God Helped Darwin Find A Piece Of The Puzzle

Firstly, let me kick off by again saying thanks! I got a number of e-mails and some very kind words in the comments about Ellie. It’s really weird because I know some people will be thinking “What’s all the fuss about, it’s only a dog?” And I really get that, because if you have never been a dog (or cat) owner, it’s difficult to comprehend.

Anyway enough of that, because today I have a guest post from my very own personal trainer and dispenser of pain, Mr. Ron Betta

I like Ron. Not just because he hasn’t got much more hair than I have, he loves dogs and always laughs at my jokes whilst saying, “that’s funny” presumably just in case I was in any doubt what the strange noise coming from his throat was, but also because he’s is fiercely honest, loyal and determined.

Quite frankly I’m amazed he continues to coach me because if I had a Life Coaching client as pathetic as me I’d probably have dumped them weeks ago. He perseveres nevertheless and I think he has a secret life time goal of seeing me perform 15 eight count body builders without vomiting. Oh, did I say he is a very patient guy too.

He hasn’t been blogging very long, but his site Live Fit Ezine is well worth watching and if you’re looking to get yourself fit there is some great info there. This is the guy that informed me there were 100 more calories in a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha than in a Big Mac. I don’t actually ever buy either, but I’ll but them even less now!

Not only all that, but Ron is also self confessed Conservative Vegetarian! Shock horror! I never knew such a thing existed, but it does because he sent me this post.

Kick his ass in the comments if you disagree, or pat him heartily on the back if you concur.

God Helped Darwin Find A Piece Of The Puzzle

As a Fitness Coach, It’s pretty obvious to me. We grew out of the muck. Sorry to all my conservative friends, but the truth is overwhelming – we came out of the primordial soup and now stand upright.

Maybe one day, we’ll learn how to merge on the highway efficiently. I can say this because the body is constantly evolving. I can see this and feel this. It make sense to me.

However, to my Darwin following friends, you’re also wrong. God gave us a conscience, a soul, the connection we share and cannot escape. There are three issues here that come into play.

First: God is way smarter than we are.

Second: Most people take the Bible too literally, which I believe adds to the perpetual confusion.

Third: God wanted us (Darwin) to make the discovery that we grew out of the muck. He gave us brains, intelligence, incredible skills and a wonderful, mysterious world to discover it all on.

God is smarter than we are.

I was raised Catholic (I’ve long since left the church). It never sat right with me that God created man in his image. What does that mean for all the ladies. Apparently, God didn’t think about them until Adam got bored.

Moreover, I can’t imagine that God just snapped his fingers and “POOF”, Adam was there. Do you really think God’s a magician? I think there’s a bit of finesse involved.

When you rule the universe, I doubt you need to impress yourself with a rabbit-in-the-hat type thing. As I grew up, I somehow knew that the meaning of “image” was that of God’s consciousness, his connectivity.

The “image” of God therefore, is the energy that tells me that kicking a puppy is wrong. I think we all share some of this. There are varying degrees of this of course, but overall, I think most of us know right from wrong. We naturally hate suffering and love happiness. That’s the image of God.

I’d also hate to think that God, couldn’t have come up with a more creative method of development for us than just snapping his fingers. He made us work to grow and develop. He made us work to stand upright and build shelter and learn to make blogs and iPhones. He challenged us. Some of us did great. Others did not.

Whatever happens, I believe God wanted us to develop. I would want the same for my kids. Or perhaps you would prefer to just “POOF!” set them up for life with no trials or tribulations. C’mon, we all know that’s not true. Seeds grow into trees, babies grow into adults, and puppies grow into dogs. But wait…”POOF!” humans just appeared? Really? I’m still not buying it. God’s way smarter than that.

People take the Bible too literally.

I’m not a religious person, but I am spiritual. I believe there’s something out there that connects us. I call it God, but it’s my version of God.

