Not politics at all, but I had to write this lecture on integrating scientific knowledge with faith...and I really like how it turned out...
.
.
.
For all of us to be here, a nearly infinite number of atoms had to come together to form intricate and cooperative systems in order to create the enigma of Existence. Hopefully for us, these curiously assembled particles will continue on their mission to sustain our life for many years to come. Why our existence and all of its complexity came to be is undoubtedly the greatest mystery that our society has been perplexed over. We as humans don’t like to be perplexed. We like to think we know everything – whether we actually do or not. Don’t deny it, you know it’s true. And in an attempt for us to comprehend Life’s perplexities, we create theories, form religious beliefs, and scrounge for scientific evidence as to how and why we are here at this moment. It is no surprise that people fervently disagree when it comes to questions of the nature of existence – How did the universe begin? Who, if anyone, created the universe? Why are we here? Is there more to existence than we can perceive at this point?
.
No one knows. People may think they know, but these questions are not answerable by anything except for abstract theories that are not grounded in proof, but rather in – as some might say – blind faith. Science admits that there are gaps in our understanding of the universe and its history. Religion either tries to discredit science because of its incongruence with ancient doctrine, or proactively seeks to fill in the factual gaps left in scientific understanding. The fact of the matter is that religion is an entirely subjective school of thought. Beliefs are in no way provable. No one can prove that the Judeo-Christian God exists. No one can prove that Jesus was the son of God. No one can prove that Shiva or Vishnu exist. No one can prove that Zeus, Thor, or forest spirits exist either. We can, however, prove that natural processes such as evolution have contributed at least to the development of the complexity of Life over more than 3 billion years.
.
The existence of evolution is an inescapable fact. More and more scientific evidence is being discovered that further validates what many people still believe to be “only a theory”. In the United States, around 40% of the population does not believe in evolution, but instead believes that the earth was created within the past 10,000 years. “That’s an educational disgrace. A majority of people simply could not believe that if they were exposed to the evidence” (RichardDawkins.net). So what’s the evidence? Radioactive dating of fossils reveals older fossils found in older, deeper layers of rock and sediment. For instance, no mammalian fossil will ever be found in fossil beds older than 300 million years (Madhav Gadgil – The Times of India). Comparisons of fossils over time also show obvious structural similarities in the skeletal structure of related creatures. Considered even more convincing than the fossil record, genetic molecular comparisons between life forms thought to share common ancestry reveal strikingly similar structure of genes. Furthermore, geographic distributions of various fossils correspond to the locations of modern animals with similar structures – providing very reasonable belief for evolutionary ancestry (Dawkins).
.
The source of all of this revolutionary science? The famous or infamous (depending which side of the culture war you are on) Charles Darwin. In his groundbreaking book The Origin of Species, Darwin coins his theory of natural selection. Darwin's evolutionary theory has four main parts:
.
- First, organisms have changed over time, and those living today are different from those that are now extinct. Furthermore, a great many organisms that once lived are indeed now extinct. He asserts that the world is not constant, but continuously changing. The fossil record provided ample evidence for this view.
.
- Second, every organism ever in existence descended from common ancestors by a process of evolutionary specialization and branching. Over time, populations of a common ancestor species split into various new species. If we look far enough back in time, any given two species have a common ancestor. This explains the similarities of organisms that were classified together - they are similar because of shared traits inherited from a common ancestor. This again explains why similar species tend to exist in the same geographic region.
.
- Third, change is incremental and slow, taking place over a very long period of time. This is supported by the fossil record, and is consistent with the fact that no one has observed the spontaneous appearance new species. This gradual, almost constant theory of change is now contested by the fossil record showing episodes of rapid change and long periods without evidence of evolution. This phenomenon that Darwin did not discuss is called Punctuated Equilibrium.
.
- Fourth, and most importantly, the driving force of evolution is Natural Selection – a process that occurs over several generations and results in the preservation of genetic traits which aid an organism in survival.
.
