Every cloud has a silver lining

Creation vs and Evolution

Creation vs and Evolution

(for those who wish to cut to the chase, just scroll down and read the parts that are in larger font)

I had brief but most interesting encounter during lunch today. As I looked around for a table to have a quick lunch of economy rice (that’s rice with side dishes), I found an empty table and proceeded to sit there. There was an old Indian man, dressed very simply, having his lunch at one of the tables next to mine. Even though I’ve sat down at my initially-chosen table, I got up and shifted to his table. Mainly because I found my table to be rather hot and though there were empty tables nearby, I somehow chose to share this man’s table instead. He noticed my saying grace and conversation was struck.

Man:     Are you a Christian?

Me:      Not exactly. I’m Buddhist, I’m Christian and I believe in the Hindu gods too. I believe in God and  His Divine Kingdom.

Man:     Good. Good. Always I say that it’s not the religion that’s important. It’s the person that matters. So what if you are a Christian if you do bad things? So what if you are a Muslim if you are unkind? So what if you are a Buddhist if you do evil? So what if you are a vegetarian if you kill?

Ah, not a simple man. Actually, I was in a hurry to finish my lunch because I was on a tight schedule to make a delivery and a subsequent appointment. But I thought the few minutes extra I spare with this man could make a difference. I thoroughly agreed with him and our conversation progressed. It turns out that he was a Christian. At which I noticed the cap he was wearing. Handwritten on his red cap were words in yellow:

God is Great

Amen

He explained that he is a preacher. He preaches about God and Christianity to those who would listen. Wherever he is and whenever someone asks or listens. For he had his own direct experience of God or rather Jesus Christ. He was disturbed by the devil. When he prayed to Jesus, he came and banished the devil from him. Since that experience, he has made it a point to share of Jesus and God.

Me:       How do you preach about God to an atheist?

Man:     How else can this world exist? In its beauty, design and splendor.

Me:       So you believe in Creation?

Man:     Yes. God created the universe in 6 days and He rested 1 day. That’s why we have 7 days in a week. Why else would we have 7 days in a week? Why not 10?

Me:      The scientists have all the evidence that the universe is created by the Big Bang. And that the universe is slightly less than 14 billion years old. What about evolution?

Man:    The scientists may not get everything right. I don’t believe in them on these.

Me:      I believe in God. I have my own experiences with Him and His Divine helpers. I too try to lead people back to God. Don’t you find that in today’s modern world, more and more people who are learned and scientifically inclined are deviating away from God and Christianity? … and that’s because of Creation vs Evolution and Big Bang? All the scientific evidence is there. It’s no coincidence that many scientists are atheists. Belief in Creation goes against the grain of their scientific training.

I paused.

Me:     What if there’s a way to explain Creation that most atheists and science-inclined people are able to accept?

He looked at me in earnest.

Me:     What if the universe was not created in 6 earth days?

His eyes widened slightly. I proceeded to explain to him.

1 day is defined as the time it takes a planet to make a full revolution on its axis. Traditionally, it’s measured as the period of time measured from one noon to the following noon. On earth, it’s 24 hours. Every planet rotates at a different speed and hence the length of day varies on different planets. 1 day on Jupiter is only 9h 56min while 1 day on Venus is equivalent to 116 earth days and 18hrs.

Me:     What if the Creator created the universe in 6 Creator Days? It doesn’t have to be earth days ie 24 hour-days. Does the Bible specify that it’s earth days?

He gave a slight shake of head.

Genesis 2:2  : And on the 7^th day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the 7^th day from all His work He had made

That sounds more like God day to me rather than earth day. What if the Creator took 6 of His days to create the universe and took 1 Creator-day off to rest? Why, the Creator is so powerful that He must be beyond time or He must be able to do so much with so little time (to Him). It takes Him just 6 Creator-days to create the universe. And after resting 1 Creator-day, my my … the universe is some (let’s just be arbitrary) 13 billion earth-years old. Still plenty of time for evolution to take place. (The universe is about 13.82 years old now)

The Bible is right. And so is Charles Darwin. And so are the physicists and scientists.

The conversation ended with silence. When I left him, there was a look of … Light on his face. I hope he will continue his good work preaching of God and that our conversation will help him and all those whom he comes into contact with. God bless him. May we meet again.

May all the faiths who believe in Creation as explained by Genesis benefit from this sharing.

When we interpret the Bible contextually as opposed to literally (in this case, in the context of the Creator instead of man), we can gain so much insight from it. In fact, it’s most natural that the reader interprets whatever he or she reads in the context of the contents as it flows.

I must give credit where this interpretation is due though. It is not an uncommon knowledge amongst Buddhists that the different realms of existence have different passage of time. Basically, the higher the realm of existence, the slower the passage of time (as measured to earth time). Since the Creator is higher than all others in the universe, surely time must pass slower in His realm than all other realms in the universe.

