Science: A Pseudo Religion

Is Science a pseudo religion you ask? The answer can only be sustained by either one of two answers-
No, it is not a religion because evidence proves no God exists...
or ...
Yes, it is a religion because they have chosen this belief based on personal choice which was developed based on their way of looking at the world (their personal worldview.)

Think about it...
Science uses empirical data to arrive at conclusions; therefore the conclusions wrought from empirical evidence are true.

Ask the atheist or agnostic scientist if they have a religious belief system; to be either atheist or agnostic they must answer "no."

Therefore, to reach their conclusion they must have used neutral, empirical testing to formulate their true conclusion; the evidence has brought them to their belief. SO---again, science has objectively through neutral, empirical evidence proved either of their systems of belief to be true, science has conclusively established that the origin of life, has conclusive explanation for the miraculous, and conclusively established how we go from being inorganic to organic?

The problem--- science has no conclusion to any of the above examples.

So if there is no empirical evidence to support their belief system, it must be a personal choice.

James W. Dow, in A Scientific Definition of Religion states, “The scientist must understand religion as the complex workings of a human brain that is not responding directly to observable reality. The cause of religious behavior for the scientist does not lie in myth but in an understanding of why human beings do and think what they do.”
In order for this to be true, there has to be empirical evidence.

Dictionary.com defines religion as:
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2.
a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.
3.
the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices.

The only conclusion that we can draw from all of this information is that religion is a personal choice. Atheist and agnostic scientist adhere to the attributes of both definitions and the conclusion.

Therefore, those who adhere to their atheist and agnostic principles do so not based on science or scientific evidence, but out of their own personal choice...making them members of a pseudo religion.

The end.

It's nearly July 4th & my mind turns toward patriotic thoughts...

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men."~ Samuel Adams

"The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree."~ Campbell Thomas

"Part of our essential humanity is paying respect to what God gave us and what will be here a long time after we're gone."~ William J. Clinton

“The issues of the world must be met and met squarely. The forces of evil do not disdain preparation, they are always prepared and always preparing... The welfare of America, the cause of civilization will forever require the contribution, of some part of the life, of all our citizens, to the natural, the necessary, and the inevitable demand for the defense of the right and the truth.”~ Calvin Coolidge

"No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck."~ Frederick Douglas

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined."~ Patrick Henry

"American and Israel share a special bond. Our relationship is unique among all nations. Like America, Israel is a strong democracy, a symbol of freedom, and an oasis of liberty, a home to the oppressed and persecuted."~ William J. Clinton

"There comes a time when even peace loving people have to fight. It seemed to me that far too many of us had forgotten the real issue in all of this - the people. More precisely, the American people - our Founding Fathers, our veterans, our military, our civil servants and even regular folk - those who have died or could die in the service of this country - in establishing, protecting and maintaining our freedom. If this isn't enough of a reason to go anywhere to fight anyone - to preserve the American way of life - then what is there left on this earth that matters at all? God help us!
We are lucky to live in the United States of America - and this privilege didn't come cheap. Our Founding Fathers were not cowards. They made immense sacrifices to establish this Great Nation in freedom - not the least of which was going to war with the enemy of that freedom. All of those who have fought in the subsequent wars and conflicts and those who are fighting today have continued to make sacrifices in order to defend those original ideals. Even now, our civil servants, particularly Firefighters and Police, are making sacrifices to maintain the quality of our lives in this freedom.
If you are not willing to do everything in your power to defend this Great Nation, even taking up arms if it is necessary, then who will? If you will not defend America, that is your choice - but sit in silence and do not criticize those brave and valiant individuals who have the sense of duty, the measure of courage and the determination of heart to protect America... and, I might add, your cowardly soul."
~ Author-The Blood of Heroes
http://www.fdnylodd.com/9-11-Never-Forget/Memorials/Blood-Of-Heroes.html

"The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the Nation’s greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable, especially when that questioning is disinterested, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us."~ John F. Kennedy

A look at oursleves is always good-- a simple thought:

Fun info for all-- Hmmm--- Christmas and Easter originally did not use eggs and bunnies nor trees, socks, ornaments...well you get the idea. Every time the holidays come around we go through the same arguments pro or con. OK, don't flip out, there's a point here and this really is meant to be a lighthearted look at ourselves...so stay calm. =o]

So if you don't put up a tree or hunt for eggs...well, or if you do... do you ever knock on wood? Or call Wednesday, "Wednesday." Or what about Thursday and Friday...how 'bout Tuesday- do you use these days of the week and call them by their names?

