~1983~. {[<( *extremely* long full stop pause:;)>]}. ……. We graduated (somehow) in 1986.
So, why bother, right? Why worry about “flat earthers” and their ilk? Because their argument has enough surface “truth” to sway some people, and completely muddy the waters. Instead of continually debating them with facts, science, and logic, I have decided to address it in this blog.
Though I am skeptical of the “name it and claim it crowd”, the idea of boldly declaring is scriptural. Jesus used it often as “verily verily”.
https://www.gotquestions.org/verily-verily.html
In this case, I’ll just insert a blunt assessment: If you are a flat earther, your “god” ain’t big enough for me. A recent X post I made concerning the 4 directions {north,south,east,west} is loaded with facts the “flat earth crowd” cannot refute:
https://twitter.com/redclayj/status/1738371659113894189?s=46&t=8KLTIwmdJOuKh3HVHeHR0A
The “firmament” they use to put “God in a box” is not what they think it is — and I will offer 2 possibilities – either one makes flat earth null and void. The most likely is the atmosphere and its “rivers of water” that are part of the re-cycle that distributes water globally across the planet through what we call weather.
Another possibility lies under the ocean. Did you know there is a massive area of fresh water *under* the North Atlantic ocean?
https://www.globalcitizen.org/fr/content/scientists-discovered-freshwater-under-ocean/
There is one place in the Bible that flat-earthers avoid: Job 38. It contains a before/after scenario that highlights the awe/fear *and* praise we should have for our Creator.
Job 38 uses the illustration of God speaking to Job through a whirlwind.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2038&version=ESV
https://youtu.be/mQFO5i9v-_o?si=kf7GlgiJ8pUR6Ws4.
https://twitter.com/redclayj/status/1768465980139708535?s=46&t=c_fBWffd9ETA2hIksOxpaA
https://twitter.com/redclayj/status/1768466181172699316?s=46&t=c_fBWffd9ETA2hIksOxpaA
https://twitter.com/redclayj/status/1768545406747627526?s=46&t=c_fBWffd9ETA2hIksOxpaA
https://twitter.com/redclayj/status/1768544777266475115?s=46&t=c_fBWffd9ETA2hIksOxpaA
https://youtu.be/mQFO5i9v-_o?si=7zpIYUPAzu1nIhGa
https://music.apple.com/us/album/lucky-man/1052276759?i=1052276765
https://twitter.com/redclayj/status/1769598701553508768?s=46&t=c_fBWffd9ETA2hIksOxpaA
https://twitter.com/redclayj/status/1769868687903723754?s=46&t=c_fBWffd9ETA2hIksOxpaA
https://twitter.com/redclayj/status/1770283512848863505?s=46&t=c_fBWffd9ETA2hIksOxpaA
https://twitter.com/redclayj/status/1749602902719492342?s=46&t=c_fBWffd9ETA2hIksOxpaA
Lord Jesus, come quickly: please forgive my arrogance, ignorance, and foolishness. It would seem, or rather appear, that my earthly life has been a failure built on failure, with failure, through failure, and sits atop a foundation of failure. You are the only one who can fix it Jesus.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/lord-strike-me-dead/1336805164?i=1336806076
I leave it in your hands Jesus. Your Love conquers all:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/from-bad-to-good/381602862?i=381602894
https://music.apple.com/us/album/jericho/517785258?i=517785265
https://music.apple.com/us/album/song-for-a-child/517785258?i=517785485
I love all y’all. I find myself more and more without a prayer – other than the serenity prayer. As it gets harder and harder to understand the world we live in, and finding the truth is eschewed for tribal conflict and hate with alternative facts, it would seem even the serenity prayer is under attack. Yeah, it is S-E-R-E-N-I-T-Y, not S-E-N-I-L-I-T-Y.
The title of this post comes from this Chris Stapleton song. Chris sings, “Don’t go lookin’ for the reasons. Don’t go askin’ Jesus ‘Why‘. Wisdom almost always has roots in the ‘why’ – if it doesn’t – then the roots have already gone to seed.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/broken-halos/1440901944?i=1440901947
Jesus can turn a “broken halo“ into a ‘broken Hallelujah: He is the only One who can {at least from my POV}
https://music.apple.com/us/album/broken-hallelujah/1545530145?i=1545530155