Thus I came to accept Genesis’ Creation as a Buddhist. It must’ve been around 2003-2004 during my first spiritual searching phase that I came to this realization. Or perhaps earlier during my late teens when I discussed spirituality and faiths with some of my friends back then. I’ve been sharing this ever since. Especially to the Christians I come across and when the subject comes up. I now share this over the internet.

There need not be endless debates on Creation vs Evolution/Big Bang. Evolution can take place after Creation. (Big Bang can simply be the Moment of First Creation)

No more Creation vs Evolution

It’s Creation AND Evolution.

PS: I did my best to recall and present the conversation as it happened. While the account of the conversation may not be 100% accurate, it captures the essence and spirit of our conversation. God bless the man.God bless everyone.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everybody!

On this day, let us not forget the message of Jesus:

We are all Children of God & our Father loves us all. Salvation & Heaven is there for all of us.

Have a great day my brothers & sisters.

One God, one family,
All Love, all family.

God bless!

Thou Shalt Not Kill ... A Dilemma

RIP 11.12.13

Kitten on my doorstep

Cold and in tears

Soaked in blood

In pain and in fear

Oh who did this to you?

To the vet, let's go

Broken leg, punctured abdomen

Doc said you are meant to go

My turn in tears

I wanted to save you

What should I do?

Death let it not be so

Ultrasound reveals

Ruptured bladder

That you are alive

It's a wonder

My choice, your life

Sleep now or suffer more

Hush Kitty hush

To God, forevermore

*****************************************************

It was not the first time I tried to save an animal. But it was the first time I had to make the call.


When I first found Kitty, there was diluted blood all over. Not the thick fresh blood kind. So I thought it was just some blood diluted by water or rain and it's nothing serious. I gave it water but it wasn't interested. It was in so much pain it didn't bother to mew or cry till I washed it to try and find the wound. There was no wound. Only diluted blood oozing out of an orifice that I assumed to be her vagina.

I had a tough time when the vet said that by his experience the kitten can't be saved. Broken hind leg and the orifice is not her vagina. It was probably caused by a vehicle running over the kitten such that the pressure forced open a tiny orifice in the lower abdomen...

I had to compose myself. I really thought I could save a life here. Fated as it was that she came to my doorstep. But I can't end a life based on a doc's visual inspection and examination. So I paid for the ultrasound scan. Doc was right. The kitten had internal injuries. Ruptured bladder. That explains the diluted blood. Probably blood and urine. I can't imagine how much pain Kitty had to go through. She looks to be just a few weeks old ...

I thought I can face death without fear and in peace. I thought I could accept death and impermanence.

It was not an easy decision to make. I know life is precious. I know pain is real. I know my decision determines whether Kitty lives or not, whether she continues to suffer or not. It's a decision not many would want to make. It's a decision many couldn't make.


"Thou shalt not kill"
Famous Commandment. 1 of the 10 handed by God to Moses. "You Shall Not Kill".
In Buddhism, one of the precepts (the first) says that "I shall undertake to abstain from killing".
On these words, laws have been written and arguments fought.

Euthanasia, or assisted killing is a divisive issue in many places. It is legal for animals but in many places illegal if practised on a human. But I'm not a lawyer and I'm not going to discuss the legality of euthanasia.

Kitty's appearance surfaced a question -
How steadfastly (rigidly) should a believer follow the words of God? 
or How rigidly should we follow the letter of our faith's doctrines?

I have sworn the Buddhist 5 Precepts and if I don't remember all 10 of the Commandments, I remember "Thou shalt not kill". I have never been one to follow blindly. It is said that the Buddha advocated to never follow nor believe blindly. I have always tried to interpret the spirit and context of the words of God, of Buddha, of Prophets, religious figures and leaders, etc. When we understand the context when the words were spoken, we shall understand the spirit of the pronouncements of wisdom.

A man may have spoken "I love you" or even "I love you forever" to his lover. And yet, when the relationship does not work out, should the woman hold him to his words ... forever? Should an ex-lover hold her lover's promise of  "I love you" forever and demand that the man divorce his now-wedded wife on the basis of such words and promises of a time past? Can we understand that the man meant those words at the very moment of love when he declared such to his love? Have you ever declared "I'll never ..." and yet find yourself breaking that vow/promise due to new insight or perception? These questions are meant for us to ponder on the validity of pronouncements made, on their context and applicability.

What do you think is the spirit of "Thou shalt not kill" ?
To me, Compassion. For life. For living beings. For all who live, for all that live deserve to live. Compassion means wishing that no other being have to suffer. And death is usually seen as the ultimate suffering that is accompanied with pain and even fear. And yet, we also know very well, pain is suffering and that pain can be unbearable.

And hence, I made the decision to put Kitty to sleep. With someone hushing her to God, in love and in peace. The alternative was to futilely try to extend her life for a few more days, in pain and of suffering.

I hope that if "Thou shalt not kill" ever cause a moral dilemma to anyone, let them get the spirit of the words. And that is .. compassion.

RIP Kitty 11.12.13.