God and Science

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
~ Albert Einstein, "Science, Philosophy and Religion: a Symposium", 1941

The debate currently raging over Darwin's Theory of Evolution vs. the concept of Intelligent Design seems, to me, to be besides the point. While interesting, the passion being poured into arguing one side against the other seems as though it would be better spent improving life in the here-and-now.

I doubt we humans will ever know with true certainty how life began. Such knowledge may be beyond our ken. That is not to say the quest for the origin of life is unworthy; learning about our world and ourselves is always of benefit. In order to learn, a mind must open its doors and windows and let the facts circulate. Sometimes, facts are threatening to a comfortable belief system. In such cases, emotion starts slamming mental apertures shut.

I have no hardened position on the origin of life, and I see no discrepancy between God and Science. When people of faith talk about our Creator, are we not referring to the Creator of Science? I view God and Science as the yin and yang of existence. For a theistic person, scientific facts should be seen as evidence of God's wisdom rather than a menace to His power.

The way I see it, God certainly isn't afraid of science. He created it. Why should his creations be apprehensive? Or, to quote Pope John Paul II, who was very fond of quoting this frequent message of Our Lord: "Be not afraid." (Matt 14:27, 17:7, 28:10; Mark 5:36, 6:50; Luke 12:4; John 6:20)

Full of Baloney

Do As I Say (Not As I Do) : Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy, by Peter Schweizer, looks to be a very entertaining read. It reveals Michael Moore, Ted Kennedy, and the Clintons, among many other famous liberals, to be real phonies (pardon the oxymoron).

As I told my kids when they were growing up, watch what people do instead of listening to what they say. Anyone can talk a good game, but actions scream.

Legislative Tantrum

Oh, please.

The SCOTUS nomination of Judge Alito has knocked the liberal agenda off the table. Scooter Libby is already stale news, and his indictment was just last Friday. The Democrats can't control the news as they used to, largely due to conservative blogs and talk radio, so they're taking their toys and going home. Or at least, shutting the Senate into closed session.

Here's my message to Harry Reid and Co. It's the same one I would give my two-year olds when they threw tantrums: Go ahead, knock yourselves out. You can yell, scream, lock yourselves in your room and throw things. You still won't get what you wanted. And you'll look very silly when it's time to open the door.

Now This Is More Like It

The Democrats are in a snit, and the Republicans are beaming. We're no longer operating through the upside-down looking glass of unlikely Supreme Court Justice nominees. This one's a keeper. We're in for a lively time before Samuel A. Alito Jr. is confirmed to the high court.

To quote a famous campaign slogan, "bring it on." It's high time Republicans stopped tippy-toeing around Congress, worrying about the next election and the other side's feelings. We've already won the election, and, in case no one has noticed, Republican feelings never figure much into Democratic logistics. So let's suit up and get these confirmation hearings over with.

It'll be a verbal slugfest, no doubt. But I think the Jersey boy will do just fine.

Kingdom of Hollywood

I watched the DVD of "Kingdom of Heaven" last night. Right up front, I'll admit that I wished I'd seen it on the big screen. Directed in the grand, sweeping, visually electrifying style we have come to expect from Ridley Scott, it's a quality production with a meaty, historically based story and a stellar cast.

All that being said, the movie was an overly simplistic representation of that era. For starters, there was a lot more than this one episode involved in the Crusades.

The Crusades were a varied series of military campaigns that lasted for hundreds of years. One of the major reasons for these wars was for Christianity to secure control of the Holy Land. But the many wars we have come to call the Crusades had numerous other geopolitical causes, among them defense of European peoples against Muslim invasions. None of this is mentioned or even implied, and perhaps it would be unfair to expect that. Hollywood scripts do not lend themselves well to historical layers and complexity.