My friend is a Christian and I have great respect for him. He thinks people of all other religions are going to Hell because they don’t know Jesus. That’s some serious brainwashing. I have some beautiful Jewish friends. If they’re going to hell, I’ll go with them. I have a friend who’s does not believe in God at all. He happens to treat people better than most others I know. I fully expect him to catch the fast train to Heaven when his time is up. The same is true of all the other beautiful, wonderful people out there who happen to not believe in God the way one group does.

The Bible is revered as an amazing book – and it is. So if the book is God’s instruction manual for Christians, wouldn’t it make a lot of sense that it would be pretty deep and extremely complicated?

I find it laughable that people can go to church once a week and claim to know all about the Bible. I’ve known Priests who admitted the Good Book is far more complicated than they could grasp. It’s like an ever-developing mystery. How can you take that literally?

Bottom line – people take it too literally because they’re too afraid to admit they know very little about it. God is love – and nobody’s been able to explain what love is to me either. Perhaps the best way I could imagine it is “energy” which is pretty darn close to the way I see “God”.

God wanted Darwin to discover evolution.

Everything I can see has a lifespan. Everything moves in and out of phases. The stars will go dark and new ones will form. Planets will form, fall apart and form again. Animals develop and go extinct. Plants grow, die and grow again.

Yes, it sounds like the Circle of Life from Disney – and it is. It’s a beautiful system. It’s everywhere I look and Darwin did not detract from God in discovering evolution, he further entrenched my beliefs that there is a God.

This couldn’t have happened by mistake. Sorry, earth is just too gorgeous. Just sit outside once in a while. Watch how an animal moves gracefully through a pasture. Think of how it felt to fall in love. That’s not an accident. I’m too optimistic to think this is just a lucky mistake. No, God wanted Darwin to discover this and allow us to see ever deeper in to the reasons God created life on this planet.

When people still thought the earth was flat, Astronomers were seen as heretics. Darwin is obviously the modern version of these heretics. But didn’t the idea, the very discovery that earth was round allowed man to reach beyond and study more? It did – and those who were once persecuted are now seen as having the best sense.

As I’m writing this a storm is dumping rain all over Orlando. The bad weather this week delayed and then forced the Space Shuttle Atlantis to land in California.

I love it here and I wake up every morning in a beautiful place. I even love the humidity. It’s beautiful and I can’t imagine that we were just dropped here and told to run with it.

That Shuttle is another example of how humans are growing, developing and exploring the world(s) God put here for us. At the same time, God wants us to grow, to fight for our lives, to learn, study and develop. It is for that reason that I believe God and Darwin are both keys to our existence. Perhaps one did more work, but we cannot criticize the other for revealing one piece of the puzzle.

Stress is for Suckers has until Monday before it gets pulled for good, so grab a free copy here now if you want one.

I may be able to run Don’t Ask Stupid Questions for another week depending on my shopping cart supplier. At $5.99 for hardback (it’s $14.99 on Amazon) or ebook it’s a real bargain so just get it bought and stop fannying around!

A number of people have bought it this last week and if one of them is you and you’ve had time to read it and want to comment, please do so. You can say whatever they want. In other words if you think it’s crap, tell the world and I won’t delete the comment, I promise!

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21 Comments So Far.

Comment by Ali Hale on 28 May 2009:

It’s possibly a slight side point to the main thrust of the post, but as a fairly conservative Christian myself, I’d agree that the Bible is not ALL to be taken literally. Some parts are very obviously poetry (such as the Song of Songs and the Psalms) — you can’t read those literally. Other parts read like literature to me: the Book of Job, for instance, bears similarities to Greek tragedy plays (studied both as a student…)

I’d also argue for the story of creation being a story where the “why” is more important than the “exactly what” — I think the majority of Christians today would be willing to agree that the seven days of creation don’t need to be taken literally as “seven days”.
Comment by Laurie on 28 May 2009:

I agree with Ali Hale on the creation not being a literal 7 days. The structure of the creation story is that of a poem. IMHO the importance of the story is to show the hierarchy of the creation and not the time it took.

