An Open Letter
Preface: Fellow scientists are the intended audience of this open letter, but there is a real sense in which all adult Latter-day Saints are applied scientists. We all must test the principles and hold fast to that which works. Although this letter is focused on those with cultural connections to the LDS faith, there is much advice herein that could be applied to those from other faiths as well.
Why the plant at the top? Read and find out.
Dear Friends:
Experienced scientists understand that studies of nature come with bounteous rewards. The unmitigated success of natural science surrounds us and touches us everyday. Few would argue with the proposition that science has significantly advanced human life. The irony is that science sometimes creates conflicts within the scientist. For example, scientists sometimes encounter tensions between science and religion that make it a challenge to co-exist in both camps. Unfortunately, some completely abandon their religious roots.
The reasons for this difficulty can be easily understood. Scientists are required to be on the frontier of thinking, sometimes placing them at odds with prevailing views on the street. Evolutionary ideas are an example. Most NON-scientists do not believe that humans evolved from ancient primates over millions of years. Further, the study of geology rules out the possibility that the earth is only six thousand years old. Of course, there are other kinds of intellectual tensions, but they need not all be listed here.
Despite the great and desirable harmony found in Latter-day Saint culture, there is much diversity of thinking. Latter-day Saints are individuals with different training and perspectives. We cannot be the same. We are at different stages of personal development. Despite the inevitable differences, there is a common goal: to kneel at the feet of Jesus and to return to our Father-in-Heaven.
Intellectual inquiry, critical thinking, & even skepticism are fundamentally compatible with gospel, as long as appropriate respect is rendered to those who wish to worship God according to their own conscience (see Article of Faith #11). Scientists should be in the business of teaching about nature, NOT dashing faith.
I appreciate Nephi's humble admission while he was having an expansive vision far greater than most humans would ever experience: "I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). Such should be the attitude of both religionists and scientists.
Know this: the Church loves you and needs you.
To the struggling scientist I would direct them to this advice from President James E. Faust:
James E. Faust, “Lord, I Believe; Help Thou Mine Unbelief,” Ensign, Nov. 2003, 19.
Do not let your private doubts separate you from the divine source of knowledge. Prayerfully go forward, humbly seeking eternal light, and your unbelief will be dispelled. I testify that if you continue in the purposeful process of searching for and accepting spiritual light, truth, and knowledge, it will surely come. By going forward in faith, you will find that your faith will increase.
Our testimony will grow as we test the principles of the Church, even if the process is slow and takes many years. Alma had a great understanding of the need to test the word of the Lord [emphasis mine]:
Alma 31:5
5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just--yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them--therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.
Alma 32:27
27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
No one is required to believe in falsehoods. If an idea seems false, then it needs to be set aside until strengthened by evidence suggesting otherwise.
We all come with different gifts and different talents. Scientists presumably have the gift of knowledge. Again, knowing some things is not an excuse for arrogance. In fact, knowledge is not the most important of gifts. For example, others have the gift of great charity, compassion, and love.
The large message of this open letter is that this Church needs all talents and all spiritual gifts. We scientists may operate a little differently than others in the Church, but we have a role.
Which brings me to a funny but inspirational story:
When my scientist father was in his late seventies he was in charge of the printed program to be handed out at a Sacrament meeting. He designed the cover, included Ward announcements, listed missionaries, and outlined the Sacrament worship service. Instead of the usual picture of Jesus on the front cover, my father decided to put a full color diagram of the anatomy of a flowering plant, very similar to the one shown above.
I don't know if some in the Ward questioned the appropriateness of the picture, but I do know some were inspired. Why? My father's Ward was associated with a nearby agricultural university. Several members of the Ward were agricultural scientists or were farmers. The picture fit the personality of the Ward. Further, my father was entirely sincere in his efforts.
Would we be bothered if the program cover depicted a beautiful star-filled galaxy? Probably not. Why should we be bothered by a shift in perspective that examines a plant?
Well, I am not saying such pictures always are appropriate, but I am saying scientists have a place in this Church. If we are going to allow scientists to step in the doors of the Church, then we should be tolerant of some of the associated idiosyncrasies. The needs of all Wards are NOT the same.
Conclusion: This Latter-day Church needs scientists and everything they bring. Welcome!! Jesus loves the scientist.
Copyright © 2010 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.
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6 comments:
For me it is a "by their fruits shall ye know them" argument.
If it is a good seed, and if you nourish it, it should bring forth fruit.
Nourishing my involvement in the LDS faith has brought myself, my family friends and many people I do not know personally much good fruit.
This church really is like the Good Ship Zion: By no means are we in a celestial harbor, and sometimes storms rage and mistakes are made despite how much some LDS people would like to pretend they don't. However, if you look closely, and nourish your involvement you will see we are in fact headed for a celestial port.
Sorry I didn't say it in the above comment but I was agreeing with your "Alma doctrine": We are not required to believe in falsehoods, we can know the LDS faith is good by nourishing it alone and seeing it does produce good results.
Great post like always.
What a great post. Speaking as someone who spent a great deal of time in College studying the material and natural history humanity (and now as someone who is studying biotechnology), I applaud your efforts. I had to remind myself EVERYDAY - and do now as I wade hip deep into DNA and genetics - in school that my faith and scientific knowledge will somehow reconcile with each other. I do not know when or how, but these are two languages that someday meet together and we will somehow understand ALL that we need to know about these things. In the meantime, I will keep to my faith and I will keep to my knowledge of evolutionary ideas in natural, hoping for a reconciliation.
When I think of this:
"command the beasts, the fowls, the fishes, insects, all creeping things, and other forms of animal life to multiply in their respective elements, each after its kind.."
I think of DNA and how easy it must be for Heavenly Father to send UV rays just in the right place to cause such-and-such mutation..
S. Faux,
Thanks for your open letter. Paul encourages Timothy to avoid oppositions of "science falsely so called."
"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" (1 Tim. 6:20)
Obviously there is also "theology falsely so called" even if this phrase does not occur in scripture.
It seems that there are many "falsely" positions that both religionists and scientists hold, obscuring truth from both sources. I don't expect in this life to fully resolve all the areas where I see that religion and science do not align. But I will not let that stop me from relishing and enjoying the beauty and inspiration each offers. I am content to "agree to disagree" in many areas until I recieve further light and knowledge.
Thanks, Dee, for the Timothy citation. I underlined it with my Millennium pen.
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