Questions Categorized "Faith"
The Faith Questions address topics that are more theological than technical.
What is the proper relationship between science and religion?
Science and religion are sometimes thought to offer entirely separate bodies of knowledge. However, science is not the only source of factual statements, and religion does reach beyond the realm of values and morals.
How was the Genesis creation story interpreted before Darwin?
Given the stark difference between evolution and six-day creation, many people assume that Darwin’s theory shook the foundations of the Christian faith. In truth, the literalist six-day interpretation of Genesis 1-2 was not the only perspective held by Christians prior to The Origin of Species.
What were the Christian responses to Darwin?
Many believe that before Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859, Christians as a whole maintained an entirely literalist interpretation of Genesis. While the majority of Christians accepted the idea of a young Earth around the turn of the 19th century, many examples reveal this was not a strict, unanimous consensus.
What factors should be considered in determining how to approach a passage of scripture?
Applying a method of interpretation to scripture passages can be a daunting task. C.S. Lewis advises us to, “Look. Listen. Receive.” One must carefully study and seek to interpret the author’s intended meaning without projecting meaning onto the text.
If God created the universe, what created God?
There are many popular arguments for the existence of God. However, it is not surprising that the following response is often heard: “If God created the world, what created God?” This is a reply that requires serious consideration.
On what grounds can one claim that the Christian God is the creator?
The creation story of BioLogos is compatible with many faith traditions, and there is no way to give a scientific proof for one monotheistic faith over another. Therefore, this response will simply show the compatibility of Christianity with BioLogos.
How does the evil and suffering in the world align with the idea of a loving God?
The most ancient and persistent objection to God’s existence is the problem of evil. How can a loving, powerful God allow so much evil and suffering in the world? The problem of evil has no simple answer, but many philosophers, theologians and others have developed helpful insights.
Is there room in BioLogos to believe in miracles?
This response provides a simple answer to the question of miracles – namely, that BioLogos does not in any way remove the logical possibility of miracles. However, for the universe to behave in an apparently ordered fashion, such events must be rare.
What is a God-of-the-Gaps argument? Are fine-tuning and morality just new examples of this?
God-of-the-gaps arguments use gaps in scientific explanation as indicators – or even proof – of God’s action, and therefore of God’s existence. But the danger of using a God-of-the-gaps argument for the action – or even existence – of God is that it lacks the foresight of future scientific discoveries.
What role could God have in evolution?
Given that evolution accounts for the diversity of present life (see here), it might seem as if God plays no role in the process. But our modern understanding of physical laws, combined with a proper understanding of God’s relationship to time, can be synthesized into a robust theistic worldview.
