Science and Christianity - from a Catholic scientist’s account

While many may have placed science and religion on two extreme polarities, as a Catholic scientist, or a scientific Catholic, I have always seen them as complementary rather than contradicting. As one who has brought up by a pair of loving parents with the education of reasons and rationales, the grace of the Lord has trained me to a PhD chemist/scientist. So, whenever I have heard people putting science and religion on both polarities, I’d always respond with a smile. I’m not an expert in theology, nor an expert in all aspects of science, but I would like to draw from my own experience on why science and Christianity (as I am a Catholic) are not of the opposite ends but rather, hand-in-hand in the process of our truth-seeking process.

One of the biggest similarities between science and Christianity, is that both strive to seek the truth.[1] In other words, instead of trying to disprove one another, both have a common goal. As Albert Einstein has put it, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind”. They are complementary to help us to find and understand what truth is. Science builds understanding based on the observations in the physical world, while Christianity deepens through the experience of the human race with the divine love. Both of them do not come out of nothing nor from pure imagination. Both of them are built upon a basis and interpolate/extrapolate using our current intellect. Both are not a rigid doctrine: advancement in technology and scientific understanding may overflow old theories and hypothesis – it is like quantum physics contrasts classical mechanics; and the relationship between the human race and God deepens as the human experience with the divine love intensifies.

Another similarity is that there are still huge perplexities in the understanding in both science and Christianity. Where do we come from? What is out there before the Big Bang? Is string theory true? There are always so many questions when we trace back to the very beginning. Scientists would set up postulates, where a proposed theory has not been rebuked yet by proofs or evidence and accepted. This could be a faith in science. It is not a blind faith, it is based on proofs and evidence to develop into them. On the other hand, there are always unanswered questions regarding God, and the divine world. The analogy of scientists in the church is perhaps the religious fathers, who have studied and researched from history, spirituality, observations and a bunch of solid studies to develop Christian doctrines.

The acceptance of this unrevealed reality draws both scientists and Christians to the common ground - humility. It is to accept that we are limited so that we can learn and grow. And in both science and Christianity, we are seeking in our growth in the truth.

Perhaps one might argue, that science does not prove that God exists while in Christianity, we believe the existence of God. However, this God is not the God that perhaps now being commonly illustrated by people in the world. God is not the existence of a supreme being who is an item in the world or above the world. God is also not a distant object, who has wound things up and went to retirement.[2] So, what is the God in Christianity? In Exodus, God told Moses, “I am who I am.” One might say, this does not illustrate anything! But God’s nature is to be, according to Thomas Aquinas.[3] He is not the one being among many, nor the one contingent among many. He is the being. This is perhaps why we can already experience God even when we are still. (Psalm 46:10). We need not earn to experience Him, nor need to do anything to get a taste of God. By definition, God is the sheer act of being itself.

The Bible is not a scientific book that is composed of factual history but consists of inspirational insights. In Genesis, God creates the world from nothing. He does not impose his will on some rival power nor to His creation. But rather, through a sheerly generous, non-violent act of love, God gives rise to all things. And creatures, as the bible described, are a relationship to God.²

The worm transitions to butterfly, tiny seeds grow into giant trees, little babies become mature adults. The world is evolving, and we are growing in God’s nourishment. As Thomas Aquinas described, God is still in continual creation. God is still at work and He is still creating. Our deepest centre is created by God and therefore we are all interconnected by our bonding with God. God is provident and not distant.

It is through divine love and grace who has opened my eyes to appreciate the beauty of the nature. And it is through the beauty of nature that has immersed me into deep divine love.

- written on Apr-12, 2020

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[1] Polkinghorne, J. C. (2007) Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship. (2007) Yale University Press.

[2] Bishop Barron, R. Word on Fire. Accessed by: https://www.wordonfire.org/study-programs/catholicism/

[3] Humphries, T. L. (2019) The Oxford Handbook of Catholic Theology. Ed. Ayres, L. Volpe, M. A. Oxford University Press.

派口罩 - 誰的恩寵？Face masks donation - Who’s grace?

