Science, religion, foes or friends

In my college and seminary training, I was taught to do critical thinking. In the process I became aware that many of my fellow Christian believers were willing to do critical thinking about everything except about their Christian Faith and about our special book which we call the Bible. Along my journey, I concluded that my faith and the Bible should not escape critical thinking. I came to believe that the uncritical life is shallow and not worth the living. I came to believe that the Bible was not exempt from the same critical analysis that is applied to every written document from present day back to the most ancient of written materials.

Many people are walking away from churches and religion in general. They are typically more highly educated than the general population. They live in a technology world that feasts on logic, clarity and critical thinking. Their concerns are real and need to be respected. As a religious person with spiritual concerns, I grieve the loss of this large group of people from our churches and religious institutions because science and religion have been made out to be enemies rather than friends. I believe science and religion ought to be fast friends, not enemies.

I identify myself as “a born again evangelical Christian, who practices his faith in the Baptist tradition.” I welcome the input of rigorous scientific and critical thinking that knows no boundaries. In my understanding science and religion are rightfully best of friends. Science, logic, and critical thinking keeps religion from absurdities, and religion gives science a heart, a soul, values and moral sensitivity that science and logic can never give to themselves. For humanity’s sake science and religion need one another.

Since I am a devout Christian, who tries to live out his faith, I can only write from that perspective. I have no desire to defend my Christian faith. However, I am encouraged many times by Bible writings to give reasons for what I believe and do. I am always glad to give a reason for my faith. It is simple. I believe that many things in life are true for non-rational reasons. Those reasons come out of life experience, not from a mathematical equation, a laboratory test tube, or the latest and fastest computer. My experience of “the holy” in the prophet Jesus from Nazareth is a part of that non-rational experience of life.

Coming out of life experiences, one would expect differing experiences of the holy. Experience based on the non-rational (the holy) needs to be critiqued. First these experiences should be critiqued by others who have had the same or similar experiences with the non-rational. I grew up in a devoutly religious family. We spent a lot of time at the Baptist church building. A part of our shared life was the “testimony” meeting. Sharing was the way I know of my alcoholic grandfather’s transformation in a tent revival meeting. After his experience of the non-rational, my grandfather never again drank an alcoholic beverage and became a life-long churchman. He and my grandmother raised five children and all became Christians and church related. Their children became doctors, lawyers, university professors, nurses, and ministers.

My family experience of the holy is duplicated over and over again in a variety of settings. The reality of the non-rational is rightfully studied and critiqued by psychology, sociology and anthropology. Non-rational life and its life styles can be enhanced and encouraged when teamed with thoughtful examination by the world’s toughest critics. That can best happen when they come together as friends, not foes.

Because of critical thinking, I have been forced to change my understanding of the Bible. I can no longer view the Bible as a “holy” book. Rather, through the eyes of literary criticism, I believe the Bible is a collection of writings that center on people and their encounters with the holy. These writings can be studied and critiqued like any other collection of writings. I and many millions of others read these ancient materials, learn from them and sometimes argue with them. The Bible is a collection of differing opinions, not a holy book.

To illustrate the point, I take you to the first chapter of Bible collection. Most readers identify it as the story of the creation of the world and the whole universe. Literary critics read the chapter and do not see history but mythology. A myth is any story in which God (or the gods) is the primary actor. Such stories defy historical interpretation. What is chapter one of the Genesis story? What is it about if not about the beginning of time, material and life?

The Genesis story, according to the best literary critics, is a part of the Israelite argument with Babylonians about the phenomenon of chaos and what to do about it. “Without form and void” is simply another way of saying “chaos.” Babylonian mythology advocated an ongoing battle/war with chaos. The Israelite mythology advocates their God overcoming chaos with the doing of good. It is a marvelous insight to life. With the help of literary criticism, the Genesis passage is delivered from the absurdities of making myth into history. At the same time the passage delivers one of the great messages of the Christian faith.

Religion and Bible critics need one another as friends. Science and critical studies need the message of the power of “the good.” Religion needs the discipline of critical thinking.

The End

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer, Alaska. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net He is pastor emeritus of Church of the Covenant in Palmer.