Franciscan Friar, Roger Bacon formulated what is now universally used to obtain empirical evidence: the Scientific Method. Without this method, we would not have discovered the many scientific discoveries that are taught today. From Evolution, to the Big Bang, from Chemistry to Biology; none of the knowledge we possess today would have been possible had it not been for Friar Bacon and the Catholic Church who supported him.
It is funny to hear Atheists cite Science as the "killer of God." Science is no such thing. It is even funnier to hear Atheists claim that religion opposes Science. Again, this is a distortion of the truth. The Catholic Church being the pioneer of modern science and academia has always advocated its use to learn of God's creation. The Church is not alone. Islam as well produced many great mathematical and scientific minds. How can these 2 great religions produce science and hate it at the same time?
Moreover, how can science "kill God?" Well, Atheists often cite Evolution and Physics in order to "disprove" God. Using misunderstood knowledge, they create all kinds of sophistries in an attempt to formulate supposed logical arguments against the existence of God.
Does Evolution disprove God?
Well let's take a look. Simply put: Evolution is the theory that all organisms developed throughout time from primitive genetic points. In other words, all life gradually changed over millions of years developing into its present complex structure. It is an ongoing process that will see more changes as time passes.
The theory was first proposed by Charles Darwin, a Christian who authored The Origin of Species in 1859. In the book, he describes his observations while on board the HMS Beagle on a 5 year journey. He noticed similarities in organisms that led him to conclude that they had a common ancestry. Human beings were found to have many similarities with the ape.
Evolution takes place in many ways. Microevolution is one of them. In microevolution, tiny changes or mutations take place in the genetic makeup of organisms. These changes are possibly due to errors in genetic processing and/or environmental factors. Radiation and chemicals have been observed to cause mutations in genetic material.
Natural Selection is another manner in which Evolution takes shape. In Natural Selection, an unconscious agent or mechanism is believed to dictate which organisms are strong enough to survive. Those organisms with genetic structures that are not built to handle the environment will eventually become extinct. Only those who have a better genetic build up will survive and therefore add to diversity among organisms.
Then there is Speciation which is the point where an organism mutates and becomes a different species. This difference makes it incompatible to reproduce with organisms that still retain the older genetic buildup. The consequence is a new species that can only reproduce with its own kind.
Evidence for Evolution is based on observations in the fields of anthropology, homology, paleontology, and molecular biology.
What about Abiogenesis?
Abiogenesis is also cited as proof that God cannot possibly exist nor could have created man. Abiogenesis is the study of how life can come from inorganic compounds. This is believed to have taken place during the Eoarchean period in which the molten Earth was cooling down. As this occurred, the molecular structures of inorganic materials formed together in such a manner that bacteria was formed - or carbon/water based life. It is then believed that from this primitive life, new species evolved.
The concept is not impossible. Scientists created an artificial cell using synthetic Mycoplasma Genitalium which has its origin in parasitic bacteria. Recently, an artificial Jellyfish was created with rat cells and silicone.
The question is, do the aforementioned disprove God?
The answer is no. These theories and ideas all deal with natural processes and not causality. Evolution is still a theory with many gaps in it. There are still issues with it such as the HAR1 gene, the Cambrian explosion, missing fossil records, the Missing Link and so on. Despite claims that the "Missing Link," or transitional fossils were found, these have all shown to be false.
Nevertheless, the theory is still valid and can stand for now based on the evidence collected.
In Physics, we learn that matter cannot produce information. All matter in this universe is information. The structure of it, how it is built and interacts, and what makes it construct itself in the way it does is all information.
Think of the universe as a computer screen. In a computer, the OS system organizes data in such a way to allow the user to interpret it in the way human beings learn to use language and data. Data is a collection of codes that organize to create images on a screen. The codes on a computer are programmed in such a way that the user can tell a Word document from a Music file.
The universe is the same. Everything is coded - it is built on information structured to exist in a particular manner. Matter cannot produce this code on its own. So only two possibilities exist:
- It was just there
- An intelligence programmed it.
Both possibilities might satisfy a rational mind; however, when we observe how we program DVD's, CD's, computers and the like, the latter makes more sense. Computers, DVD's, CD's - all which are matter - do not program themselves. A programmer is needed. Since the universe is information and it cannot produce it on its own, the logical conclusion is that an external intelligence capable of programming instilled the information within matter. When the impossible is extinguished and all that is in its place may be improbable due to lack of tangible evidence, then the latter must be the reality that holds what is true.
In light of this, neither Evolution or Abiogenesis can "kill god." Both would merely be the instruments of an intelligence used to create and sustain life.
All processes whether natural or man-made have an origin. Both need a mover.
