[betty boop]

Science assumes a rational universe. Science got the idea from Christianity, which, intellectually speaking, is a blend of Hellenism and Judaism. Islam. by the way, reduces it all to God's WILL. Hence, it could not produce science.

I see the problem just that way too, RobbyS.

To "reduce it all to God's WILL" is to say that God refuses to covenant with Man so to establish a truthful order that both parties agree to observe (this is completely unnecessary for God, but through His Son Jesus Christ He freely enters into this covenant out of His boundless love for us).

Islam, on the other hand, posits a wholly transcendent God that has no relations whatsover with His creation other than the master-slave relation. That is, all human applications of reason directed to Himself or His creation are exercises in diminishing His transcendent glory -- and He will not stand for this "treason," but will punish willy-nilly any who impugns His absolute Otherness.

Christianity is about FREEDOM. Islam is about SERVITUDE -- the latter supposedly "VOLUNTARY" (or you get your head cut off).

What a madhouse our world has become! I imagine this may be because we have lost our connection to our Father in heaven, whose LOGOS made us, and all of the rest of the universe.

Then again, you never know where or when "the next shoe will drop." Christian faith is all about faith, and HOPE, and love.

And then, you leave the rest up to Him.

Thank you so very much for writing, RobbyS.

P.S.:
You're right about systematic science not rising in the Eastern cultures. They had no foundation for that, given their philosophy of a god immanent in and coextensive with the physical universe. They couldn't even call it a "creation," for that would imply a beginning in time -- a notion which Eastern philosophies for some reason find uncongenial. What is lacking in such a system of thought is the idea of the Person -- a concept stressed by Judeo-Christian theology. It is only because God is "Person" (times three) that a man can be "a person."

Just think about that when you get the chance. And have sweet dreams this night!

[hosepipe]

[ To "reduce it all to God's WILL" ]

Muslims has always stated it all is the will of Allah(whatever)..
Gnostism.. "fatalism".. and other gnostic qualia..

There has been many gnostic variations in history..
Some them are even christian.. and Jewish..

[.30Carbine]

There are many passages of Scripture, old and new, which deal with the subject of God's Will. The first and best that comes to mind in reading the posts each of you has written to me is this one:

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
~Matthew 6:10

Rationally we may conclude from this and many other evidences that we do not yet see and experience God's Will being done on earth as it already is being done in Heaven. That's my conclusion anyway. It is not that the Great and Glorious Creator does not know of or superintend over all that transpires, as if anything could take God by surprise, but rather that in His Overarching Plan we do not yet see all things brought under His Dominion and Righteousness.

But we will!