Freedom from Disbelief

            The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is that the gap between science and religion appears to be closing. The statements of scientists are beginning to mirror the teachings of prophets and to give support to the scriptures.

            Prophets have taught their people about God for thousands of years. They taught that Heavenly Father is real and that He would one day send His Son, even Jesus Christ, to earth to atone for the sins of all mankind. One such prophet is Alma who lived in ancient America. He taught the people of his day that there is a God and that Christ would come to earth. A man called Korihor went about telling the people that Alma and his brethren were teaching false doctrine. The man was brought before Alma the high priest for questioning:

37 And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?

38 And he answered, Nay.

39 Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.

40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.

41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true?

42 Behold, I know that thou believest. …

43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. (See Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Alma 30:37-44.) 

            Alma follows three key strategies in dealing with the unbelieving Korihor: (1) He bears his witness that he knows there is a God and that Christ will come. (2) He shifts the burden of proof to the unbeliever where it belongs. “What evidence have ye?” (3) He illustrates that “all things” bear witness of a God – the earth itself, its motion, and the movements of the planets.

            Scientists are now realizing the truth of Alma’s words. Even though they are not religious, they are suddenly talking about God. This site has an interesting article about what the scientists are saying. The following is a summary of a seven-page article.

So, what are these stunning discoveries that have scientists suddenly speaking of God? Three revolutionary discoveries from the fields of astronomy and molecular biology stand out:

1. The universe had a beginning.

2. The universe is just right for life.

3. DNA coding reveals intelligence.

            If the above information does not convince you that there is a God, try this site. It tells about a well-respected scientist named Michio Kaku who believes that there is evidence of God in his work. He explains that Einstein’s physics and quantum physics cannot provide all the answers and leaves a gap in the scientists’ explanations about the universe.

Without getting into the physics, Kaku concludes that we live in a Matrix-style universe, created by an intelligence.

“I have concluded that we are in a world made by rules created by an intelligence… Believe me, everything that we call chance today won’t make sense anymore. To me it is clear that we exist in a plan which is governed by rules that were created, shaped by a universal intelligence and not by chance.”

So does this mean Kaku now believes in God? Yes and no. Nowhere does he endorse any particular religious philosophy. Instead, he may be referring to Spinosa’s God, a sort of deification of the laws of the universe themselves. Einstein came to a similar conclusion.

            Kaku and other scientists may be suffering from the same type of blindness that affected Korihor. Scientists have admitted that the universe is much bigger than they previously thought and that it is expanding, but they still appear to be looking for a specific sign to prove there is a God.

            While scientists pursue their search, people of faith believe the teachings of the prophets and the words of God. For example, we read in the scriptures that Moses stood face to face with God and was shown the earth and all its inhabitants as well as many other worlds, and God said to Moses:

31 … For mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me.

32 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. (See Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:31-32.) 

            As Alma told Korihor, the earth itself with everything on it, its motion, the movements of the planets, the cycle of the seasons, and everything around us is proof that there is a God. Those who have “eyes to see” will see the available signs, while the spiritually blind continue to demand signs before they will believe.