God and Science

Pag Hingowa · #1 Jun 30, '12, 8:28 am

Came accross this site. I'd like like some feedback if this is particularly a Catholic site and could solve some lingering questions about God and faith for skeptics.

Any feedback is appreciated.

**grannymh** · #2 Jun 30, '12, 9:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pag Hingowa

Came accross this site. I'd like like some feedback if this is particularly a Catholic site and could solve some lingering questions about God and faith for skeptics.

Any feedback is appreciated.

I did not check all the website.

However, these two excerpts clearly separate this site from Catholicism.

Church

A church is a local gathering of individuals who call Jesus Christ their Lord and have been sanctified in Christ Jesus. This assembly of professed believers meet together in the name of Jesus Christ for baptism, the Lord's Supper, worship, praise, prayer, fellowship, testimony, the ministry of the Word, discipline, and the furtherance of the Gospel. The Church is the sum of all believers who call Jesus Lord and is the visible representation of His Body on the earth. The true Church is not represented by any single denomination.

Ordinances

Jesus established two ordinances for the Church - believer's baptism and holy communion.

Baptism. Jesus commanded us to baptize all new believers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a believer's public confession of faith in Jesus Christ, and represents his death with Christ and his resurrection to new life through Christ. Baptism is neither sufficient nor necessary for justification, but represents a believer's willingness to obediently follow Jesus.
Holy Communion. Jesus instituted communion (unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine) at the last supper (a celebration of Passover). The unleavened bread represents the Lord's body, whereas the fruit of the vine (the cup of blessing) represents the new covenant in His blood. He told us to "do this in remembrance of Me" until He comes again.

Corki · #3 Jun 30, '12, 10:02 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pag Hingowa

Came accross this site. I'd like like some feedback if this is particularly a Catholic site and could solve some lingering questions about God and faith for skeptics.

Any feedback is appreciated.

The site lists the Catholic Church as a "Christian group with some aberrant theology". I think that should answer your question.

J_Peterson · #4 Jun 30, '12, 11:24 am

I'm not a fan of trying to find "evidence" for God in nature and science. I believe that God made the universe to appear self subsistent. In this way it imitates God's actual self-subsistence. Looking at the universe through the eyes of faith will make it clear that it is a work of God. You won't convince anyone that doesn't have faith though because it looks like He is absent.

I do understand the desire to do this though. I'm a bit over analytical which can lead to doubt. I believe with my heart (soul) but my brain wants to figure things out which is, in most cases, impossible. So I don't think looking to science to validate my faith will help, what needs to be done is to conform the brain to the soul and just accept that it's true without knowing how or why. This can only be done through prayer and submission (still working on the latter

).

**edwest2** · #5 Jun 30, '12, 12:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_Peterson

I'm not a fan of trying to find "evidence" for God in nature and science. I believe that God made the universe to appear self subsistent. In this way it imitates God's actual self-subsistence. Looking at the universe through the eyes of faith will make it clear that it is a work of God. You won't convince anyone that doesn't have faith though because it looks like He is absent.

I do understand the desire to do this though. I'm a bit over analytical which can lead to doubt. I believe with my heart (soul) but my brain wants to figure things out which is, in most cases, impossible. So I don't think looking to science to validate my faith will help, what needs to be done is to conform the brain to the soul and just accept that it's true without knowing how or why. This can only be done through prayer and submission (still working on the latter

).

I don't look to science to validate my faith. However, with wisdom, get understanding.

See Romans 1:20.

http://bible.cc/romans/1-20.htm

God's work is clearly evident by observing all that He has made so men are without excuse.

Peace,
Ed

prodigalson2011 · #6 Jun 30, '12, 12:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corki

The site lists the Catholic Church as a "Christian group with some aberrant theology". I think that should answer your question.

To answer the OP's question first, there are several Catholics on the staff of the website, including Dr. Dennis Bonnette. Overall, it's pretty sound stuff for a Catholic as it doesn't really touch on doctrine very much.

I've been meaning to email Rich Deem (the site director) and correct his error there. I think it's an honest misunderstanding. (The bit he talks about being aberrant is the real presence being universally believed by the Church Fathers. He cites some texts of Augustine to support this. I intended to send him the writings of Augustine that actually support the real presence and explain that individual theologians, etc. didn't determine which teachings were binding in the early Church.) Thanks for reminding me about that!

**grannymh** · #7 Jun 30, '12, 4:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by prodigalson2011

To answer the OP's question first, there are several Catholics on the staff of the website, including Dr. Dennis Bonnette. Overall, it's pretty sound stuff for a Catholic as it doesn't really touch on doctrine very much.

I've been meaning to email Rich Deem (the site director) and correct his error there. I think it's an honest misunderstanding. (The bit he talks about being aberrant is the real presence being universally believed by the Church Fathers. He cites some texts of Augustine to support this. I intended to send him the writings of Augustine that actually support the real presence and explain that individual theologians, etc. didn't determine which teachings were binding in the early Church.) Thanks for reminding me about that!

Pardon me. Where is Dr. Dennis Bonnette listed as a staff member on the website?

Also, the two excerpts in post 2 oppose foundational doctrines of Catholicism. That's sound stuff?

prodigalson2011 · #8 Jun 30, '12, 6:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannymh

Pardon me. Where is Dr. Dennis Bonnette listed as a staff member on the website?

Also, the two excerpts in post 2 oppose foundational doctrines of Catholicism. That's sound stuff?

My apologies. I did some research and discovered that Dr. Bonnette is not actually a staff member, but the site has used several of his articles. I remember someone, I believe on these very forums, saying that they were Catholic and involved with the site.

I already acknowledged Mr. Deem's erroneous view on Holy Communion, but I was unaware that he also claimed baptism to be unnecessary. Again, my apologies. Anyway, perhaps I should clarify my original post. So long as one does not go into the site looking for doctrine, the scientific side of the site (which is the majority of it) is quite insightful and informative.

Drinkgasoline · #9 Jul 3, '12, 3:06 pm

Being an academic scientist myself, I see God's evidence plain and simple through my work and research.

The universe is a wonderful symphony of interconnecting cogs and wheels that function in a perfect harmony.

http://images2.fanpop.com/image/phot...71-480-360.jpg

Linusthe2nd · #10 Jul 4, '12, 8:27 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pag Hingowa

Came accross this site. I'd like like some feedback if this is particularly a Catholic site and could solve some lingering questions about God and faith for skeptics.

Any feedback is appreciated.

It may be O.K. even if it doesn't regard Catholic Teaching very high. Personally I wouldn't be too concerned about trying to convince athiests or agnostics. If they are honest seekers they will find God, that is Catholic teaching. If they don't find God, that will be their fault. Don't let them put a guilt trip on you. Most of these folks are insincere and are just baiting you, trying to get a rise out of you. Just give them the reasons for your faith as found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Spend your time becoming a Saint, forget the rest.