We need look no further than during human history to be able to observe a microcosm of natural selection. Mankind has become quite adept at speeding along the process of natural selection. Selective breeding could be described as “natural selection on steroids”. Dog breeding, farming, and livestock breeding all exemplify the capacity for major genetic changes over relatively short time periods (hundreds or thousands of years). Consider the fact that a massive Great Dane, a tiny Chihuahua, and the peculiarly distorted English bulldog all share the common ancestor of the domesticated wolf. If these extreme changes in biological form and function have taken place just during the time that humans have been selectively breeding dogs, think about the possible changes in organisms that can take place over millions or billions of years.
.
To many people, myself included, scientific discoveries that validate these astonishing theories are nothing less than awe inspiring. I find that all of the reasons as to why the world is what it is strengthen my faith in God rather than detract from it. It is striking that religion as a whole has not stopped to consider scientific discoveries and say, “Wow, God’s Universe is even better than what we thought! There’s much more than what (insert prophet here) told us about!” Instead they say, “NO! You’re wrong. My god is small and limited. I only believe what this book that was written thousands of years ago says.” A religion that touted the magnificence of the Universe as illuminated by modern science might be able to draw forth an awe that is far beyond that of the conventional faiths. We should celebrate the astonishing miracle of evolution – all of its complexity, mystery, and beauty. “Evolution is within us, around us, between us, and its workings are embedded in the rocks of eons past. Given that, in most cases, we don’t live long enough to watch evolution happening before our eyes.” (RichardDawkins.net)
.
The Nobel Prize-winning physicist (and may I point out – atheist) Steven Weinberg in Dreams of a Final Theory:
.
"Some people have views of God that are so broad and flexible that it is inevitable that they will find God wherever they look for him. One hears it said that 'God is the ultimate' or 'God is our better nature' or 'God is the universe.' Of course, like any other word, the word 'God' can be given any meaning we like. If you want to say that 'God is energy,' then you can find God in a lump of coal."
.
And why shouldn’t God be found all around us – even in a lump of pitch black coal? There is no evidence proving that God does not exist. The sheer chance that gravity, light, matter, and energy come together in such an exact way as to create and sustain Life is almost enough to prove that there IS a divine overseer to the workings of the Universe. Perhaps the Bible is not accurate when examined literally. Perhaps the Tanakh and Jewish teachings are inaccurate as well. Perhaps Hindu or Buddhist traditions don’t have it right either. But it is evident that all mainstream religions share a common message of peace and love. The Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, "I sometimes wonder how people could ever think that God is a Christian. The spirit of God is wider than any one particular faith." This all-encompassing version of God is much more comforting and easy to accept than the vengeful, demanding god of certain religions. The purpose of religion is to provide a peace of mind for people – not to divide, shun, and condemn them. My personal faith of Judaism stresses the importance of relationships with fellow humans – justice, peace, and respect for all people regardless of their background and beliefs. I remind myself of that lesson with every human interaction that I have.
.
When it comes right down to it, no one knows where Life came from, how it started, or who started it. As of right now, science can only take us so far. One of Einstein's most frequently quoted remarks is “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” Beyond the facts of science, there is still ample room for personal faith in God as the creator of the universe and somewhat of a “holy puppet master” – pulling the strings of evolution. Can we prove it? No. Do I believe God exists? Yes. However, to dismiss evolution – or any scientific fact for that matter – is naïve and quite narrow-minded. We should not be afraid of changing our views on faith. We should not live in fear of being sent to “hell” one day. We should not be afraid of differing opinions. We should not be afraid of scientific discovery. And we most certainly should not be afraid of truly acknowledging the complexities of the remarkable Universe that we live in. The world is a beautiful place – driven by natural laws, mind boggling chemistry, and the occasional unexplainable miracle. Ironically, I think the person who best expressed this sentiment is the man himself, Charles Darwin. The conclusion of The Origin of Species reads:
.
"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved."
Works Cited
Works Cited
Darwin, Charles. The Origin of Species. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1859.
Dawkins, Richard. The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution. London: Bantam Press, 2009.
RichardDawkins.net. Richard Dawkins Foundation. Web. 25 October 2009.
Weinberg, Steven. Dreams of a Final Theory. New York City: Vintage Books, 1994.
No comments:
Post a Comment