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Reason and science make man more violent than nature

Re: Faith and reason, by Bill Maxwell, Jan. 16.

Bill Maxwell's column does not adequately serve either as an argument against God's existence or as a more appropriate response of reason to the south Asian tragedy. The tsunami cannot possibly function as an argument against God because none of the Scriptures contain any divine promise to preserve human life against natural catastrophe.

Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tsunamis and other major natural processes are all essential in making the Earth a living planet hospitable to life, from the lowliest bacteria to the glorious realm of intellect which includes journalists and newspaper columnists. No complaint against nature is justified. Nature has provided evidence of its activities which any conscious person ought to notice.

What of reason and science? Reason and science kill more people every year than any natural catastrophe. Human reason has utilized the tools of science and technology to develop the tools of wholesale killing: machine guns, explosives, chemical weapons, biological weapons, atomic bombs and the hydrogen bomb.

Complaints against God about nature are foolish. Nature's fury is terrible, but in reality humans are more terrible than nature. Humans have filled the Earth with violence and bloodshed. Reason, science and technology have only served to exponentially increase the human capacity for violence. Nature is less violent than human nature.

"I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord for his mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man." (2 Samuel 24:14)

Finding hope in reason

I have always enjoyed the columns by Bill Maxwell, even if I do not always agree with what he has to say. But his Faith and reason on Jan. 16. was remarkably reasonable, and what he had to say about commentaries concerning faith and the tsunamis is something all of us should ponder. To say God is the cause of natural disasters is to ignore the natural order and, as Maxwell states, give way to fear. His message is rather one of hope.

A presumptuous attitude

Re: Faith and reason.

I feel compelled to comment on the extent of closed-mindedness exhibited in this column. Bill Maxwell says Christians turn to their faith out of "fear of the mysterious," and yet, he shows his own blatant fear of the unknown in one short article. He acts as though he possesses tangible proof that God does not exist, while any intelligent person knows it is impossible to prove (or disprove) religion.

Science does not offer any proof against religion. Just because we as humans have found "scientific design" of natural occurrences does not offer reason against God's existence. Maybe God himself caused the "forces of nature" mentioned in The Big Wave. We as humans just do not know for sure, and Maxwell's presumptuous attitude toward life was quite annoying.

The teachings of reason and faith

Re: Faith and reason, by Bill Maxwell.

The world is a mess. Reason has taught me to fear those who make choices based on greed and power. Faith founded on God's love has taught me hope. Nothing lasts.

On a path of oppression

Re: Man of faith, Jan. 16.

The St. Petersburg Times has joined those who seem impressed with George W. Bush as a man of faith and prayer. Indeed, I don't question that Mr. Bush truly does follow a religious system which no doubt reflects that of much of this country's "religious right."

What dismays and alarms me is that he is informed by a faith that tells him it is perfectly acceptable to treat an entire group of people as second-class citizens. His faith allows that it's righteous not only to deny them the protection of law for relationships, but that this group is also not entitled to security in the areas of employment, housing, access to medical care, financial services, indeed, even service in restaurants. He, like many of the religious right, are willing to deny more than 20-million people these rights because of their sexual orientation.

Jesus said we would know his followers by their actions, by their love. This administration and its chief executive are complacent about oppression within our borders, and indeed are active in attempts to increase that oppression for some.

Mr. Bush is a man of faith, and undoubtedly a man of prayer, but I am not sure just who he is really following.

Not worthy of our trust

Re: A Man of faith and The party poopers,Jan. 16.

As supporters of the president celebrate his inauguration, it must be noted that many Democrats agree with actor Jessica Lange as she was quoted in last Sunday's Perspective: "I hate Bush; I despise him and his entire administration . . ."

Even though there were clearly no weapons of mass destruction, Bush says invading Iraq was the right thing to do and he would do it again even if he knew there were no WMD. How can a man of God possibly justify this waste of human life?

How can we trust the man responsible for the debacle in Iraq? Not only has he not found Osma bin Laden, but Iraq is becoming the world's training ground for terrorists. Bush has misrepresented the reason for and the cost of the war, the reason for tax cuts for the rich, and the cost of the prescription drug bill. Now he wants us to trust him with our Social Security. Many of us don't trust him at all.

Tampa's needs vs. the arts czar

Re: Arts czar on the schmooze circuit, Jan. 16.

Well at last someone finally told us just exactly what Paul Wilborn's title and job duties are. However, I am still at a loss - it's still too vague. What are the results?

We in Tampa are suffering with an infrastructure lagging far behind growth. Lack of proper stormwater facilities threatens people's homes. The city building inspectors can't follow up on the "old permits" program as there aren't enough to do so - or so they say. And the water meters are read every other month for lack of employees.

At least we can rest assured our arts czar is eating well.

[Last modified January 23, 2005, 00:13:14]