My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place. (Jeremiah 50:6)
In many ways, science and technology have taken the place of religion and the Church in offering people the guidance they seek. Science holds out the hope that many mysteries of the universe once deemed the realm of God are within our grasp. Technology promises to help us overcome obstacles of illness, disease, time, space, etc…, and allow us to function beyond what we ever thought possible.
Meanwhile, as science and technology have advanced, our ability to determine right from wrong has diminished. We know better what we can do, but much less when it is best or right to do it (and not do it). Should we pursue cloning? What kind of war might be deemed “just”? What about stem-cell research? What is acceptable treatment of prisoners of war? Is euthanasia ever justified?
Many Christians struggle to develop a coherent ethic that allows us to apply our faith to such contemporary issues. We live in an age of moral confusion. Decades ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. noted this well when he wrote -
“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
I think we are less able to determine right from wrong, good from evil, because we ask the question more often. We think more since the ascension of education. In olden times the Church and/or The Government told us what to do and we did it “knowing” that it was right. Now we as individuals have taken responsibility for our morality upon ourselves. We choose to find the answers instead of blindly accepting the word of others.
“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
Powerful quote, and unfortuntely so true.
I think jonoalan’s point is very insightful. Perhaps the same progression that brought protestantism and the reformation to Christianity brought us empiricism and other forms of independent thinking as well. Much better than blind obedience, though sometimes harder.
Ref: jonolan’s response:
Ref: “…less able to determine right from wrong, good from evil”
Morality, unless I missed something in my studies, or just misunderstood the statement; was & still is a personal responsibility. Sure society plays a part in guiding what’s considered the “norm”, but that doesn’t always equate to what is right according to God’s word. God’s word is the supreme authority.
Were the ancient folk of Old and New Testament Times so dense that they had to be spoon fed by “The Church” regarding moral issues? No.. what the early church members had going for them was a burning desire to know the Lord, they sought Him.
Granted many of the early church members were common folk and or slaves, did this somehow make them less intelligent than their aristocratic counterparts? I hardly doubt it to be the case at all.
Ref:”We think more since the ascension of education”
Knowledge is not the same as Wisdom: (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians1:%2018-25;&version=31;)
Ref: “In olden times the Church and/or The Government told us what to do”
Even today, scripture tells us that we are to respect authority (Romans 14?), but… question as well, especially if it is not in line with the Word. God gave us a mind for many wonderful reasons and purposes I’m sure, and in doing so i don’t believe that it was His intention to have any of us wondering this world as puppets to corrupt governments, churches or other organizations.
As for the post itself, pistolpete bought up a very interesting subject that has me on fire now for my own post. Our situation in some ways is similar to Solomon & the Israelites when they were pleading for a king to lead and guide them. Not exactly the same with science & technology, but the ideas are similar in that “we” now want to move God out of the picture because we have been dazzled by this new idol and it’s promises.
I only can be sure that when God promises us something, it will come to be, as for any other type of promise in life, I try not to hold my breath.
A final thought: “Technology promises to help us overcome obstacles of illness, disease, time, space, etc…, and allow us to function beyond what we ever thought possible.” Why do I think “Trojan Horse?”
Grace & Peace Be With You
Christopher,
Morality is personal, and has always been so, but we now have the education to better perceive the ramifications of our actions – especially the not immediately apparent ramifications. We also have multiple inputs of differing opinion of the nature of each action and the relative effect of each consequence. This makes the decision harder.
The Pistol fires back: Thanks for the feedback. I don’t think I agree, however, that we have any more genuine knowledge of the ramifications of our actions than say, Socrates, did. We just know bigger and better ways to make a mess of things. Also, morality is much more than personal. It is essentially relational.
[...] came across an interesting blog entry titled “Blinded By Science” today that really got me going, as far as wanting to respond to the post and some of the user [...]
The Pistol fires back: This is a very thoughtful and engaging response. I highly recommend you check it out.
Pistolpete,
Thoughtful and engaging? Wow! I don’t think these two words have ever been used synonymously with anything I’ve done… more proof that all things are possible in Him. : )
Thanks for the plug.
Excellent post regarding Huckabee by the way.
As always,
Grace and peace be with you
The Pistol fires back: If you haven’t checked out the Christopher’s “Got-Fruit” blog, I recommend you do it today. Not only is it thoughtful and engaging, but, he gives “Necessary Therapy” some nice plugs.
[...] recall a recent post on the subject of science & technology that came about after having read Pistol Pete’s take on the subject; thanks to him for his recent plug of "Got-Fruit?" by the way. So [...]