Spiritual Fitness

The Bible is Not a Science Book
It Isn’t a History Book Either, Then What is it?
Faith and science are two different realities that, for some reason or another, often get put on opposite sides of the scale. How do we balance scientific knowledge with the knowledge that comes from the gift of faith? Some Christian fundamentalists seem to lose their spiritual balance by reacting too much against science. Others look upon the Bible as an ancient science book. It is not. The Bible tells us why things are. It reveals God and God’s plan for us and the whole universe.
“All creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19)
The Bible does not answer many questions about how God created. It simply says that God created all things through his word! That word became flesh and pitched his tent among us. The Bible tells us that the one who is responsible for creating all things loved us so much that he became flesh and blood and died on the cross for us. That is Jesus! The Bible tells us that there is more than the visible world seen and measured by science. The Bible tells us that in Christ we will live forever and that we will experience a resurrection as Jesus did.
Science cannot answer questions of meaning, but can answer questions of observable fact to some degree. One of the things that I truly appreciate about science is that the more we learn and discover, the more we realize how much we do not know! Science can be a beautiful door to humility and a deep reverence and even awe of the magnitude and scope of the universe and living creatures. Some can get carried away with science and put too much weight on its findings – almost creating scientific myths that require a kind of faith.
Science is not opposed to faith, nor faith to science. Science helps us to more clearly see the world as a macrosacrament of God. It helps us peer more clearly at ordinary realities and see the beauty, intelligence, complexity and interconnectedness of all things. It can move us to deep awe and raise our minds beyond the created realities to that which is uncreated and eternal – Almighty God.
So, if you feel you know little about science, pick up a book and dive in. Some science books are very readable such as A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, or God and the Astronomers by Robert Jastrow. If you are more of the scientific mind, pick up the Bible. There you will meet the one who created the world which you have grown to respect and appreciate through science.

What is the relationship between science and faith in our times?
Fr. Randy Phillips: Certainly the relationship is far better than it was during the first part of the 20th century. At that time, science was looked upon as superstition and thought-control. Religions looked upon scientists as atheists – godless. Now there is more respect. Faith revolves around the search for meaning in one’s life.
Fr. Tim Dombrowski: Doctors see themselves as scientists. ... They don’t really have all the answers. I see as medical students go on and become members of the senior faculty that their appreciation grows for spirituality.
Dr. Lynne McCormack: If they (patients) don’t have a basis in faith, they turn to medicine first. If a patient has a faith-base, they turn to medicine and God.

Were Adam and Eve the first humans?
Fr. Tom Firestone: The Holy Father says (that creationism and evolution) are compatible realities. People do make
distinctions.
Fr. Tim Dombrowski: I remember from Theology 101 that Adam and Eve had two children. However, when Cain slew Abel, Abel went and slew a woman from another tribe – another tribe. ... God came along and put a soul into us.
Dr. Lynne McCormick: We have the ability to evolve – God built that into us.
Dr. William “Rusty” Chavey: Our ability to prove things should not make us write them off. For example, a civilization was found a few weeks ago on the floor of the Black Sea which was from around the time of Noah. If we begin looking at those as metaphors, where do we stop? Where do we draw the line?

Would a clone of a human being have a soul?
Dr. Lynne McCormick: Yes, clones would have souls. Clones are twins.
Michael Moreland: Sometimes we worry unnecessarily (about some matters) – we’re not talking that a soul is a physical reality. It comes from God.

News has centered around conjoined twins in England who are to be separated against their parents’ wishes. What is the answer to the issue of the twins from a theological standpoint? (Editor’s Note: The twins have since been separated and one died as a result.)
Fr. Tim Dombrowski: It’s tough to lose a child. Most reasonable people will say that the twins are two children. But, doggone it, it’s hard to lose one. The other child will grieve the loss (of her sister).
Dr. Lynne McCormick: Maybe their souls are joined as their bodies are.

What about the dignity of death? How do faith and science look upon pain and suffering?
Fr. Tim Dombrowski: (Medicine) manages the pain so the patient can get on with what they need to do as their days come to an end.
Dr. Lynne McCormack: Once a patient gets to hospice, there is acceptance that is the end of his or her life.
Fr. Tom Firestone: Suffering is a redemptive action. Sadly, our society doesn’t much value suffering, which requires a great deal of faith and prayer. ... Take for example a father, or patriarch, that is dying. We are also talking about mental suffering. So many things don’t get done until someone dies. Sometimes we need to face the reality of suffering.
Fr. Tim Dombrowski: Jesus was on the cross for three hours and it was over. When my mother died over 18 years ago, the emotional pain was from her suffering. However, it was redemptive – her death was a celebration of joy for me.
Dr. Rusty Chavey: Science has allowed us to take away pain but some say that also lengthens life. However, it gives a patient time to reconcile.
Michael Moreland: The Vatican’s document on euthanasia states that not all patients must suffer as Christ did.
Dr. Rusty Chavey: A colleague and friend – an evangelical Protestant – was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her cancer was viewed (by her religious beliefs) as a sign of her sinfulness and how shameful she was.
Dr. Lynne McCormack: To withdraw treatment is not the same as denying treatment.
Michael Moreland: There is a distinction between killing and letting one die – intention and how you let one die.
Dr. Lynne McCormick: We can’t make decisions for them (patients). I have seen patients refuse a lot of things and then want to go back. Part of the American belief is that we are going to live forever.
Fr. Tim Dombrowski: There’s always the question, ‘Who are you to play God?’ Some feel that doctors have been doing that for a long time.

What are “near death” experiences? Do we know scientifically how to explain these? Are these real experiences of an afterlife, transitional place or easily explained scientifically?
Dr. Lynne McCormick: It’s not a ‘near death’ experience. It’s a ‘near eternal’ life experience.
Fr. Tim Dombrowski: I’ve had one myself. During my last knee replacement operation, my blood pressure dropped. I was in a black and white tunnel and it was very peaceful. ... I’ve also had patients tell me – patients that I have never met – that they recognize me and could describe what I was wearing (while I was in the room at the time they were experiencing a near death situation). Some have told me about sitting on a monitor and watching what is happening to them. I believe that (near death experiences) are real but also they are profoundly comforting. I’m a real believer!

By: Fr. Bill Ashbaugh is pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Howell
Originally Published: January 2001