Last fall, Pastor Will Rose and I recorded our quickly-to-be launched podcast, Your Matter Matters. From the outset of our conversation, we knew that we couldn’t reply each query. As we talked extra with our company, we realized that we began having extra questions and fewer solutions. Will and I are geeks, nerds, and even curious adventurers. Both of us serve in parish contexts which are totally different from each other. Will serves in a college setting, whereas I serve in a small/rural city. Will in an city setting doesn’t see that many stars. I see loads of stars. What we share although are contexts which are thirsty for data and crammed with questions.
When we began this podcast, we knew we wished to mannequin conversation, wholesome and civil, on religion and science. However, dialogue not solely occurs with religion and science. It additionally occurs with religion and politics, religion and coverage, religion and historical past. This record goes on without end. Yet, in our present local weather, dialogue, even curiosity, is a uncommon commodity. Not as sizzling as gold, silver, or copper, however nonetheless a sizzling commodity.
One of the belongings you study as a younger pastor is that generally you is likely to be improper. That opens one as much as asking questions, and even, merely listening. So little of our fashionable society has time to take a seat and pay attention as a result of we’re normally listening to reply.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church, practiced the artwork of the apologetic by investigating his opponent’s argument at size till he obtained to know their arguments on their very own floor. In our fashionable tradition, echo chambers abound, which in the finish, doesn’t push us in direction of each other; as an alternative, we’re drawn away from each other. We are drawn into our personal positions, with our personal details, and with our personal individuals.
During the podcast, we mentioned why is there no conversation about scientists of religion turning into extra outspoken. That small remnant exists, but that’s not what the plenty wish to see. They would moderately see the scientist and Christian assault each other (e.g. Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham Creation vs Evolution Debate, 2014). Conflict is horny, but that does nothing to alleviate the notion that science is at battle with religion.
One of the ways in which narrative modifications is thru conversation. The Bible is crammed with wealthy pictures of creation, humanity analyzing the stars, the clever males from the East who left to seek out Jesus. The conversation begins by expressing curiosity for totally different positions. At instances, we really feel like we wish to lure the particular person with a gotcha query. Which, following the instance of Jesus, we ask one other query in response.
Once a query is requested, then the ball continues to roll. These questions could by no means finish with a definitive and closing reply. More questions will come up. The most vital factor, although, is the worth of relationship. How a lot are you keen to put money into the conversation? For me, that relies on the matter and particular person; nonetheless, give as a lot time as you’re able.
As this text concludes, I wish to provide three insights from doing the podcast. First, what Will and I modeled on the podcast is that the questions by no means finish. The questions are perennial. Second, the conversation between science and religion doesn’t have to finish in battle; it ought to start and finish with awe and surprise. In this sense science and religion have a shared impetus and can complement each other. As Saint John Paul II stated, “Faith and Reason are two wings of the same bird.” And lastly: bear in mind, your matter matters. And should you doubt it—stroll exterior and look to the heavens.;