If so, you should know that Wednesday is actually Woden's Day or Odin's Day which is the name for a Germanic mythical Zeus-type god. Thursday is actually Thor's Day (the Nors mythical god of thunder, lighting, and farming), Tuesday and Friday are named after minor goddesses, and each time you "knock on wood" you ought to know that it is an old pagan gesture meant to call forth spirits from within the wood.

Now- what's the point? We live in a time when what we choose to do is determined by the depth of our character and that is reliant upon the condition of our soul. When you've hung socks, put up a tree, knocked on wood or made plans to meet a friend on Wednesday...you did so in the simple earnestness of heart and were not giving voice nor reason to the ways and traditions from thousands of years ago.

Some may argue that sin simply rolls forward because it does not know time...and this is true. Therefore, they argue,if we initiate putting up socks or giving an Easter basket we participate in pagan worship and ritual. So then why should we continue to use of days of the week- lest we give support to a pagan ideology? Should we then separate ourselves, to prove that we support Biblical foundational truths? I believe foundational truths are the backbone of God's church, but I ask you-- when is the last time you read your Bible in Latin? You don't? So, to be walking uprightly, should we all return to reading the Bible in its original language? Who is the decider of what can be used for God's glory and what can be used to oppose His glory?

The truth is that we no longer read the Bible in Latin, just like Christians do not observe the same lifestyles from ancient times or the medieval church centuries ago because time and cultures have changed...and I for one say, "Thank God they have!" However, God's and His Word never change! What we must do is align all parts of our lives with God's word-- undiluted and without a price tag...let everything we do and say give glory to God alone.

Ok, that's my prattling for today-- over and out.

Jesus Christ - truth or fiction

This is not a paper for class, but more of a way that I was organizing information I had researched and needed for a paper. I found all of it refreshing as well as an affirmation to my soul. I've paraphrased most of it and quoted when necessary— I felt others would find it interesting as well. So here it is...

Millions have staked their eternal destiny upon Jesus Christ and His promises. They have established their lives by His principles. If Jesus story is a lie, it is the greatest hoax ever executed, but if it is true one must take it seriously; failing to do so could cost an individual everything. At some point every man must stop and ask himself, who is Jesus Christ and why must I follow him?

Believing in the Lord takes faith, but being persuaded (that’s what Paul stated, “I am persuaded…” Romans 8:38-39) takes evidence.

For years, secular minds have attempted to disprove the Bible through the use of reason, logic, and evidence. None have yet to find valid claim to disprove the Word of God, but many secularists including naturalists, and humanists have been converted in the process after only finding evidence to the contrary.

How about we look at it through the laws of science…if something is relevant (it bears truth) it can be supported by logic, reason, and evidence. Let’s look at what has caused secular minds to confirm that the Bible is “relevant" (historically accurate, authors are trustworthy, unified, and accurate copies of the original manuscripts have been passed down for others):

While it took…

over 1,600 years and 66 books for the Old and New Testaments to be written

and …

it was written by numerous men (40) from many different backgrounds and cultures

and…

it was written in three languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.)

and…

it contains one central theme- Jesus Christ; in the OT he is foretold, in the NT he is realized

and…

it is unified with one message- man’s dilemma is sin and its only solution is redemption and salvation in Jesus Christ…

YET it is congruent and consistent throughout.

It is one of few ancient books that has been verified by other ancient text to be more than 95% accurate. The 5% variations do not affect the content or doctrine of the written text (Scripture.) Furthermore, the NT is the only book among ancient philosophy and literature to have been copied so many times (5,366) yet contains its textual accuracy. This accuracy is in comparison to ancient books written by Herodotus, Plato, Demosthenes, Caesar, Livy, Tacitus, and Pliny Seceundus. Of which, Demosthenes is the oldest, ca. 1,400 years ago and also the second most copied with only 200 copies.

At first this may not sound like a big deal, until you remember— the NT writings began in the 1st and 2nd centuries with the four gospels…not in the middle of the 15th century.

There are characteristics only found validated in the Word of God— the Bible bears out scientific knowledge before its time.

Astronomers, doctors, and scientist of long ago, in times and cultures that did not use scientific approach or laws, formulated ideas (largely superstitious) which they held to be foundational truths. However, the Bible contains truths which have since been proven true and are now supported by modern science. These truths could only have been included in the Bible by divine instruction and thought by the One who created all that is. Here are a few examples:

The human body:

In Numbers 19: 17, 19 we read about the need for cleanliness (washing) to prevent the spread of disease.

Not until 1840 did Dr. Semmelweis discover the need for doctors (people) to wash their hands to prevent disease.

The earth:

2,000 to 3,000 years before men had the ability to understand these phenomena the Bible records discoveries such as:

II Samuel 22:16, Job 38:16, and Psalm 18: 15 states that the ocean floor contains deep valleys and huge mountains.

