LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PASTORAL COUNSELING PACO 506 b b b b b b b b b b b b b 1
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 b - b
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
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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 b 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)
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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)
Amen!
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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.
