MEXICO – Carol Cantin has never had a problem meshing science and religion.
“Evolution makes sense, and nature is just so awesome,” she said after Sunday’s service at the Congregational Church. “And I don’t think God is done with us yet.”
Cantin and many others agreed with the sermon delivered by the Rev. Virginia Snapp-Cunningham in observance of Evolution Sunday.
The day, being celebrated through sermons, group discussions and Sunday School classes in at least 500 churches across the country, is aimed to show that science and religion aren’t enemies.
“Our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters were taught that evolution is just one of the tools God uses in creating the world,” said Snapp-Cunningham during her sermon.
She said the adherence to a belief that God acts only by performing miracles and not by upholding the processes of nature can sometimes lead students in science classes to believe that in order to believe in evolution they must reject their faith.
That is not true, she said.
Quoting Albert Einstein, she said, “Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.’ We need science to search for truth and to seek answers to the what’ and how,’ while we need religion to catch a glimpse of the answer to the question why.'”
Jonathan Gamble, 18, a senior at Mountain Valley High School, said the message was a good one.
“Science and religion have been divided. This was a unifying message. The contrast between evolution and creationism is nonexistent,” said the senior, who plans to attend college with majors in English and religion next year.
Tori Bohren, a 13-year-old from Mexico, also likes the message that the two are tied together.
“God created everyone, with evolution as a tool,” she said.
Longtime church member Marcia Hamlin said she believes a lot of the Bible should not be taken literally.
“The stories are a teaching message,” she said,
Not everyone agreed with the compatibility of science and religion.
Bev Cantin, the church’s organist, said the Bible and creation should be taken literally.
“If you use Scriptures, everything falls into place. Evolution is a theory and has never been proven. The Bible has been authenticated,” she said.
Roland Arsenault sees both sides.
Maybe God created both creationism and evolution,” he said. “Doctors and scientists have believed in both sides,” he said.
Snapp-Cunningham said she chose to participate in the nationwide Evolution Sunday service because she believes that for too long the argument between science and religion has been made into a big issue about nothing.
“When I read the clergy letter about Evolution Sunday, I couldn’t not follow up. Fundamentalism defines the Bible literally. I hope that people would come (today) with new ears,” she said.
Nine churches took part in Evolution Sunday from throughout the state.
The clergy letter aims to quiet a claim by some that people must choose between religion and modern science. The Feb. 12 observation date was chosen because it is the 197th birthday of Charles Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution.
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