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Jim McCrory

Is Your World View Shaped By Fake Science?

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Tuesday, 15 Oct 2024, 10:14


He “gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.”

Romans 4:17


I am grateful for the use of the image provided by https://unsplash.com/@loukhs



I guess that you, like me, got the primordial soup theory served up to you? Oh boy—I can’t believe they are still serving this despite all we know, or more to the point, all we don’t know.

The idea was simple: life began billions of years ago in a warm pond filled with basic chemicals, and through a combination of chance and the right conditions, these chemicals formed the first building blocks of life. We were told this was how it all started, but as I grew older, I realized that this theory, despite being taught as fact, has never been conclusively proven. It’s a hypothesis, an educated guess, and yet it continues to be fed to people as though it explains everything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg4DjvDYQXw&t=18s

But even then, deep down, I felt there was more to it. From an early age, I had this ache—a yearning to know who created the stars, not just how they came to be. I wanted to understand the why behind it all.

I remember being captivated by the night sky as a child, looking up at the stars and feeling a sense of awe. Who could have placed them there? What power could have brought such beauty into existence? The explanations I received in school didn’t seem to satisfy that deeper question. Science could tell me about stars burning millions of miles away, but it couldn’t touch the ache within me, that pull toward something—or someone—bigger.

It reminds me of a simple analogy: imagine walking along the beach and stumbling across someone doing the Romeo and Juliet thing on the beach—a heart shape etched into the sand. None of us would ever conclude that the wind or the waves just happened to carve that heart. We’d know, instinctively, that someone had drawn it. Design needs a designer. It’s such a simple truth, and yet, when we look at the far greater complexity of the universe, we often overlook it. If a heart in the sand points to a child’s hand, how much more should the intricate design of the cosmos point to a Creator?

As we learn more about life and the universe, the evidence of design becomes even more overwhelming. Consider DNA, for instance. It’s like a language—an incredibly complex code that determines everything about us, from our physical traits to how our bodies function. It’s far more advanced than any man-made software, and yet some still want to believe it happened by chance. Or take photon splitting, where scientists have discovered that when you split a photon into two, the behaviour of one photon is instantly mirrored by the other, no matter the distance between them. This phenomenon boggles the mind and speaks to the deep, interconnected complexity of creation.

The more we discover about the universe and life, the more intricate and finely tuned everything appears. Yet somehow, we’re expected to believe that all this complexity, all of this design, happened without a designer? It doesn’t sit well with me.

And here is where the problem exists for some. Society  is prepared to accept any theory other than God. Could that be that when you accept the God hypothesis, we have to do a deep down search of what all that implies? A responsibility, a change in life's pattern Romans 12:2.

But that may be too simple. Many have a genuine struggle because of human suffering, but neither do we want to throw the baby out with the bathwater and that's a subject best tackled by another forthcoming blog.

As a Christian, I believe the design we see in the world around us reflects God’s creative power. He’s the one who “calls into being things that were not,” as Paul writes in Romans 4:17. Science may offer insights into how things work, but it’s God who gives everything meaning. The stars, the galaxies, the intricate details of life—they all point to Him, the ultimate designer. And that ache I felt as a child? It was the beginning of my journey to know the One who placed the stars in the sky.

 

 


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Jim McCrory

A Personal Reflection on Faith, Religion, God and Christ

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Thursday, 3 Oct 2024, 03:07


"But I cannot silence the voice within me that speaks of a different way—

one that seeks freedom in Christ, that holds fast to the unchanging truth of His love

 and sacrifice, and that walks in the Spirit, 

without the need for human intermediaries to tell me how to approach my God."



Image by https://unsplash.com/@kellysikkema


As a Christian, I often grapple with the limitations imposed by religious structures that elevate individuals to spiritual leadership roles, which dangerously resemble divine authority. These systems frequently claim to be divinely guided and assert they possess the "truth," yet they display an alarming inconsistency over time: beliefs shift, policies change, and rules continuously evolve. For a faith that professes ultimate certainty, this reality is unsettling.

The teachings of Jesus resonate with me distinctly, cutting through the noise of human traditions. Ephesians 2:18 states, “For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.” This privilege is not bestowed by any human, nor is it a conditional grace offered by religious institutions. It reflects the unwavering truth of our direct relationship with God, something no organization can mediate or control. Through the Spirit, God assures us of our identity as His children—no intermediary besides Jesus is necessary.

I approach God in conversation as Jesus did, simply and intimately addressing Him as “Father.” The purity of this bond forms the cornerstone of my faith. Yet, I find it challenging to reconcile this closeness with denominations that assert divine guidance while frequently revising their fundamental doctrines. What does it mean to be "inspired by God" if the truths affirmed today differ from those held in the past? Such inconsistency feels less like divine oversight and more akin to the unstable nature of human error.

These religious bodies often function like a pyramid, with authority concentrated at the top. At the apex, we find individuals who demand unquestioning obedience from those below. These leaders, claiming to be the primary interpreters of God’s will, assume positions of authority that, in my perspective, undermine the essence of Christ’s teachings. This hierarchical structure enforces conformity, not just in belief but also in behaviour, often hindering personal relationships with God.

Perhaps the most distressing aspect is witnessing the practice of disfellowshipping, excommunication, or shunning—measures that sever spiritual ties for the perceived offense of independent worship. I have witnessed individuals and families torn apart simply because someone chose to worship God in a manner that diverged from institutional norms, despite sharing the same fundamental beliefs. It pains me deeply to see such acts justified under the guise of righteousness.

I can’t help but reflect on the Pharisees and religious leaders during Jesus' time, who placed burdens on people while clinging to rules and traditions that contradicted the core of God's law: love. Jesus, in His wisdom and compassion, criticized them, not for their dedication but for their distortion of what it means to genuinely follow God. I see parallels in contemporary religious practices that emphasize preserving an organization's reputation over fostering the well-being and unity of believers.

Even more troubling, some institutions, in their quest for self-preservation, have concealed darkness. Stories of abuse—especially concerning those who have harmed the vulnerable—are alarmingly prevalent. By doing so, they prioritize the organization's reputation over the sacred duty to protect and love others. This is a far cry from the gospel of Christ!

However, my heart does not harbour anger or bitterness against the flock who walk the pathway under such regimes. I recognize the profound longing for community, certainty, and spiritual direction. It is not my place to judge those who choose these routes. Instead, my appeal is one of compassion and kindness, for I know that many on these paths are deeply sincere in their faith, even if I struggle with the systems they support. I love them, for they are my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I yearn for a deeper understanding and unity.

But I cannot silence the voice within me that speaks of a different way—one that seeks freedom in Christ, that holds fast to the unchanging truth of His love and sacrifice, and that walks in the Spirit, without the need for human intermediaries to tell me how to approach my God.

In the end, I am left with the simple, yet profound truth: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No institution, no prophet, no leader can stand in His place. Through Him, and only Him, I find my access to the Father. And through that access, I find peace.






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