I agree the Bible is very complicated and seems to have multiple layers of understanding that a general read through can’t get you there. I also believe that God is reveled through the Bible AND God is also reveled through science.
Comment by Quint on 28 May 2009:

@Laurie and Ali – What sets the Bible apart from other spiritual texts? Do you believe that the Bible is the only revelation of God? How do you decide what is to be interpreted literally vs metaphorically? Which translation should be used for the interpretation?

I know these questions are a little tangential, but as a former fundamentalist Christian, I have struggled with these issues with regards to the interpretation of scripture. I don’t know where I stand today, so I ask out of genuine curiosity, not a desire to stir the pot.
Comment by Laurie on 28 May 2009:

I believe that the creation story is showing hierarchy and is in the from of a poem. There is a structure to the poem. If you watch Rob Bell’s DVD “Everything is Spiritual” you would see the poem structure. He goes through it. Also if you look at Genesis 2 it says there that man is created BEFORE plants. This, to me, supports the hierarchal theory and not literal days to creation.

You have to interpret scripture in terms of scripture. Some metaphors are plainly metaphors. For example when Jesus calls himself the “Bread of Life” he isn’t saying that he is doughy. You know this. With that said, there or more subtle metaphors that many overlook due to not knowing the culture and history of the times, the original language, and when this idea or thing has been mentioned in scripture before. There are many, many areas that reference other parts of the Bible, but people don’t realize it unless they study it. Knowing the reference can make all the difference in the meaning of the scripture.

I do believe that the Bible is the only revelation of God. I find that the more history and science uncovers mystery, the more they support what is written about in the Bible. Books like the Book of Mormon, are not supported by history nor science. Also when looking at the gods of other books, my God is the only God who seeks a relationship with me and wants to love me and offers grace. Other gods out there are not about love and grace but only power and obedience.

I would use various translations because one cannot translate all of it better than another.
Comment by Tim Brownson on 28 May 2009:

I’m a bit lost here because I don’t know much about the Bible at all. I hear the ending isn’t all it’s cracked up to be though.

@ Laurie – This kinda takes me back.

“Also when looking at the gods of other books, my God is the only God who seeks a relationship with me and wants to love me and offers grace.”

Really? Have you studied many other Religions because I suspect that isn’t true at all.

Imho there is no ‘my’ God. There is just God. But I could be wrong as are at least 5 billion people.
Comment by Michael Panebianco on 28 May 2009:

Great post Ron,

I fall off the Catholic wagon from time to time and horrify my native churchgoers with a visit. Walls shake, ceilings crumble, but we seem to make it through the mass. I have to remind myself of what guilt feels like from time to time.

I, too, feel that there is more to the story than either camp will admit to. The subject is so much bigger than us, I find it best to live in appreciation of all of the miracles, starting with my two little boys, and my love affair with their mother.

I believe in Christ’s teachings, and call myself a Christian, however that is where it ends. I fancy myself as someone who lives by the Golden Rule, and do my best to “Judge Not”. Im not great at it, but I do my very best.

However, I believe that Christ would have no problem with me studying Buddhism, or the Tao. I don’t believe there would have been a brew ha ha if Mohammad and Jesus were sitting in a bar and Buddha walked in and sat between them.

Funny how the fight is originated in the little people, and perpetuated by thousands of years of very human error.

The cycle of life is proof that we are grown from nature, the Grace is in the conscious thought to improve our interaction with that very nature.

Wishing you all well…way to start out Ron!!!
Comment by Laurie on 28 May 2009:

Tim, Tim, Tim….You are just so darn cute. Gotta love you babe.
Comment by Patricia on 28 May 2009:

When my 94 year old mom was dying she wanted me to tell her about what would happen when she was gone. She was very active in church all her life – United Church of Canada then Congregational. She believed, she loved the ritual and the friendships. But in the last month of her life, she did not like what the church was telling her about death. So I explained that I thought we were all energy, that were given this bundle of lessons to learn and understand and when the energy left the physical body it joined with all the energy in the world. She said, “stop, stop! I do not want to come back as a chair or an ant. don’t tell me that!”
So I said there are those who believe that you come back to the point of where you left off from learning the last round of lessons. “Ah” she said. “Why did no one ever say that before? I can find comfort in that idea”
It maybe all there is – to find comfort in an idea until that idea causes discomfort and we explore more moving forward or back…until we find comfort again and rest in that knowledge.
It was a pleasure reading this post today. I wish I knew how to download so I could read the books.
and I can’t seem to achieve fitness or loose weight any more…I just state that because it is making me sad to dwell in that house for very long.

