Running head: PERSONAL RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND AND INFLUENCES
ON WORLDVIEW
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Personal Religious Background and Influences on Worldview
As an engineer and minister of God's word for more than 16 years, I have often struggled with
the roles of science and religion or faith in my own life. Therefore, I am looking forward to the study
and discussion of these two topics in the perception of the worldview. Entwistle’s story on his hike
through the woods, and how his perception limited his overall view. So too our shared experiences and
assumptions play a significant role on how we view our world and consequently what we believe! It
gives new meaning to the scripture “walk by faith and not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)
I have always considered myself a realist, not an optimist, not a pessimist, but a realist. For the
mountains or problems that we face are real, but we also serve a real and living and merciful God!
“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God!” Mark 10:27 (NIV)
I have experienced many times as a senior design manager, where we as a Team encountered
highly complex, technical engineering problems; where it seems no solution is possible; but as a leader
of my Team, we always work together in faith to do additional field investigation or to perform
additional research or to just to continue to push, to strive, to press on as a Team with the hope that
solution will present itself or will reveal itself! And guess what God always provided every time, as HE
is my witness! So much so that my own fellow coworkers, customers and contractors were often drawn
to the servant leadership of Christ exhibited - peace, understanding, commitment and calm during the
storm! God shows out and gets all the glory, if we just but believe and follow the science to the end. God
will reveal his handiwork and masterpiece of the world in which we live.
In my experience science and faith complement one another, if one is to more fully understand
how God works in our life and in our world. We begin to see that truly God is real and that HE is able to
solve all of our real problems no matter what may what it may be! No problem is too great for our Lord!
PERSONAL RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND AND INFLUENCES ON
WORLDVIEW
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Albert Einstein speaks of science and religion as being “….very close connection between the
two. ….science without religion is lame, and conversely that religion without science is blind.”
Entwistle (2015)
As a born and raised Roman Catholic I am familiar with the writings of Thomas Aquinas and
Saint Augustine, although in the past some of their writings admittedly has been somewhat difficult to
understand.
I do identify with Pope John Paul II’s teaching on compatibility of science and faith in Fides et
ratio 1998 papal encyclical, where he wrote “Both the light of reason and the light of faith come from
God, ….and hence there is no contradiction between them.” And also that “Faith therefore has no fear of
reason, but seeks it out and has trust in it. Just as grace builds on nature brings it to fulfillment, so faith
builds upon and perfects reason. Illumined by faith, reason is set free from the fragility and limitations
deriving from the disobedience of sin it finds the strength required to rise to the knowledge of the Triune
God.” Ooh I love that!!
Saint Augustine also “…emphasized the priority of faith over reason since faith comes from God
via revelation, and philosophy from the reasoning of fallen human beings. Yet the two were not
generally seen as irreconcilable and overall philosophy has seen as useful to theology.” Entwistle (2015)
I also follow Anselm of Canterbury’s thoughts “For I do not seek to understand in order to
believe, but I believe in order to understand. For I believe even this: that unless I believe I shall not
understand.” Entwistle (2015)
At a significant marker event in my life from my Lord in 1999, I was able to see the thousands of
Kosovo refugees due to war, and to sense His Almighty Presence, and to know that He is a real and
PERSONAL RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND AND INFLUENCES ON
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living God! Thru the years since, I have been looking to understand my God more by reading his Word
and understanding how God works within my life and service.
I left the Roman Catholic Church after 40 years; realizing that I have been fed milk and not with
the meat of God's Word, which I knew very little about. I eventually moved to a Baptist Church, then to
a non-denominational Church, and became involved in the homeless and prison ministry at the church.
My first sermon was at the local detention center and shortly thereafter Hurricane Katrina hit my
hometown of New Orleans, and actually preached my first sermon again at Church before my recently
exiled parents from New Orleans - 16 years ago to almost this very day of 29 August 2005.
I do have difficulty accepting within my spirit the Evangelical fundamentalist views (blind) and
also Darwin's evolutionary theory (lame) for a number of reasons.
As expressed in the course literature, my goal is to become more biblically responsible,
relationally wise and ministry savvy. I am eager to earn more arrows in my quiver to use in ministry.
The integration of science and religion and faith can be a formidable weapon against ignorance,
misinformation and lies! Jesus says “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No man comes to the
Father except through me!” John 14:6 (NIV)
Amen!
PERSONAL RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND AND INFLUENCES ON
WORLDVIEW
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References
Entwistle (2015). Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity 3rd Edition, An Introduction to
Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration. Eugene, Oregon:
Published by CASCADE Books.
John Paul II (1998) Fides et ratio papal encyclical, section 43, para. 1 and 2.
