Sciligion: The Rules

by Bernie Dehler                 9-13-07

     Hey, sciligion and the other "ligions" are words that I'm making up, so I get the opportunity and benefit to define them!

  Let me state the foundational rules for sciligion and the other "ligions" (bioligion, geoligion, astroligion, etc.):

1. All truth is truth.  There is no such thing as religious truth being different than scientific truth.  They can't contradict each other.  Those who have religion and those who don't should be able to agree on this point. When both science and religion are in harmony, sciligion happens. 

Comment: When science is ignored, then superstition reigns supreme, and next comes loonyligion.  However, science without religion is atheism... a rejection of anything supernatural, based on nothing but a presupposition that nothing supernatural exists.   

2. God gave you a brain and expects you to use it.  Knowledge will glorify God.  There is no virtue in ignorance.  God would be proud of you for gaining the most wisdom you possible can, and making this world a better place as a result (Matt. 5:13).

3. A persons first allegiance should be to the truth.  Not to God, or the Bible, or anything else.  Those who have religion and those who don't should be able to agree on this point. 

Comment: Christian, take heart, as the Bible promises that the way of truth is the way to God, and is God.  According to John 14:6, Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.  Everyone who believes in God has a little different picture of what God is, based on their education, discussions, etc.  It is this "image of God" in our brains that we have to be open to modify.  In this way, science can help us learn more about God.

Comments

[Bernie of www.sciligion.org]

There are multiple beliefs about the "gospel." We have the Catholic, Baptist, Mormon, Jehovah Witness, etc. versions. Many times, we are raised in the faith of our parents. In order to grow in the right path of (absolute) truth, rather than simply according to how we were raised, we need to be willing to jettison all previously held beliefs as we receive new information. Therefore- a commitment to the truth is of the utmost importance for personal growth and maturity. Once a person has the mentality of tolerating any kind of teensy weensy error, they are compromised.

...Bernie

[Will]

I aggree with berni that ones commitment should be to the truth but not quite as he means it. Jesus is the truth as he said." I am the way the life and the truth" This message has to confound scientific understanding but is so clear to a born again believer who is living life through his faith in Jesus. What other truth does one need?
On commitment to God first... in my own experience Until I received the Holy spirt, through faith in the message of the followers of Jesus, I had no love or apreciation for God. After recieving the holy spirit I could pray to God from the heart. Therefore I believe that it is more important to be more commited to the truth. When one is accepted by God a natural commitment arises from the heart.

[Bernie of www.sciligion.org]

Instead of saying that "someone shouldn't have their first allegiance towards God" I should instead say ""someone shouldn't have their first allegiance towards their idea of God." None of us know God truly. We just have ideas of God from what we've pieced together, from reading, talking, etc. Our view of God may be faulty. Thus, if our first allegiance is to truth, it can lead us to a purer knowledge of God.

...Bernie

[Dale Koch]

Bernie, I will disagree with your statement that one's first allegiance should be to the truth, not to God, the Bible, other. Specifically the "not to God" statement... Scripture (spoken by Jesus Himself) states in in 3 of the 4 Gospels (Matt, Mark, Luke) that you shall love the Lord your God with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. If this is not "alligiance" then what is? Was Christ not speaking truth here? Christ also stated He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life. God and Truth (capitalized, ultimate not subjective truth) are one-in-the-same as They have to be, otherwise you are putting our limited conception of truth above God. Truth in pure form will always be revealed through and by God, not necessarily or purely thru science, as science is a tool given to us by God not the other way around. Science is not eternal, nor self-existant, nor perfect, but God is. If you know of (a) science that is what God is, please inform me as I want to study it more. I will concede that the Bible through our various transliterations may have flaws within, (though I still consider it in original form inerrant and what God wants for our lives). However, God cannot have flaw(s). Only those perceived flaws in-so-much as in how we might as limited beings understand and compartmentalize Him; not due to anything He has done or could do.

[Ray Dehler]

"Rule 3. A persons first allegiance should be to the truth. Not to God, or the Bible, or anything else. Those who have religion and those who don't should be able to agree on this point. "

That is an interesting statement, and at first struck me as odd. But assuming the bible is universal truth, the statement doesn't really contradict that we should believe everything the bible says.