JGC does a great job of explaining the nature of scientific study. Science is an attempt to explain observable phenomena; the explanations beget predictions; if possible such predictions are tested by experimentation and the observations made from those experiments are added into the growing body of observations that allow the explanations to be modified and evolve into something that is essentially real. I observe that many people mistake my acceptance of the validity of the theory of evolution as a "belief" contradicting a belief in the God of the Bible. Science is dispassionate (scientists; however, are usually very passionate about the things they study). Accepting theories as valid is an action of logic and rationality...not of faith. Faith, or belief (a poor definition of faith, but one that works in this context), is not logical. We've known this since Kierkegaard, at least (I'm thinking that Socrates went there too)...the notion of faith necessitating a leap from reason has been popular since Kierkegaard. Many Christians seem challenged by this notion and try to re-write science and history to accommodate their "faith".

Such "faith" doesn't seem like Faith at all to me, and as a believer attempting to be as rational as possible, at least up until I invariably make that leap, I am bothered by their lack of introspection and, frankly, I am bothered by their lack of doubt. It has always seemed to me when studying the Bible or any sane theological text, that the purpose of setting up the whole "existence" thing to begin with is so somewhere out there beings (like unto God in that they can postulate his existence as an explanation for theirs, and therefore imagine things to be that are not in their observation, and so be "creators") could choose to seek him/her/it out (and therefore find). Since God, through the genomic organizing device of millions of years of evolution, gave us (allowed us to attain) rationality (however infrequently we choose to employ it) then if we could somehow use "science" to prove the literal validity of the (two) creation stories in Genesis, then seeking him out and choosing to believe in him would no longer be an act of faith, but merely an act of sanity.

The whole point of the whole faith thing is that as egotistic human beings...we have to let go of our control and manipulation of the world around us, humble ourselves and seek him. We must let go of logic and leap...this is Biblical...its in Paul's writings in first Corinthians (the foolish and the weak)...the Gospels (you must become like little children)..."Humble yourselves therefore to God." C.S. Lewis talked about the ritual of the church being just as important as the theology because it forced the intellectual to humble himself. The value of the making the leap is subjectively defined...I would say that it gives my life purpose (not political purpose--I'm going to serve humankind and earn my keep in this world through a life in medicine)...faith helps me make decisions...to go back to South Louisiana immediately after the hurricane to help and to mourn instead of sitting in comfort, and faith gives me comfort in the notion that to the creator (author, bomb builder of the universe) I am either more than a collection of wonderful molecular machinery or that as a collection of molecules...I have a point (and so do my future patients).

I maintain that Christians who would co-opt and corrupt the study and teaching of science to make the so-called tenants of their religion* easier to believe, Christians who suppress the study of the Bible in its historical context, and perpetuate a cycle of ignorance (that really does have the potential to destroy this country if it becomes widespread enough) are perhaps too afraid to take this "leap of faith" in the first place, and therefore I question the strength of it to begin with (mostly just that of the leaders,the shepherds...the flocks are just scared and manipulated...as they always have been). Real faith seems to necessitate doubt because, at least in Christianity, it necessitates humility.** Some kind of Socratic wisdom is implicit in the understanding that God is God and you are not.

I really started this post attempting to make an impassioned argument for Americans to stand up and do something about its great national failure to teach science and raise children who want to learn it, but it seems to have morphed into a rant on theologically and scientifically illiterate Christians. Now its an impassioned argument for thought, rationality, and paradoxically, a thoughtful abandonment of rationality--I guess I'm just sick of explaining why science isn't sinful to some scary home-schooled Christians (in my circles, a minority) and why faith is worthwhile (and yes, I know its irrational) to those of my friends that are atheist or agnostic.

*(why "evangelicals" consider Biblical literalism a tenant of the Christian faith is beyond my understanding except that maybe it's because it makes them look crazy and then people treat them that way and they can claim they are being persecuted)

**(it also seems to necessitate some kind of action...or else you never took the leap...you just really thought about it intently)