Orlando Bloom plays Balian, illegitimate son of Godfrey, played by Liam Neeson. I'm not quite sure how Godfrey knows to direct his cavalry through Balian's village en route to Jerusalem, thus meeting his son for the first time. Godfrey invites Balian to join the Army, so to speak. Balian, lost in the nether regions of personal grief, decides to find meaning in life by following Dad. And there you have it--instant plot.

After giving Balian some rapid sword training, Godfrey is mortally wounded. In true Hollywood fashion, Godfrey gives his most eloquent, sage, and dramatic speech to Balian while stepping through death's door. Considering the fact that he only knew his father for a few days, the speech made quite a lasting impression on Balian, because he spends the rest of the movie parroting Dad's words back to various and sundry supporting characters.

Balian is a lost soul. He finds no solace in religion, but forges his own path to leadership in a very pioneering, modern-day humanist fashion. He is a true hero, inspiring the army of Jerusalem to defend its walls. But it is highly unlikely that someone of his era in history would be applying post-Enlightenment thinking to his actions.

There are no good Christians in this movie, period. Priest, bishop, or leader, they are portrayed as evil, corrupt, cowardly, and stupid. Undoubtedly, such Christians participated in the Crusades, but I'm sure there were a few good eggs among the garbage. Muslims, on the other hand, are played as wise, thoughtful, and compassionate in their responses. Again, no doubt true in many cases. But the stacks of decapitated heads silently suggest a more brutal Muslim response on at least a few occasions.

Which leads me to the director's favorite special effect, copious sprays of gushing blood. They are ubiquitous in this film, so you'd better brace yourself for plenty of spatter during the battle scenes. It's not for a queasy stomach.

"Kingdom of Heaven" is a mediocre history lesson, but it is a very good film. If you're curious about the history of the Crusades, it's an interesting starting point--provided you plan to keep reading on the subject.

A Good Call

While recent umpire calls may have been questionable, Harriet Miers' good judgment in withdrawing her nomination is beyond reproach. I think she did the right thing, and not a moment too soon.

To quote TV judge Judy Sheindlin, it's time to "put a period" after this SCOTUS episode and move on. But do you know who I really feel sorry for?

It's not Harriet Miers or President Bush.

It's poor Sandra Day O'Connor, who just wants a few years of peace and quiet to relax and enjoy her family! Retirement doesn't seem to be in her stars just yet. Hang in there, Justice O'Connor. Hopefully, the next nominee will get you where you want to be.

Sweeping Victory

Congratulations to the Chicago White Sox, World Champions of baseball for 2005. The Sox won fair and square with masterful playing.

Chicago, enjoy your celebration. I'm sure this victory tastes especially sweet after the 88-year wait.

Second Guessing

It's World Series season, one of my favorite times of the year. This year, the post season games don't seem to be as much fun to watch as they used to be. Several of the umpire's calls have been tough to take.

Umpires are human, they make mistakes like everyone else. But when umpires screw up, millions of people agonize over their errors. It's way more public than just ticking off the boss at the office. No way I'd want the ump's job.

I was pulling for the Angels to win (naturally!), so the officiating left me cold. Now, I'm routing for the Astros. There are several reasons why. They've never been to the World Series before. Roger Clemens just lost his mother. I've always liked Andy Pettitte (even though I despise the Yankees). And the city of Houston has been a kind and generous neighbor to evacuees from this year's Gulfcoast hurricanes. I'd like to see Houston win.

The Astros are down 2-0 in the Series. Maybe that's why I'm blogging instead of watching the game. But I just checked the score, and it's 2-zip Astros, bottom of the third, 2 out, first and third. Time to leave the past behind and give the umpires another chance...

Base hit, 3-0 Houston. Bye for now!

Update: Final, White Sox 7-5 in the 14th. Can't blame this one on the umpires!

