Our proposition is that the appreciation of a scientific and biblical synergy is an essential key to understanding the unified picture. That the scientific and biblical messages are different is not in doubt, but it is our natural affinity for the nature of logic which perceives difference as contradiction. Such differences may turn out to be far more than simply complementary information. They may represent the interference pattern which provides the essential stimulation to permit access to an additional dimension. ALL THINGS CONSIDERED
Beauty is truth, truth beauty. That is all ye know on Earth and all ye need to know. - Keats
We began our discussion by recognising an apparent spiritual need within mankind to seek for meaning in relation to Earthly life. We first considered the problems associated with objectivity in relation to observations of reality; and considered the role which perception plays in our view of the world. We noted the subjective nature of the task to attempt to explain reality within science; and concluded that any subjective description of reality, scientific or not, might ultimately form only part of a wider, more complete, picture. We inferred the existence of a possible scientific and Biblical synergy; and labelled the idea, The Elephant Proposition.
We then considered the mathematical likelihood for the chance origin of the universe and the beginning of life on Earth; noting the infinitesimal probability for the correct amount of fine tuning of the universe, and the random occurrence of the simplest protein. Accepting the geological frame for terrestrial time, we proposed that the necessary amount of time required to allow random processes that infinitesimal opportunity may not have elapsed.
We recognised that in order to avoid the unacceptable proposition of an endlessly repeating cycle of infinity, either an absolute beginning or the existence of a higher dimension becomes necessary. We proposed that some uncaused cause, something or someone equivalent to Aristotle’s ‘first mover’, which does not depend upon anything or anybody else in order to exist, would be necessary for the establishment of the universe. We noted that the biblical proposal of a pre-existent God, who created the heavens and the Earth126, fully satisfies this criterion.
Looking in some detail at the only seriously competing theory regarding the emergence of mankind, we noted some of the difficulties for evolution theory. We concluded that the fossil evidence for the theory of evolution was inconclusive; the series of jumps in the record might be equally interpreted as support for the process of special creation. We recognised that there is good evidence to support the existence of the process of natural selection. However, we questioned the assumption that this rules out the existence of God.
Examining the nature of proof, we recognised that whereas we may seek proof for any proposition, an adequate proof may only be obtained for those propositions which are pure and therefore logically testable; such as those which occur within mathematical disciplines. But because mathematics is itself based upon axioms which cannot be proved, such proofs are proved, only in relation to the system. However, we recognised that human reason, which equally cannot be absolutely proved, has proved itself, empirically, to be a reliable method of discerning the truth. We noted that, because of the process of theory revision which is an integral part of scientific methodology, our scientific view can at best provide us with an approximation of reality. We concluded that some currently accepted, scientific theories would inevitably be inaccurate.