Ancient men believed the ocean floor to be flat, sandy, and have a bowl-like shape.

Moses wrote about leaving ground lay fallow in the seventh year (to allow the earth to replenish itself) in Exodus 23:10-11.

This was a lesson well ahead of its time. We see the importance of this principle re-play out as late as the Great Dustbowl in the 1930’s, when men were reminded of this principle as well as the need for crop rotation.

The heavens:

In Genesis 1:1, 8, 14-17, and Jeremiah 31:37 we find the writers teaching that the heavens have not existed for eternity but had an origin. The Bible records that the heavens are not near us nor fixed but that they were expansive, spreading out as well as being without number.

For centuries men and scientist believed the earth to be fixed, the center of the universe, and all other planets rotated around it. In fact, Galileo, a known Christian of the 1,600’s, was charged with heresy because he found, believed, and taught that the earth and other planets rotate around the sun.

Examination of historical text concludes that the writers of the Bible had to be full of integrity for the works to be so congruent and consistent.

(Remember, these authors staked their lives upon it, were rejected for it, beaten because of it, jailed for teaching it, and killed for proclaiming it.)

The Old Testament has over 100 specific predictions of Jesus Christ coming as the Messiah. They include his birth, his life, and his death- each prophecy was fulfilled.

Jesus Christ had no human control over where he would be born, live as a youth and young man, or where he would die. In addition, secular science has disproved the probability that Jesus could have deliberately tried to fulfill all the prophecies- the astronomical number for probability alone would take a leap of faith to believe such a theory.

Jesus Christ claimed to be God- but human nature speaks for itself—so an examination of His life should tell us about his character—yet history records that he lived a simple, shameless life, was without blame, respected by the people but despised by religious rulers, and the people referred to him as what they saw him for “Lamb of God”, You are the Christ, the Son of the Loving God”, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel”, “Savior of the World”, “We believe and know that you are the Holy one of God”, “Yes, Lord…I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God”, “Surely he was the Son of God” My Lord and my God”, “I and the Father are one.”

Jesus Christ was born in a humble place, lived a notable public life, taught in Jewish temples as well as in the city and on the road, was accused of saying he was God, was crucified and hung upon the cross for three days, then laid in a borrowed tomb, which was found empty on the third day, and the historical written account in I Corinthians A.D. 35 speaks of first-hand accounts of Jesus Christ being seen by individuals and groups after the third day.

The most notable and prominent writer of the New Testament is Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus) who was once a Jewish Scholar (a Pharisee) who adamantly persecuted Christ followers. He was skilled and highly educated and made sure to rely on crucial and critical analysis by finding reliable, first-hand eye witnesses/sources outside of his own life accounts and personal testimony. In fact, written account bears out that he went to great lengths to confirm that his records bore the truth. He made a return trip to Jerusalem where he conferred with the three most notable leaders of the early church, James, Peter, and John; they found his teachings and writings without error.

So now we pause to stop and ask ourselves again, “Who is Jesus Christ?”

To make the claims and teach what is recorded, Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, simply a prophet,… or he really was who he said he was.

If Jesus were a liar or a lunatic, the history of ancient times would have buried his name with the other liars and lunatics of their times. If he were truly just a prophet he would not claim that he was God manifest in the flesh; the reason the Jewish leaders had him crucified.

So if he was neither liar, lunatic, nor simply just a prophet, then reason, logic, and evidence all point to one conclusion…he must be who he said he was— Savior of the World, Lord of Lords, and worthy of all devotion and praise because he is God.

“You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is the Son of God: or else a mad man or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God.” C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity, p. 56).

And that leaves a decision to be made….eternity is the destination… and your soul deserves the right answer.

Resources:

Geisler, Dr. N (2004). How Do We Know the Bible is the Word of God? Colorado

Springs, CO: ISI International, Inc.

Hindson & Craner ((2008). The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics: Surveying the Truth for the Evidence of Christianity. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers

King James Bible (1987). The Holy Bible. Nashvile, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

God's Strategies

To men, God's strategies do not always seem the most logical. However, if God says to cross through the Red Sea, do it. If He says send men to drink water, do it. If He tells you to walk around the walls of a city, do it. If he tells you to formulate and then create a life strategies series, do it...and if he tells you to build a school by nothing more than a vision, do it.

You see, God's strategies may not seem the most logical to us, but if we just take that step of faith and trust that He knows best, we like all those who trusted before us, will find His way is complete, infinitely more wise, and always the most fruitful.

Have a blessed day!

Resurrection Morning ~ What a glorious day!

Amidst the celebration, it is important that we remember and focus on the true meaning of Easter…that Jesus Christ willfully shed his blood and laid down his life to give us eternal life.