Books of Faith

Hugh Hewitt's OneTrueGodBlog recently requested a recommended reading list for young Christian college students, for the purpose of deepening their faith. Continuing on the reading theme from my last post, here are my five favorite faith-based books:

The Seven Storey Mountain, by Thomas Merton. I first read this book at age twelve (I was always a precocious reader). It was summer vacation, I was bored and out of reading material, and my parents had a first edition hard cover on the den bookshelf. Merton's story was immediately fascinating to me, and I swallowed it whole. How could one so misguided in his early life end up such a spiritual success? In addition to reading Merton's other works, I have referred back to this book many times over the years. It shows that any soul can rise to greatness through faith. For me, it was a life-changing read.

Crossing The Threshold of Hope, by Pope John Paul II. You don't have to be Catholic to enjoy and learn from this book. God is explained as very close to and very involved in our modern world. Written in an open, welcoming, question-and-answer style, the expansive and ecumenical themes of this book are easily embraced by any person of faith. The profound wisdom and experience of this elder giant of the Church is simply communicated in an engaging way that young people will appreciate.

Blue Like Jazz: Non-Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality, by Donald Miller. Recommended to me by a fellow blogger, Alan Riley of In the meantime, this book is breathtaking in its simplicity. It's written in a heartfelt, conversational style that is both touching and humorous. If you have ever felt far away from God, out of step with your faith, or too worldly to be religious, this is a book that will show you how your misgivings and second thoughts are all part of your spiritual journey.

Great Lion of God, by Taylor Caldwell. An excellent historical novel about St. Paul, his life and times. This was another vacation read, this time during my college years. Taylor Caldwell was one of the most prolific and popular fiction authors of the 20th century, and my aunt read all her books. She loaned me "Great Lion" for the train commute to my summer job. It was the first time I had ever read a fictionalized account of a Biblical person, and it was impossible for me to put down. It brought the New Testament to life in a way I hadn't imagined before. Saints were drawn as real-life, flesh-and-blood people, complete with serious flaws and problems. It made me hungry for more, so shortly after I finished it, I read the fifth book on my list:

Dear and Glorious Physician, by Taylor Caldwell. Another fine historical novel by the same author, this time recounting the life and times of St. Luke, the evangelist. It was the first time I had ever seen Mary, Mother of Our Lord, appear as a character in the pages of a novel. Again, great saints of mythical proportions were portrayed vividly as real people. I seek out this type of novel to this day. It helps me to remember that each of us in our turn must walk the road set before us by God, striving to do the best we can in our human circumstances.

It's always helpful to know that we're not alone in our inner spiritual struggles. Perhaps at no time is this knowledge so important as in late adolescense and early adulthood, when youngsters stand poised at the crossroads of so many momentous decisions. It is my hope that all college students may find something of worth in the above list. As I have learned, reading always makes a journey more enjoyable.

Reading and Righting

Of all the sad stories in current events, perhaps none is more discouraging to me than the news that America's children are poor readers, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

To quote from the report:

"To me, this goes beyond disappointing," said former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance For Excellent Education, an advocacy group that promotes high school reforms. "It shows that we are failing to gain ground on the very conditions we need to reverse to improve our graduation rates and produce more students who are ready for college and the workforce."

No matter what educational or career path a young person chooses, he or she will not succeed without good reading skills. That's not being dramatic; it's just common sense. If you can't read, you can't study. If you can't study, you won't learn. And if you don't learn, your choices in life are limited at best.

Aside from the practical necessity of reading, the joy of it is also missing from these young lives. The limitless possibilities of thought and the delightful journeys of imagination that reading offers are closed to those who don't read. If I had a dollar for every hour I've spent immersed in a good book, I'd be retired by now. To know that some young people do not have the option of reading, either for fun or to further themselves along life's highway, is a depressing thought indeed.

The schools can't do it alone. Parents are vital to a child's learning to read. Mom or Dad setting aside ten minutes for reading the kids a bedtime story is more important to a child's reading development than a full hour spent with the teacher in reading class. When new parents ask me the secret to raising their babies to be successul young people, I tell them to read bedtime stories every night. I can say truthfully that bedtime stories worked for me--both as a child and as a parent.

The proof is in the pudding. I read that somewhere.