LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PASTORAL COUNSELING PACO 506 d d d d d d
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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 d - d 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.
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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!
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)
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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 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)
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Amen!
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.