God was in the world and the world knew him not; they beat him and crucified him believing it would make a difference---and it did...just not they way they thought.

Through the shedding of Jesus blood, atonement was made for the sins of all men once and for all time. At the moment of his death, the veil to the Holy of Holies was torn in half giving all men, both Jew and Gentile, direct access to the Living God, forever.

They buried him, believing that would be the end of it all…but it was only just the beginning.

On the third day, he overpowered death, hell, and the grave. He lives!

I am thankful for an old rugged cross, an empty tomb, and for the Resurrected Saviour of the world.

Have you ever wondered about the between times?

The world stood in silence as the spotless Lamb hung on the cross। Most in attendance looked on, not realizing the act of love they were witnessing as the divine Creator willfully laid down his life for them. They mocked and laughed.

What did those who loved Jesus do in the between time from nine to noon when sand began to swirl and darkness began to descend? What were their thoughts?

Many of Jesus followers watched from a distance, and only a handful drew near the cross; John, Mary the mother of Jesus and Jude his brother, Salome (John's mother), Mary the wife of Clopas and sister of Jesus' mother, Mary Magdalene, and Rebecca (of Sepphoris), and a group of earnest women believers.

What happened, other than what is written in the scripture, from noon to three in the afternoon? What was on the mind of those that loved Jesus?

Some believe that the women stayed at the cross until Jesus died, while others believe that Jesus sent away Mary, and the other women of her family as well as Mary Magdalene and John's mother. Whichever is the case, it is clear that John was present when Jesus took his last breath.

Jesus died and the earth groaned.

Have you ever thought about what happened in the between time after John watched as Joseph and Nicodemus took away the body of Jesus?

Surely, after the death of the Jesus Christ the women left; the men with them as they helped find a resting place for the women. I can see them in my mind's eye, walking away, broken hearted, heads cast down, tear stains upon their faces, fresh tears slowly streaming down, the lingering remembrance of the promise of eternal life now seemed like a distant hope.

John, walking alone, an ache in his heart, but eyes lifted toward the heavens and clinging to the promise of the third day.

All of the earth's hope rested in the morning of the third day.

Why Crucification Friday is important to me...

Above all powers above all kings

Above all nature and all created things

Above all wisdom and all the ways of man

You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms

above all thrones

Above all wonders the world has ever known

Above all wealth and treasure of the earth

There's no way to measure what You're worth

Crucified laid behind a stone

You lived to die rejected and alone

Like a rose trampled on the ground

You took the fall and thought of me

Above all

~ Michael W. Smith/Artist

Save the Texas Budget $

Hmmm - I had an argument with a teacher recently about how to save a chunk of Texas education funds. It centered around this question:
If Texas teachers are really more concerned about education of the children and the threat of lost jobs, why aren't those receiving teacher performance incentives willing to give up the entire bonus/incentive package to save money for Texas education; basically, put their money where their complaint lies? That would save the Texas educational budget hundreds of millions each year.
She could not answer this simple question-- needless-to-say, she receives a performance incentive bonus.
I'm open for comments on this one---
My clear opinion is that no teacher should receive an incentive bonus for educating children-period. Education, unlike the business world, is not a for-profit business. In the business sector, if I increase the profit margin, I should receive a piece of the pie for helping to build and stabilize the company's business. If my students do well, and can pass the TEKS (or a standardized test that shows them to be competitive across the nation) then that should be considered when it is time for me to be evaluated for a pay increase.
I have had students transfer into my class/our school, from a class where they were "passing" yet they cannot even compete at the required TEKS level for their grade. This causes me to be alarmed---if a benchmark is the answer to a performance...how could this student be passing if they cannot operate at their grade level. Before anyone gets their hair in a snarl...this use to be the exception with student transfers...now it is the norm.

A Suggestion for Texas Governor Rick Perry

I have a serious suggestion for Gov। Rick Perry and his aides who are trying to find ways to save money with the Texas Prison system health care program---
Dear Mr. Perry,
Let Texas prisoners do what I do and what my teenage son has to do...go without health care unless they are really-really ill and then, they can still do what I have to do- wait some more until I am really sick. Then give them minimal treatment because that's all I can afford and I have neither been a menace to society nor broken the law!
Taking that action will save you just short of one billion dollars every two years. Then we can take a small portion of those funds and funnel it into the reduction of monthly health care insurance premiums which will make at least a minimal insurance package a little more affordable for the lower, middle working class who make $217 too much a month to co-pay coverage for their sons and daughters.


This plan will still save the state a half billion dollars or more and will effectively improve the health of law-abiding, federal tax burdened citizens. This is only right since Texas receives federal funding for our prison systems.


It's just an idea.