一場疫症使許多人陷入絕境之中。儘管我們大多都添置了幾盒的口罩，仍有許多基層及長者無法購買一個面罩來保護自己免受感染。不少團體都舉辦了口罩捐贈，這不僅是讓有需要人士得以配備口罩，而是關愛他們的一種體現。

我很高興可以參與派口罩的善工。短短的兩小時讓我可以拜訪一些有需要的老人家，並向他們分發捐贈的口罩。服務期間，我腦海中浮現出一句話：“施予比領受更為有福”（宗20:35）。然而，「施予」其實也是一種領受！我們正正在接受施予的喜樂。能夠分享是多麼的幸福啊！社會裡有多少人連基本保護也沒有，然而，我們卻可以作「樂捐的人」（格後9：7），這意味著我們不僅足夠，還有餘有剩！而老人家的微笑，更為我們在這樣的一個沮喪時期充了電！

究竟誰是施予者？我不能分辨。但我們所有人都一同分享了偉大的愛情。

這就如耶穌架上七言中的一句，「我渴」（若19:28）。耶穌並不是真的要喝水，卻是連臨死的一刻都不忘我們，給我們一個機會去為祂服務，因為祂知道，在施予中才能讓我們分享我們所受的愛，祂要給我們這個機會讓我們即使再軟弱的時候，仍然可以透過施予，讓我們重拾愛德，並再次品嚐了這一份包含著犧牲的大愛。

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This pandemic has drawn many into despair. While most of us have equipped ourselves with boxes of face masks, there are many out there suffering and unable to even acquire one face mask to protect themselves from infection. Many ministries have organised face mask donation services, which is not a mere act of masks giving, but a share of care and love to those in need. 

I am grateful to be one of those joining the face mask giving service. It was not a long service, but I am glad to be able to visit some needy elderly and distributed donated face masks to them. During the encounter, the saying of “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) popped up in my mind. Yet, at that particular moment, “to give” is also an act of receiving! We are actually receiving the joy that we are able to share. Being able to share is such a bliss! How many were there out there without even adequate protections? And indeed, we are here being the cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7), meaning that not only we have adequate but also we have spare! And the smiles from the elderly in receiving the face masks have given us joy which has lightened our day in such a depressing period. 

Who is the giver? I could barely tell. But at least, I could say that we have all shared and tasted the great love. 

This recalls one of the Last Seven Words of Jesus on the cross, “I thirst." (Jn 19:28). He did not need to drink when He was approaching death. But Jesus let us offer Him a drink, because He knew we need it. We need the opportunity to offer, which is not for the glory of God but for us to manifest our love. When we receive love we want to share it, and by sharing it we multiply the gift of love. That is the reason why Jesus encourages us to go out to serve others. It is by sharing this sacrificing love redeems us all from our desperations. 

聖週六避靜 - 交付自己，讓祂托起

今天的避靜主題是交付自己，讓祂托起。

非常感恩夏主教的真誠分享，他用「空中飛人」去比喻交托給天主的情境，對我尤其深刻。

是的，要由高空跳下去，的確很需要勇氣。或許我們會害怕，甚至不敢跨越這個看似龐大的鴻溝。但原來死亡的對岸有最大的慈愛來擁抱我們。聖週六，就正正是在空中飛越的那一剎，是那個等待、不安的時刻。

這個空中飛人的情境，忽然讓我聯想到從前的物理練習。

不知大家還記得物理中的能量轉換(energy conversion)嗎？

在高處，物件擁有最高的勢能(potential energy)，當物件從高往低掉下來的時候，這種勢能會轉化為動能(kinetic energy)。

以空中飛人的情境來說，在跳下來之前，那人的勢能是最高的，當他跳下來以後經歷最低峰時，他的勢能已經完全消耗，卻在這時，他的動能變成最高的，亦即他是最活躍的時刻，然後他藉助跳下來的衝力緩緩攀升，動能又再次轉化為勢能。

胡思聯想，若以聖週五六日作比喻，苦難日似乎是把耶穌推向了深谷，掉進了谷底，然而，就是在這個「谷底」，耶穌卻還是活躍的，不斷救贖人類。雖然我們頓然不見了耶穌，覺得很傍徨，但原來耶穌一直在暗地裡為我們的救贖工作而忙碌。

我們呢？我們又是否願意勇敢跨越這個看似龐大的鴻溝，將天主賞給我們的潛能(potential)/勢能，逐漸轉化為跟隨基督的動能，拋棄罪惡，飛越到天主充滿恩寵的懷抱呢？

Year of 2018

Thank you, for coming into my life. 

This year has been incredible for me - nothing can be expected, but that’s what called to be an adventure.
There were many struggles, but there were also tonnes of grace.
And after a year’s time (or nine months), I have "back to clarity”. (Ref: my lovely landlady in Canberra 😛)
Or I should better say, I have learned another side of me. 

Thank you everyone who has entered into my life, and especially those I have encountered this year.
You all have inspired and shaped me to be the one I am.
No matter how you like it or not, 

By the grace of the Lord I am what I am, and I have learned that for whatever situation I am to be content. (1 Cor 15:10, Phil 4:11)
Let’s call this a year.

