In this modern world mankind is heading away from faith and belief in a creator and or god. Seems to be two forces at work and in battle for the hearts and minds of mankind.Which side will be the victor, the side of logic and science or the side of miracles and faith? Depends on the individual you ask, Faith is a very strong teacher and healer but so is science. Though many think science and religion are incompatible with each other they compliment each other quite well at times. Religion is pretty much a constant, the basic belief system and the scriptures remain pretty much the same through time. Science on the other hand is ever changing and evolving as we learn more and dismiss scientific theories of the past. So what science sees as truth one day could be dismissed as false on the next.

Science has been doing this for as long as it existed, from the belief the earth was the center of our solar system and universe to the world being flat. This is not to discredit science in any way, one must learn to crawl before one can learn to run. Science must change and adapt as our species increases its knowledge and understanding. Religion on the other hand teaches principles and morals that never go out of date. What is wrong or right never changes, just the public opinion of what is right or wrong does. Thing is mankind has the inclination to lust for and do what is wrong while we desire to do what is right. Sometimes I wonder which is harder for us, To do what is right or to abstain from what is wrong.

Familiarity breeds acceptance and indulgence, To be surrounded by immoral acts and mentality will eventually lead to the declination of the moral fiber in almost any person. The more we are exposed to something the more we become numb and accepting of it. Very few strong willed individuals may be able to resist the effects of being in a pool of immorality. Those will be very few and far in-between. Being social creatures by nature we tend to follow the crowd and strive to indulge ourselves in what the crowd sees as right and or popular. This is also true in the opposite, what the crowd views as wrong or inappropriate one will adopt as their own belief.

Seems humans are very susceptible to the mob mentality and easily get enthralled by any group mentality. I guess this is a leftover from our primal and survival instincts that linger in our subconscious. It is very similar to stampedes in cattle where danger incites fear then a mass fleeing reaction. Fight or flight instinct is the main cuprite behind this kind of behavior in humans and animals alike. The main difference between a human and an animals is that usually a human can override and or ignore their instincts. We have the mental capacity to be an individual and choose to or not to follow the group and or mob.

Freewill is one of the greatest gifts God has bestowed upon man, It is also one of the gifts that can bring the greatest rewards and or penalties. Having freewill is to also have the responsibility for your actions and the effects they have upon others. Follow the golden rule and use common sense to avoid the pitfalls of having freewill. Walk with compassion and understanding towards and for all others to be a person of peace and integrity. Keep faith in your heart so that the trials of life do not wear you down and forgive both yourself and others for the mistakes or misjudgments that happen in life.

May Peace and Love be your guide
Raymond Barbier

Related Articles

• Morality: ‘We can send religion to the scrap heap’ (newscientist.com)
• Jerry Coyne Speaks out! (anatheist.net)
• The human mind – a history (openparachute.wordpress.com)
• Postmodernism (socyberty.com)
• Truth and consolation | Andrew Holding (guardian.co.uk)
• The End of God? (guardian.co.uk)
• Introducing Science Versus Faith (mojoey.blogspot.com)
• Science and Morality (sciencebasedmedicine.org)