Oh yes! by the way Tara Cain is telling everyone on twitter she needs a little help on her site from you guys. Plus giving you a link

FYI
Thank you enjoyed the post very much.

Patricias last blog post..Blogger Dad – Blame Tara Meme
Comment by Jennifer Voss, Lite Thinker on 28 May 2009:

I love reading posts that leave me nodding my head “yes” rather than trying to argue against some point.

I can’t see how the Bible could be the only revelation of God. As you say, God’s way smarter than that. God speaks through not only the Bible, but through synchronicities all around us. How many times have you had a question and opened a random magazine and have the answer staring back at you? It happens to me all the time when I’m open to hearing what He has to say.

Whether to interpret any of His messages literally or metaphorically can be answered by what your essential self holds to be true. If the literal translation brings you peace… go with it. If the metaphor opens your eyes to goodness… go with that. I don’t believe God attached rules to any of this. All He wants is our love and innate goodness. This is why one verse or chapter in the Bible can have so many messages for so many different people. It’s a living document, just as everything else He created. Some things in it are static and non-changing. Other meanings, translations and things evolve with nature as needed. (Just as we did.)

Full disclosure… I have never read the Bible cover to cover, go to church most Sundays, talk to God daily and fully believe that God is too smart to limit entrance into heaven based on religious affiliation. The grace of God is WAY too big for simple minded exclusion.

Thanks for this post! Beautiful.

Jennifer Voss, Lite Thinkers last blog post..When Your Essential Self Speaks…
Comment by Mary Anne Fisher on 29 May 2009:

I, too, was raised as a Catholic, Ron, and really connect with your wonderful post. Lots of great insights here.

With regard to man-made institutional religion, Jennifer said it beautifully:

“…God is too smart to limit entrance into *heaven* based on religious affiliation. The grace of God is WAY too big for simple minded exclusion.”

And she’s in good company:

“In *heaven* there is no religion. Thank God.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

I have nothing against religion per se. But whenever any religious teaching in any way attempts to keep us “small,” or seeing ourselves as separate from *God* and anything less than Divine or as Divine creators in our own right (not on the same “scale” as God), then it isn’t serving the advancement, expansion or enlightenment of humanity.

And if not, I think it’s worth asking… “What’s the freakin’ point?” and, “What’s really going on?”

I believe that the truest essence of the teachings of the great masters—Jesus, Buddha, et al—is in perfect harmony with what we’re shown (if we look) in all of nature and with the most advanced scientific findings via quantum theory / quantum physics.

Ultimate truth works that way. It rears its glorious, though undoubtedly intimidating at times, “head” wherever you look and wherever you go, when you’re open to seeing it. But that can be extremely difficult when we’re surrounded by and spend most of our time immersed in the self-limiting, fear-based mindsets and beliefs of society.

As a result, smallness of being is the familiar—our current (not surprisingly miserable) “comfort” zone. Greatness of being is the unknown—the “final frontier” of discovery/experience, and therefore our biggest fear.

Thank you, Ron and Tim, for this thought-provoking, divinely courageous post. The graphics / toons provide a perfectly delightful juxtaposition to this post/topic and I adore them! :-)

Mary Anne Fishers last blog post..Who’s Number One?
Comment by Ron Betta on 29 May 2009:

It’s interesting to me how many other religions were brought up in this discussion. Having come from a Catholic background, I was obviously more heavily influenced by the Bible. I wrote this with the Bible in mind because it’s been my experience that Darwin’s theory is highly irritating to Christians. I’ve not seen a struggle to reconcile Darwinism with any other religion – perhaps because I live in a country so heavily populated by Christians. Or perhaps other religions don’t care as much.

