For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9
Spring 2001 Volume 2, Issue 2 |
The Fossil Record
By Carl Garner |
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Are Christians Capable The news in recent weeks has focused upon an interesting development concerning the selection of jurors. Under certain circumstances, claim some attorneys, the protection of the rights of a defendant may require the removal of a candidate for jury duty if he/she is a member of certain religious groups. The reason? Why, Christians are just not capable of correct reasoning, of course, for they believe some things without proper consideration of the evidence. A letter to the Austin American-Statesman once included comments that reflected the rationale behind this debate. The writer, seeking to give support to the removing of religious jurors, made some very interesting statements: "An attorney, if he has any confidence at all in his side of the case, is seeking a juror who is able to think logically and arrive at his conclusions based on solid evidence... He does not want a juror who is unable to think logically; nor does he want jurors who make important decisions based on superstitious or religious beliefs." The author of this letter equated being "religious" with being "superstitious," therefore unable to reason logically and correctly. The implications of such comments are significant and far-reaching. But are they correct? In response, it must be noted that there is much superstition in the world, and much of it is found in the practice of "religion." In even a casual study of this world's religions, it is easy to observe that many do reach conclusions that are far removed from "solid evidence." But such an observation could be made concerning attorneys as well. And biologists, and historians, and archaeologists, and physicians, and anthropologists and countless others. The fact that some may not reason logically is not an indictment against |
"religion," but against unsound thinking. The Bible certainly does not encourage acceptance of an idea upon mere superstition, but in fact seeks those who will hear an idea with an open and ready mind, then carefully search out the evidence before acting upon that idea, Acts 17:11. One who claims to be a Christian is instructed to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you," 1 Peter 3:15. If you search out the "facts" in this verse, you will see that there is a demand for "reason" (logos, the use of our mental faculties), and the need to give an "answer" (apologia: support by evidence, make a proper defense). Hardly sounds like the superstition of which the Bible is accused, does it? Curiously, some in the religious world do make this very approach to the study of the existence of God, the inspiration of the Bible and other similar matters. In the San Antonio Light, January 1, 1981, one of the editors, Joe Rust, chided Christians who do seek to reason correctly as "dangerous." He said that "the story of Creation should be taught to every child at home, in school, in synagogue and church as a matter of faith. It should not be attempted to be proven scientifically. Those who must have religion proven to them as a matter of science, it seems to us, are as blasphemous as those who deny the existence of the creation." Mister Rust thinks of faith as something removed from evidence, and any attempt to consider the facts, the evidence, is called "blasphemy." Can't win, can we? However, faith is based upon reason and evidence, Hebrews 11:1-3, and eventuates in knowledge, not superstition or conjecture, John 8:31-32, I John 5:20, 2 Peter 1:2. There is another consideration to be made here, and that is one which examines the reason behind the views of those who make such comments as we have been discussing. Carl Sagan, |
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