God created the world according to His design on His time table. If you accept His absolute power and absolute knowledge, then you may be able to at least consider the concept.



God does know his children. That does not mean, given free will, that our choices are pre-destined or controlled. God did not chart which women would choose abortion; however, He does work with our choices. We lose sight of the fact that our lives are but a glimmer in time and our pain, while seeming eternal… Read More

I know it has been discussed in other places here, but It was going to come up eventually....



I know what the Bible says and have learned well the lessons growing up in a Christian faith that backs only the creation theory. I have also sat in science classes that make an equally strong argument for the fossil record proving the first life in the era that includes humans. It was difficult to reconcile given the doctrine that had taken firm hold in my mind.



However, I did… Read More

The debates about when human life actually begins often leave me speechless. This debate caused such passion on both sides of the debate, even in my youth I understood it was important. That it was used to determine deadlines for abortion is sad.

Human life begins at the moment of conception. At that time, biological processes begin and whether the sould has entered the body or is just waiting patiently for further growth, it has found its home.

People are often blessed by not knowing what the future holds. If there were a child who would be chronically ill and have a difficult life, should that pregnancy be ended? If the choice is not to abort, the parent needs to carry the burden of months finding a diagnosis and wondering if the child they love will die. The child also has to fight that battle. After a diagnosis is found, you are told there is no cure. Did the parent make a mistake keeping the child? The child is in pain her entire… Read More

Where did the first particle for the first universe originate? Answer that and you have the answer to the heart of many questions.

I have been playing devil's advocate thinking about this subject and a thought came to mind. Is it possible that the universe did come together in what I consider a random fashion (the Big Bang) and God came to complete the creation and assist its would-be inhabitants. Could have simply have taken over where physics left off?

The world had to have had a beginning. The Big Bang theory does provide a scientific explanation; however, it does not offer an explanation for the materials that created the Big Bang. They had to have come from somewhere. Is it not possible that God provided the materials and the plan for the Big Bang? It seems unreasonable that a universe formed from unexplained bits and pieces. Does science disprove or support the existence of a Creator? Does evolution negate God's hand in creating the world?

Intellect drives many of our everyday functions. We have learned how to do our jobs, which were not learned by instinct. We have learned how to drive our cars, which for many is certainly not instinct.



However, it is by instinct that we take care of an infant. They came with no book despite untold numbers of parents hoping for one. We may intellectually understand the basics, but there is so much more. It is instinct that tells us to turn the opposite direction we normally would… Read More

The roles women have held in various churches throughout time have ebbed and flowed, and I wonder if this is societal.



My belief prior to this section was that women should not hold priesthood roles in the church and that they have not. I was led to do more reasearch and found that women have held important positions throughout time. Mary Magdalene's appointment as an apostle truly surprised me.



I am not sure that I can banish long-held beliefs, but at this time, I have… Read More

A comment made led me to research women in the church. I was surprised to find that many women held leadership positions and were apostles. Most prominent in the PBS article was Mary Magdalene. Biblical references as well as historical documents being uncovered name her not only as an apostle, but as the apostle Jesus tasked with continuing to teach the male apostles after his death.



The article also states that women led the early churches which were in homes in the early church. It… Read More

Christianity is blossoming with women clergy. A female pastor can perform marriages and bury our dead with all of the dignity of her male counterpart. That does not mean she has the authority of God. When Jesus established the church which is the foundation of Christian religions, he chose men to be his apostles. Further, when he was facing his death, he instructed the men to minister to the people.



Jesus was influenced by several women. After rising from his grave, he appeared first… Read More

Rosemary Radford Ruether notes that fear may be behind the discomfort some people feel when God is referred to as anything but a male. She states that this is because the male dominant role may be undermined with the use of any female imagery or names.



I believe that the patriarchal view held by many does not reflect dominance. Many allow for a patriarchal system simply because it is a societal norm. Women still wield power in many societies that follow this path. However, there have… Read More

Locke held that religion had no place in government, which I agree with. He believed that men had not given government that power and we are governed by the people for the people. On the same note, he argues that God has not given our religious care over to the government.



As he discusses in the Two Treatises, it is not possible for humans to accept what the government tells us. Most of us cannot accept a small percentage of what any government espouses. How, then, can we accept… Read More

What government has the religious basis to righteously lead the people? Has any government found a way to tolerate all religions and lead the people with that in mind? Is the US a leader in this area?



I still believe that given the diverse religions in our country, religion and government must be separate. One cannot coexist with the other because we are not tolerant of the beliefs of others. Locke's philosophy on separation of church and state prevents injustices in the name of… Read More

The separation of church and state was a belief held and acted upon by John Locke. His work argued for such a separation and it was a concept he believed in. He was affected by the religious intolerance he witnessed in France, England, and his own Dutch republic.

Locke's opinion on religious toleration is a preview to the philosophy of many people from all corners today. We are overwhelmed with government direction and the lack of tolerance they indirectly foster.

A philosopher has the sight to understand that government cannot rule individuals' religion. Yet our political leaders have not come to the same conclusion. Worldwide there are millions of people who must adhere, at least outwardly, to the religious dictates of their political leaders. The U.S. is not an exception. Are the right and left not leaning toward one religion or another? By virtue of the politics the individuals in government endorse, they are sending a message to the country about… Read More