Science has little or no relevance regarding Religion. Often, people who only believe in science use it as a way to try to disprove religion or dismiss the notion of spirituality with the supernatural. The true useful definition of 'supernatural' are for unearthly beings that are eerie and of the occult, and behavior and occurrences collectively that can not be explained and are totally unpredictable.

Where as all the main known religions have a predictable outcome for all believers and non-believers alike and known entity's who's teachings are the basic rules that are the core of modern society's  foundation. Without these basic principal rules that have been set in place for century's modern culture would not progress and continue to flourish.

Science is a much needed tool for all its practical applications, but with it are many problematic and unpredictable outcomes that often cause more harm than good as evidenced around the world today.

Christianity is a belief that is not based on proof alone, but more so our 'faith' of the divine. Something more than the unpredictability of science and undependable nature of man.     
I believe this is why there are so many that have faith in a religion and especially christianity which offers assurances of stability, dependability, and devotion of a caring constant companion who's message is love and help.       

Before we get to caught up in another  Science Vs Religion debate that goes nowhere, perhaps it is worth recalling the words of Galileo , " The Bible tells me how to go to Heaven, not how the heavens go." 

Quote from: Kvall on February 23, 2010, 11:19:01 PM
That life exists in life-supporting conditions is not so surprising.

I disagree.  I find it completely amazing and awe inspiring.  I have never tried to use science to prove faith.  I agree, that would not work.  However, I also have never felt that there was a discrepancy between science and faith.  For me, they are complimentary.  The more we find out, the more complex the universe appears.  But, I also think it is folly to change faith according to whatever scientific theory is in vogue at this particular juncture in our history.  As I was trying to say earlier, science has changed immensely in the last century.

Kristi

Quote from: Kristi on February 23, 2010, 09:05:48 PM
Does the fact that we can explain something make it any less miraculous?  I think not. 

Kristi

That is such a good point.

"Father, forgive them for they __________________"
a) only think they know what they are doing.
b) want others to believe they know what they are doing.
c) can't believe the other person might know something.
d) won't believe that most of it doesn't matter
e) all of the above and a few more.

OK, so that was a bit irreverant when the real answer is none of the above if you really recognize the quotation.  Christianity is and has been about difficult and contentious people whom God cares about seriously enough to have glorified them by taking on their flesh and all that that entails. I am a Baptized Christian, I am sometimes un-orthodox in many ways that drive some people (also Christian) to think!! In thinking, they have not immediately been changed into anything un-holy or anything that Jesus would not want to have dinner with but that can laugh when they find themselves taking something too seriously that really doesn't matter.  At the table, Jesus would be the first and loudest in the laughter and would also see that no-one felt they had been laughed at!!  On the subject of science and Christianity, the national clergy leader of the U.S. Episcopal Church IS a woman who is a highly regarded scientist.  The following passage is from the Episcopal Church's Book Of Common Prayer. and preceeds the communion service --

"God of all power, Ruler of the Universe...

At your command all things came to be; the vast expanse of interstellar
space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.

From the primal elements you brought forth the human race and blessed us
with memory reason and skill.  You made us the rulers of creation but we turned
against you and betrayed YOUR trust, and we turned against one another....
in the fullness of time you sent your only Son ... to open for us the way of freedom and peace."

An image, yes, science yes, appeal to a part of us that only Spirit can fill, most definitely.

Christian teaching and life has room for "all of the above". 

As a Christian Universalist in the United Church of Christ (UCC), I want to apologize for those who misuse God and Christ's names to advance hate, injustice, cruelty and oppression. Hate and exclusion have no place in the body of Christ or any religious body. I want to show the world that there are loving, accepting, open-minded, social justice loving Christians in the world and that the Christian tradition is not limited to evangelicals or fundamentalists.

I believe in one, holy and living God whose nature is love, and out of God's inclusive love will bring all souls, Christian or not to salvation. God is able and will reconcile all souls where all means all. There is no hell outside of ourselves. The only hells we create are the ones here on Earth that are born of people's insecurities, fears, hate, and ignorance. I believe that there is the spark of God in each person, and that each child of God is loved and accepted exactly as they are. I believe that Jesus was a prophet of God and a Rabbi who sought to restore his native Judaism back to the prophetic tradition in the spirit of Elijah, Amos, and the rest. He did not create the religion that would later be called Christianity.

Jesus bore witness to God as Abba (or in the Aramaic "Daddy"), the loving Father. Jesus told of God's extravagant love, and grace through Parables like the Prodigal Son, the Hundred sheep, the woman and the missing coin. Jesus invited those into his ministry those whom the Empire and the religious powers believed were sinners and outcasts including women, slaves, tax collectors and prostitutes. One of his central teachings that sums the law and the prophets is to "Love God with all being, and to love others as we love oneself".

I believe that the Bible, while inspired of God, is a human book written by humans, in the language of humans to describe humanity's evolving understandings of God and how they wrestled with the big life questions. It is not inerrant nor is it a manifesto of science. I take Bible seriously but not literally.  I believe that God is calling each of us to be co-creators with God in transforming the human race into the human family- to bring about the Kingdom of God- where all God's children will be nourished, welcomed and fed, where all shall dwell in freedom and peace without fear or hate, and every person has a seat at the table, a world made just and whole. In addition to scripture, God also speaks through science, the arts, and other faith traditions. God is still speaking. While Christianity is my path to God, I acknowledge the other paths to God.

Sexuality and sex are gifts of God and should be celebrated rather than condemned. All forms of love whether it be straight, gay, lesbian, bi, or transgendered  reflect the beauty and diversity of God's creation and people should treat their partners with love and respect.  We in the United Church of Christ (UCC) are one of many denominations to welcome and celebrate the presence of God's gay and lesbian children in the life of the church. We are in the same tradition of openness and inclusion as the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Alliance of Baptists (AofB), and the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC)