December 7, 2009
People's Views of God can Change
When they change their positions, their ideas of what God
thinks also change.
People's Views of God can Change
When they change their positions, their ideas of what God
thinks also change.
SUMMARY: People tend to believe God thinks as they do, according to a new
study reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. And when
people change their own opinions, their idea of God's "beliefs" also changes.
Seven studies conducted in the U.S. surveyed people about various topics
including controversial issues such as abortion and the death penalty. All of
the participants believed in the Abrahamic God and most were Christians.
They were asked to do things that might get them to change their minds, such
as writing about the death penalty from the opposite viewpoint of their own.
When they did change their own opinions, their ideas of where God stands
changed too but not their opinions of what other people thought.
MRI scans revealed similar parts of their brains were active when the
volunteers thought about themselves and God, but different areas of the brain
were active when the participants contemplated the beliefs of other Americans.
This implies people map God's beliefs onto their own. Still, Alexa Delbosc, who
carried out the research, said while people's beliefs about God could be
"nudged" slightly, there are limits to how radically people change their views.
To read the entire article, click on this link to DISCOVER
COMMENT: The findings of these researchers are probably not that
surprising, but I would strongly disagree with the conclusion that "there are
limits to how radically people change their views (about God)." Those of us
who are involved in the creation-evolution controversy know differently. We
know of people who have gone from faith in a personal God who is intimately
involved in their lives to a stand-offish God at best or a non-existent God at
worst when they have adopted faith in Darwinism. Oh the other hand, we know
of people who by the grace of God have happily gone the opposite direction,
from outright atheism to a firm belief in the God of the Bible. Sometimes these
conversions were influenced in part by the testimony of creationists.
If people's beliefs about God were not capable of much change, Christians
would be wasting their time and efforts trying to convert unbelievers. Also we
wouldn't need to be concerned about our young people who were raised in
the faith but who are now being taught by unbelieving teachers. However,
converting unbelievers is far from a waste or time and concern about the
world's temptations upon Christians of any age is well-founded.
We are warned in the Bible about the real possibility of falling away from God
and the importance of holding fast to His Word. In 2 Timothy 4:3 St. Paul warns,
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead,
to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of
teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
God has blessed us with His unchanging Word, the Holy Bible, which can keep
us from wandering too far astray in an ever-changing world. Years and years of
attacks against Holy Scripture have done some damage, but not to the
credibility of the Book of Books. It stands firm against the assaults of
unbelieving evolutionists and other atheists, offering a place where we can
plant our feet when doubts come our way. Best of all, it tells us of a Savior and
offers us the faith to believe in Him. Jesus is the One Who died for our sins,
Who washes away our misdeeds, and Who has opened heaven's doors for us.
We absolutely need to remain close to Him and His Word.
**************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
**************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
How do American schools stack up against schools from other countries
when it comes to academic achievement and the number of school days
per year?
**************************************************************************************
study reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. And when
people change their own opinions, their idea of God's "beliefs" also changes.
Seven studies conducted in the U.S. surveyed people about various topics
including controversial issues such as abortion and the death penalty. All of
the participants believed in the Abrahamic God and most were Christians.
They were asked to do things that might get them to change their minds, such
as writing about the death penalty from the opposite viewpoint of their own.
When they did change their own opinions, their ideas of where God stands
changed too but not their opinions of what other people thought.
MRI scans revealed similar parts of their brains were active when the
volunteers thought about themselves and God, but different areas of the brain
were active when the participants contemplated the beliefs of other Americans.
This implies people map God's beliefs onto their own. Still, Alexa Delbosc, who
carried out the research, said while people's beliefs about God could be
"nudged" slightly, there are limits to how radically people change their views.
To read the entire article, click on this link to DISCOVER
COMMENT: The findings of these researchers are probably not that
surprising, but I would strongly disagree with the conclusion that "there are
limits to how radically people change their views (about God)." Those of us
who are involved in the creation-evolution controversy know differently. We
know of people who have gone from faith in a personal God who is intimately
involved in their lives to a stand-offish God at best or a non-existent God at
worst when they have adopted faith in Darwinism. Oh the other hand, we know
of people who by the grace of God have happily gone the opposite direction,
from outright atheism to a firm belief in the God of the Bible. Sometimes these
conversions were influenced in part by the testimony of creationists.
If people's beliefs about God were not capable of much change, Christians
would be wasting their time and efforts trying to convert unbelievers. Also we
wouldn't need to be concerned about our young people who were raised in
the faith but who are now being taught by unbelieving teachers. However,
converting unbelievers is far from a waste or time and concern about the
world's temptations upon Christians of any age is well-founded.
We are warned in the Bible about the real possibility of falling away from God
and the importance of holding fast to His Word. In 2 Timothy 4:3 St. Paul warns,
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead,
to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of
teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
God has blessed us with His unchanging Word, the Holy Bible, which can keep
us from wandering too far astray in an ever-changing world. Years and years of
attacks against Holy Scripture have done some damage, but not to the
credibility of the Book of Books. It stands firm against the assaults of
unbelieving evolutionists and other atheists, offering a place where we can
plant our feet when doubts come our way. Best of all, it tells us of a Savior and
offers us the faith to believe in Him. Jesus is the One Who died for our sins,
Who washes away our misdeeds, and Who has opened heaven's doors for us.
We absolutely need to remain close to Him and His Word.
**************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
**************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
How do American schools stack up against schools from other countries
when it comes to academic achievement and the number of school days
per year?
**************************************************************************************
0 Comments
Based on reading, science, and math
scores. the U.S., which has a 180-day
school year, is in 8th place. The top
seven nations with the number of
days in their school years are: 1.
Finland (187), 2. South Korea (204),
3. New Zealand (194), 4. Australia
(198), 5. Japan (210), 6. Germany
(193), and 7. Czech Republic (194).
Source: Parade (November 15, 2009)
scores. the U.S., which has a 180-day
school year, is in 8th place. The top
seven nations with the number of
days in their school years are: 1.
Finland (187), 2. South Korea (204),
3. New Zealand (194), 4. Australia
(198), 5. Japan (210), 6. Germany
(193), and 7. Czech Republic (194).
Source: Parade (November 15, 2009)
| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author (Warren Krug) and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |