When I found your site, I finally realized that there was a way to accept Jesus as my savior and to accept evolution and the Big Bang Theory as well. Your site has renewed my faith in Christ. Thank you so much.
Nolan F. [2015]
I stumbled across this site as an agnostic looking for information that pared science against Christianity. I wanted to see how others reconciled the differences between the writings in the bible and the new and ever improving data collected by the scientific community over the years.
In your writing, “Science and Christianity” I found one of the most well-written and thoughtful pieces I have read on the topic. Very objective. I plan to dig deeper into your site. Perhaps I could be converted to a believer after all. Time will tell. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jessica B.
Kentucky [2013]
Hey
I just wanna say that I think you rock.
I am currently 17 and I have grown up around young earth creationists all my life. As a theistic evolutionist, I get told that I have "weak faith" and I don't trust God rather often. Your videos and ministry really encourage me.
Anyway, that's all I wanted to say!
Matt [2011]
Hello,
My name is Jason G., and I too am a theistic-evolutionist. I am curious of your stance on other fundamental points of Christianity. Do you believe in a literal burning hell? I read your article "Right with God" and saw that you believe that the way to heaven is accepting Jesus, but you make no mention of hell. I have been struggling for quite some time with the correlation between my faith in the Bible and my knowledge of science. I am so glad I found your site. I found it in a youtube video when you were debating "Dr." (and I use that term lightly) Kent Hovind. For years I have felt like a heretic. No one else in my family accepts science, but I think that the natural explanation for the creation of the universe moreso shows God's creativity that the Genesis ever could.
Thank You,
Jason G. [2009]
30 minutes ago, while my young faith was being challenged, I prayed to God that I would find a site which sees things the way I do. You have helped me, and I will be supporting you.
While I have read very little of what you are all about, I have seen enough to understand that you have come to many of the same conclusions that I have about Life, the Universe, Christ, and Everything. The vastness of the universe, and our seemingly insignificant existence is what made me an atheist for many years. A little over a year ago, I found Christ, but have been bothered by a lot of what I know is true about the Universe. I am so grateful to have been lead by the creator of this wonderful Universe to your site. I look forward to learning much.
God bless you.
Jeff B. [2007]
John,
Your website is truly excellent. Also, I had open heart surgery last August
and am very interested in your article on Heart Health (printing it right now).
May God bless you in your ministry.
E. E. Pierce [2005]
Hello, my name is Stephen D. I stumbled upon your site a while back and am glad that there is a site such as yours promoting intelligent faith. Just because one accepts the bible as central to one's religion does not mean one must stop learning from the world. One can only learn so much from a painter's biography without ever seeing the painting. There are many Christians who accept evolution and other scientific understandings into their life. However often we are given an unjust choice by church officials, leaders, and laypeople, We can either accept what we see or what we feel... but it is impossible to believe in both. . . . God Bless --Steven D., 2004
The goal of the Faith and Reason Ministries is to 'Reconcile Christianity with Accepted Science.' This site addresses one of the core conflicts between the supernatural and biblical world with the scientific physical world -- how to draw the line between scientific fact and biblical literalism.
The difficulty in resolving this issue lies in the differing accounts of biblical and scientific creationism. In the strictest interpretation, the earth according to scripture would be no more than tens of thousands of years old. The scientifically accepted age of the Earth is around 4.5 billion years old. Faith and Reason Ministries takes the approach that emphasizes the veracity of the bible, but at the same time, accepts the findings of science as valid in the light of reasoning.
As Christians, we have a responsibility to adhere to the bible faithfully, but we must also have the leniency to understand we do not know everything. We must be true to the Word, yet not be overly dogmatic and inflexible. Faith and Reason ministries demonstrate that it is possible to accept science while holding onto biblical roots. In addition, they offer plausible explanations for spirituality, creation, and biblical infallibility.
We commend Faith and Reason ministries for maintaining a scholarly approach to the bible and world around us, without diluting the impact of God's message for man.
Roy Li, Copyright (c) 2004 Crossmap.com, used by permission
Thank you so much for your site. It's awesome. I am 21 years old. I live in Bitburg, Germany. I became a Christian a couple years ago. I have been an agnostic all my life but have come to recognize the truth of Christ. Your site was tailor made for me. I was wondering if I was the only Christian out there with my beliefs. I know Christ is who he says and I know that science is correct and that God created everything scientists discover such as physics and evolution. Every Christian I've run into has chastised me for my belief in evolution etc. I have contemplated many times withdrawing from Christianity but now I see that I don't need to. I believe that the bible has many accurate things in it but also I think many inaccurate things. I know that if something is given by God he gives proof. I plan to read your book. I am very excited. Five minutes ago I didn't see my religious future too brightly but because of your website I see a wonderful voyage of discovery ahead. You have given me the tools I need for reconciliation. I believe your website is a tool sent from God. Thank you so much. --Par Mac, 2003
Thank you for putting up a fascinating website. My beliefs have run along the same lines for many years, but I have seldom been able to express them as coherently. I am bookmarking this site for future reference and reading. Episcopalian in Shreveport, Louisiana [2003]
DEAR JOHN CALLAHAN--I WAS REAL EXCITED TO FINALLY FIND A GROUP THAT BELIEVES IN JESUS BUT ALSO DOES NOT DENY SCIENCE! I WISH I COULD FIND A CHURCH OR A GROUP TO WORSHIP WITH HERE IN TRIMBLE TENNESSEE, (CLOSE TO JACKSON TENNESSEE), THAT WOULD WORSHIP WITH THE FAITH IN JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR, AND ALSO SEE THAT GOD'S CREATION WAS DONE IN HIS WAY BILLIONS OF YRS AGO THROUGH THE USE OF (INCLUDING) EVOLUTION! PLEASE SEND ME ANYTHING YOU CAN AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO OFFER ADVISE AS TO WHERE I CAN FIND A GROUP NEAR ME WITH THIS FAITH! I AM 51 YRS OLD AND HAVE ALWAYS HEARD THE TEACHINGS OF FUNDAMENTALISTS DENYING SCIENCE AS IF IT WAS NOT THERE---THANK GOD I AM NOT ALONE IN THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS THAT SCIENCE AND GOD DO NOT HAVE TO CONTRADICT! --DARRELL, 2002
Dear Mr. Callahan,
I find your belief system very close to mine. I graduated from Georgia Tech in 1971 with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and went into the US Air Force. Along the way I earned a B.S. Physics from the U. of Maryland in 1985, having been driven by a curiosity with astronomy. However, I am a member of a non-denominational inerrant-Bible believing church in Annapolis, Md. I believe in the Father-Son-Holy Ghost Trinity and the personal acceptance of and relationship with Jesus Christ, and that my salvation is through Jesus and not by works. I study archaeology and historical linguistics for a hobby. I cannot understand why my fellow Christians don't wonder where the light came from that God created in Gen 1:3 on the first day when the sun and other stars weren't created until Gen 1:14 on the fourth day.
I left the Presbyterian church several years ago because they really didn't have much of a stance on anything. I believe the Bible when God talks about absolute moral values and the sanctity of human life. My fellow believers love to cite archaeological evidence in support of biblical histories but don't question at all the "hows" of Genesis. Jesus seems to have used "why" questions throughout his ministry so it seems that God wants us to be a curious people. The fact that my church closes the door on basic questions such as these has become a great concern to me. Yet I firmly believe that God created the universe and all that is within it.
I have read a lot of the material that you have posted on your internet website. Do you find many scientists that agree with you? Most of the theistic evolution websites don't say much about a belief in Jesus Christ and lose sight of a firm belief system in the stellar/biological evolution debate. Is there an established "nondenominational" around that has the same beliefs that you do as expressed in your Faith and Reason Ministries? Do you find any theologians that agree with you? I note that R. C. Sproul in "Reason to Believe" on page 23 states, "The Scripture describes nature from a phenomenological perspective. That is, the world of nature is described as it appears to the naked eye." and, "The Bible is not a textbook of science." (p. 24). Yet he goes on to reiterate the inerrancy of the Bible. I don't mind this "phenomenological perspective", but this viewpoint doesn't receive much attention in my church. I have read parts of your "Science and Christianity" on-line and agree with most of it.