Personally, I have met many Christians who believe that God did, in fact, drop or zap or somehow materialize Adam as it reads in the Bible. I see that many of the responses take into account the more abstract, symbolic meaning, however, it’s been my experience that many feel otherwise.

As for the Christian God being the only God, I never understood that either. What about the millions of people who are never even exposed to Christianity. They still love, cry, eat, sleep and act like everyone else. Just because they’re in some secluded part of the world with no communication to others does not, in my opinion, mean they are not going to heaven.

I remember reading about a study done years ago. Researchers were studying the habits of monkeys and noticed something very unusual. When a new fruit was introduced that the monkeys had not seen before, they struggled to figure out how to eat it. However, once one monkey figured it out on just one island, the monkeys on the other islands also figured it out soon thereafter. According to the research, it was indicative of a higher level of consciousness. It was as if the “thoughts” of one group of monkeys were transferred to others. It doesn’t seem far fetched. Many times,scientific discoveries were made thousands of miles from one another at nearly the same time. It seems to me that a higher level of consciousness is not only possible, it’s obvious.
Comment by Jennifer Voss, Lite Thinker on 29 May 2009:

I like you, Ron Betta!

I sit in a Sunday School class many Sundays with some very devout religious literalists… and we have had many debates over whether someone who has not accepted Jesus as their Savior will be seen in heaven.

I have stopped beating myself over the head with a frustration drumstick, though, about who is right. As a matter of fact, I don’t even “heatedly” debate anymore (even though I do express my beliefs).

I find peace with my belief that those people who are never exposed to Christianity will be in Heaven. Listening to the literalists speak, I have come to the conclusion that they have found their own version of peace in their belief. It’s kind of like the difference between and artist and an accountant. One makes sense of the world through creativity and the other through formulaic balancing. I believe God gave us right brained (big picture universal consciousness) and left brained (Jesus) avenues to Him. It’s ultimately between each of us and God in the end anyway… and I believe not HOW we got to Him… but that we simply did get there.

I am continuously amazed by our Universe. Monkeys and all (this is like the 3rd place I’ve heard about this study lately). I truly believe there is a conscious “shift” happening and agree that we’re all a part of it. The synchronicities of life once I tuned into God are just too numerous. When I stop trying to struggle to understand and just flow with it… it does become obvious.

Thank you Tim & Ron for the open conversation! What a breath of fresh air!

Jennifer Voss, Lite Thinkers last blog post..When Your Essential Self Speaks…
Comment by Tim Brownson on 29 May 2009:

Just wanted to drop by and thank Ron for an awesome post. Just as importantly I wanted to thank you good people for some brilliant comments as usual. Really high standard and I’m very grateful for you taking the time and trouble to offer your thoughts.
Comment by farouk on 30 May 2009:

Hi Dear,
you called yourself spiritual but i call myself “Evidence” driven”, i have solid scientific evidences that support creation, your arguments might make Christianity sound odd but do you know anything about other religions? or you just reject what you never read about?
Comment by Tim Brownson on 30 May 2009:

@ Farouk – I honestly am not sure what you mean, or even who you’re comment is aimed at. Can you expand please?
Comment by Lori on 30 May 2009:

Hi Tim~

I didn’t mention this in my last comment, and I realize it’s a little late, but my condolences on losing your dog. I hardly see my family’s dog, but knowing he’s there with my family is immensely comforting. I love that guy like a brother–a perfect brother because he always listens and never shoves his two cents down my throat. Ha! (Kidding).

Now onto this post: I felt an immediate resistance to absorbing any of its wisdom because of the word God. Over the years I’ve developed a knee-jerk reaction to “God” as defined by most religions, mostly because I don’t think there’s anyway to describe whatever it is that’s bigger than me. I know there’s something, but I know I don’t know what–and don’t think I will in this lifetime.

