The "Hawkeye - Father Mulcahy Effect" and the Galileo episode

Psalm 19:4-6

Be careful how you interpret . . .

"First, the truth of scripture must be held inviolable.  Secondly, when there are different ways of explaining a Scriptural text, no particular explanation should be held so rigidly that, if convincing arguments show it to be false, anyone dare to insist that it still is the definitive sense of the text.  Otherwise unbelievers will scorn Sacred Scripture, and the way of faith will be closed to them." - Thomas Aquinas (13th century)

"The Bible is true and science is true, and therefore each, if truly read,  prove the other." - Matthew Maury, "Father of Oceanology"

Divine commission for science & technology

Genesis 1:1

• Universe began . . . not eternal
• Creator is separate from creation / nature
• Existence of incomprehensibly glorious Creator
• Contrast: Animsim, Pantheism, Naturalism

Romans 1:20 & Psalm 19:1-4

"The glory and greatness of Almighty God are marvelously discerned in all his works and divinely read in the open book of heaven." - Galileo

Genesis 1:26-31

• Creation is "very good . . . blessed" - but not divine
• Man in image of God . . . crowning touch - Psalm 8:3-9
• Man commissioned to "subdue" the earth

Further Reading:

• How Christianity Changed the World - Schmidt
• For the Glory of God - Stark
• The Galileo Connection - Hummel
• Biblical Basis for Modern Science - Morris

☼  The Great Question…. John 18:33-38

              ╬  The Great Answer …..

          ⌂  To testify to the truth.

     ⌂  Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me. 

☼  Disciples of Pilate ….our new Culture

          The 5 Big Questions of Life

            1. Origin: Where did we come from?

            2. Identity: Who are we?

            3. Meaning: Why are we here?

            4. Morality: How should we live?

            5. Destiny: Where are we going?

☼  The Parable of the Elephant ….. What Kind of God?

          Theism                     Pantheism              Atheism

        God Made All                  God is All                 No God At All

          Judaism                         Zen Buddhism              Religious

       Christianity                          Hinduism                    Humanism

           Islam                                New Age

☼  Doubt / Problems / Evidence ….. John 20: 24-29

      ●  Doubt →       Belief A           ← →        Belief B

                                  ► Each belief is an Act of Faith.

                                      How do you know your belief is true?

      ● Objections to Christianity ….

            □  intellectual        □  emotional      □  volitional

     ●  Evidence …. John 14: 8-11

            ⌂ Truth is not relative but absolute.

⌂ Truth is discovered….not invented.

⌂ Truth is transcultural.

⌂ Truth is unchanging.

      ► The Concept of Self-defeating Statements

◊ Blindness….. John 9:24-25 / John 9:35-39

☼  The Complexity of Love & Freedom …. John 14:6

☼  The Challenge ….. I Peter 3:15-17

☼  understanding the culture ….I Chronicles 12:32

         → A question from Jesus…. Luke 12:54-56

         → A call for understanding …. Romans 13:11

         → culture – is how and why people do things.

                                It is the behaviors and beliefs

                                characteristic of a particular social,

                                ethnic, or age group.

        ►  How  culture changes….. a 5 step process

        ╬  The call to engage our culture ….. Luke 9:23

     ☼  the gospel and culture……

     ⌂  The Great Offense…. Genesis 1:1

      ⌂  The Ultimate Problem …. Genesis 2:16-17, 3:1-5

              ◊  role reversal ?

             ●    First Sin ← → 21^st Century Relativism

            □  hopeless subjectivity

      ⌂ The Tragedy of Self …. Romans 3:10-18

  ╬  paradox  →  created in His image ↔ independence

        ⌂  The Jesus Culture …. John 14:6

☼  A Call to Countercultural Crucifixion ….. Matthew 10:32-34

Blessing or curse?

            Genesis 2:15

            Genesis 3:17-19

Spiritual continuity         

            I Corinthians 10:31

            Ephesians 6:5-8

            Luke 16:10

            I Corinthians15:10

Goose & gander

            Ephesians 6:9

            I Timothy 5:18

No latitude for bad attitude

            Philippians 2:14-15