Thanks for your time,
Hutch K. [2002]
John, you are absolutely right! Why there are still creationist beats me. There is so much evidence for it [evolution], yet I've yet to meet a creationist who has read or understood the simplest aspects of evolution. It's time for the religionist to bite the bullet and get on with it. Evolution is the best explanation for life's diversity. . . -- CS, 2002
ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT READ ALL I SHOULD ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION , I FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME. I WILL CONTINUE TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS , BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS -NOW -FOR SAYING WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS FELT. AND USING LOGIC AND WORDING THAT MAKES ME THINK IT CAN ALL FIT TOGETHER !! MY CONCERNS OF THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS AND WHAT THE CHURCHES I HAVE ATTENDED TEACH, HAVE KEPT ME AWAY FROM THE LORD AND I FEEL LOST. I HOPE THIS WILL ALLOW ME TO COMMIT LIKE I FEEL I NEED TO. --MARK G, 2000
Hi,
I am a Born Again Christian in Fresno California. But I am also convinced the Evolution by natural selection is a fact.
I turned up your web-page on a review of web sites in connection with a debate I am having with a friend about this very issue. I found your statement of faith and position tremendous.
I have been on a difficult path with this issue. I am forty now and an attorney. In my teens I was taught that scripture was the literal truth. But in my late teens and early twenties I found this belief system was not workable on the issue of the origin of life.
This caused a deep sense of disillusionment which moved me away from Christ, and into an agnostic belief system. This lasted though out my twenties and into my thirties.
Finally, in my mid-thirties I came to grips with this origin issue, and concluded that Christ could be and was the Son of God and died for my sins even though Evolution was a fact. This allowed me to move forward in my faith and not compromise my intellect (to the extent I have one).
Since I made that determination I have felt some what isolated in my belief system. In this area literalism is rampant, and therefore, I simply avoid the issue (I also avoid the issue because the important thing - from a life changing stand point - is whether someone accepts Christ's death and resurrection, not whether life on earth is the result of random development of self replicating RNA).
But I am happily surprised to find a ministry which has similar beliefs. So, I am very interested in obtaining as much information about your ministry as possible.
Robert S.
Fresno California [2000]
Dear John:
I recently visited your website and was absolutely delighted to read that one can believe in the divinity of Christ and still be friends with modern science (I suspected this was true previously). In all seriousness I was quite happy to find a ministry devoted to the topics that you are. This is much needed, especially today. In our local church (United Methodist) we are doing a set of studies on Genesis and I was wondering if you had any suggestions for study materials reconciling modern science with the Genesis account. Recently a "Creation Scientist" spoke at a local church and apparently suggested that if you didn't accept the literal interpretation of Genesis you were sadly mistaken (his name is Kent Hovind---perhaps you've heard of him). Though I didn't attend the seminar I heard quite a bit about it and was a little disturbed. Though I'm sure Dr. Hovind had good intentions, and apparently is a fairly intelligent fellow, he is what I might call one of the "fringe" elements in Christendom. Part of his explanation reconciling the 2 creation accounts as described in Genesis involved the order of creation in the Garden of Eden being different from the order for the remainder of the world. Any "light" you can shed on this topic as well as any other "Creation Science" topic would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Mark S. [1999]
I am very interested in your ministry. Your beliefs seem very similar to my own though I came by them a bit differently, i.e., through fundamentalist Baptist to Ayn Rand to C.S. Lewis. Please give me more information about your ministry. Do you have an actual church? What are your goals, etc., and how you plan to accomplish them? I am really interested. --Daryl, 1998
I found your site this morning through a pointer I found in a newsgroup. This is most definitely one of the best Christian sites I have found on the web.
Is your book available in bookstores, I would be interested in reading it.
Take Care,
Berry [1998]