I think of the bible as a useful piece of fiction–just like the stories of gods and goddesses from different pantheons. Lots of morals, lessons, wisdom, etc. As to whether they actually happened, I have my doubts. That doesn’t mean they didn’t happen–just that it makes more sense to me that they didn’t.

Lori

Loris last blog post..How to Let Go and Embrace an Uncertain Future
Comment by Joe D on 30 May 2009:

From one severely lapsed Catholic to another…
I think this is bang on the money. The discussion about Darwinian biology is often skewed by the two competing ideologies- “take everything literally” religionists and “don’t even breathe of spirituality” scientific types, and the discussion of evolution becomes a proxy for the friction between the two. Bravo Ron- Bravo for the candor and strength to say that the sublime and the scientific are parts of the same story, and even between them there is more to tell. Bravo and well done, friend.
Comment by Hugh on 30 May 2009:

I really enjoyed your post. It was very well done.

I can’t define God fully or I would be God. (Thank God I am not.) So, I just focus on trying to define how I can better define and implement my side of the relationship with God.
Comment by Sheri on 31 May 2009:

I’m finding that simple Scriptures that I have known from a child have settled the debate inside my head. One being, the truth Jesus gave when he said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Each one of us knows when we are in right relationship with God and others. We don’t need a religion, Christianity, Catholicism, Mormonism, Secular Humanism … or any other to spell it out. When our hearts are right with the Creator of the Universe, we recognize that “Religions” don’t get us to Heaven, a personal relationship with God does. He has already established the Way — when we find it, we know it and the truth sets us free.
Comment by Ron Betta on 4 June 2009:

Standing at a rock in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, the Chaplain of my unit gave a non-denominational service. A handful of soldiers, I stood among Baptists, Catholics, Jews, even a Muslim. And there we stood, under the morning sun, worshiping God. No pews, no holy water, no stained glass, no bell tower.

There have only been a few times where I’ve been closer to God than I was that morning. It’s an amazing thing to stand among others who do not share your faith, but share your closeness with God. Had we (and thank God we didn’t) have to go and fight, I knew right there that we’re all heading to the same place. Our diversity is only a kaleidoscope for how we see God.

Years later, I stood in a field on a Sunday morning. The fog that morning was very thick and the uncut grass was covered in dew. Nothing but total silence except for my three dogs and my breathing. The first, my lab Basia, ran past me – her muscles flexing under a brown coat. Corry, the border collie, was a close second, her floppy ears bouncing, her tongue hanging out of her mouth. Lastly, Nikki, a 6 pound chihuahua panted heavily and essentially sprung over the grass, trying desperately to keep up with her sisters.

Streams of light filtered through the fog that morning. I remember that moment like it was yesterday. I just stood there, my dogs running around, wresting, playing, having a blast. And I can remember thinking that the fog must have been the lower level of Heaven. It was if Heaven had lowered itself down to earth for a moment.

Today, Basia and Corry are on the other side of that fog – living it up and running faster than ever. As for Nikki and me, we miss them – but I’ll certainly never forget that moment as spiritual. And I had nobody tell me I’m bad or wrong for sinning. Nobody needed to remind me that I’m not perfect – because in that moment, all was perfect – and it was perhaps the most spiritual moment I’ve ever experienced.

That is my personal relationship with God.
Comment by emily on 10 June 2009:

I’ve always believed being created in “God’s Image” means that we are CREATIVE BEINGS.. we generate or shape our own realities through our very thoughts, we CREATE our personal and collective worlds. I came from an Episcopalian background, and my personal experiences led me to something else. I now feel God is the ‘flow’ (spirit, truth, love, freedom, goodness, grace, energy, stillness; whatever you define that as).

To me the purpose of life is live in that flow.

There is no way the Bible can be the ONLY revelation of God; daily, hourly, moment by moment if I cast attention to the stillness and energy, God’s presence is there. I believe God speaks through everything.

Great post. ;-)