Perhaps it’s unfair to reply after so much time has elapsed. But I had no idea anyone responded to what I posted at the time.

Perhaps saying that scripture doesn’t adequately describe an intangible, transcendent, infinite being is poor wording. But the proponents of faith quiet often (not always) turn their faith into an absolute truth that everyone must follow. Orthodox Christianity, for example, may say that the notion of giving a full description of God is preposterous. But many members of Orthodox Christianity will also think it preposterous that one doesn’t agree and follow in their faith. So faith ends up being, in my opinion, in the eye of the believer.

As for whether science and religion can mix– science is about evidence. Science looks for what can be measured and described. Since God cannot be measured or properly described, science cannot be used to study God directly. This is why religion and science have trouble mixing. Science says, “show me”. Faith says, “only believe”.

I’m not saying that a religious person cannot be a good scientist. But, such a person must understand that their religious feelings must remain apart from scientific discovery. Unless, of course, the scientific method somehow has confirmed through collected evidence that those religious feelings are valid.

Chazzazz:

Your question fascinates me! What a neat thought! (In my opinion, at least).

Material from Joseph Campbell may have some interesting insight. I would like to know what members of the panel would offer, too, as an explanation.

I think the idea of a real person named Santa Claus only furthers Colin McGinn’s analogy.

Think of it this way: perhaps God exists, but not in the way that any particular ancient scripture text may claim. God may exist without ever living up to the “classical” image held by most religious fundamentalists — omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

Also, what if all ancient scripture text has failed to correctly or adequately described God? More people are aware of the commercialized Santa Clause as oppose to the real, living Monk who has this same name. This may be true with God– most people believe God exists according to ancient descriptions from various texts of choice. Maybe God is nothing like any of those ancient descriptions at all and could never live up to the image of the “classical” God.

Then again, maybe God doesn’t exist at all. Who can prove this either way?

We are fortunate to have someone come forward and inform us that Santa Clause does indeed exist. But we are not so fortunate that God should come forward, I’m afraid.

Only faith can answer that question of God’s existence. And just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is faith.