P.S. Nothing more majestic than a view like this!
(Photo was taken at Lake Tekapo, NZ)

When Love begins... (again :D)

After a yearlong study in Australia, I came to an eight-day silence directed retreat before I head back home for another new page in life. I am so grateful for the people who have prayed for me in this wonderful retreat and I’m thankful to say I have a super rewarding spiritual journey in these eight days. These eight days have been revolutionary for me, just like the process that a caterpillar took to transform into a butterfly. I did literally feel so different from the one eight days before the retreat.

I did ardently desire for an eight-day silence directed retreat after my adventures in Australia before I start a new page back home. How did I find out this retreat? Ask Google. Long story short, I found out the Jesuit retreat centre in Melbourne and attended. God’s grace to me has been tremendous. He has given me a very experienced spiritual director. Her experienced eyes and directions were just to the point where I needed most. I simply could not express in words my gratefulness towards her. On the last day, I found out she was actually the pastor for the Bali Nine death row prisoners who were executed in 2015. I hope I am not condemned to death yet that God has to send me such experienced guide to rescue me!

No matter what, this angel that He has sent me has helped me to recognize the Love and Joy that I have attained through my past and present encounter with God. And that has created in me a new, deep and fascinating bonding with Him. I did literally feel that I have moved from the Old Testament to the New Testament in this retreat. A new page that is written by God’s love, not by fear. Yet, I know that is just a fresh start. The foundation and principle that are recently unwrapped are still in the infancy stage. In order to let them grow and have deep roots, I still need His Spirit to help me to jump through all the hurdles that are to come.

To be frank, my move to Australia was never about the study. What could drive a PhD to pursue study a master? There might be a number of reasons, but for me, it was my desire to search. What was I searching? I could hardly tell. Perhaps it is a deep desire that I want to be a better self, yet I do not know what to do.

And that was when the transforming moment came - when I was scribbling in my journal, these words fell off from my pen,

“You do not need to do anything in particular.
Just to be with me.
And I know you’ll rejoice because of Love.”

“Look at the babies
They eat and drink and sleep
They do not need to solve calculus to be adorable,
Nor they need to know Schrodinger’s cat to be joyful.
It is that simplicity that makes them cute.
And they are great saints.”

“We are not born for a career, a ministry nor a particular person.
We are born from God as His dear sons and daughters.
We are born to glorify God by our lives.”

And a beautiful prayer did come up during my encounter with Him,

“Come, Holy Spirit, Come.
Drive me to the things that are closely bonded to God.
Guide me not to focus on the outcome of work, but rather do everything with joy.
For this joy is brought from the great love of you have for me.
And for that I could say “rejoice”!
Take my mind off the things that distract me from your love,
But take my being to show the glory of God.”

To me, these words are so powerful. Perhaps, they were just ordinary words. But to me, they were the powerful words that have connected the dots throughout my yearlong adventure in Australia. The whole year has made so much sense to me right now.

I came to Australia having the desire to discover more about myself, and what I can do for God. But now, I realized that it is through my past that I have received so much grace from God and I have a deeper desire to stay in His love. And by shifting the focus on His love, I have attained joy and peace. By knowing more of his love and grace, I get to know “I am what I am” (Philippians 4:4). And by total surrender to His Love and let it pull me forward (St. Augustine), I do not actually need to worry what I should do for God and be a better self. By taking up the armor of God, we’ll remain perfect in all things (Ephesians 6:13).

It is like even after the retreat, I got no concrete answers for what I could do for God, but I have found love. It’s his merciful love that I recognized that I do not need to do great things for Him, but just be one of His little ones and to do little things with great love (St Therese of Child Jesus). And so “in whatever situation I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

Moment of gratitude

Sometimes I felt I haven’t been here for long.
But sometimes I felt time has disappeared like a flash.

Tonight is a night of thanks.
Thank God for opening my eyes with all the new experiences and adventures.

And one thing I’m so thankful for the year is to know about Jesus Youth in Canberra.
I could see God’s presence and immense faith in many JY members.
And some of their sharing has deeply moved me.
I’m yet to know how this encounter will unfold in the future, but I’m certainly grateful to be part of JY.

While there are many ministries out there, I recalled I was totally amazed by the openness of one leader in a ministry.
"Do not let any ministry trap you.
You do not belong to that ministry, but you have only one identity - "You are the beloved son/daughter of God"
The ministry is only there to draw you closer to Him, not your identity.”

Thank you

Scarcity Tunnel

The story begins with a woman, who had suddenly lost her job and got divorced. So she worried about not having enough daily necessities for her and her children all the time. One day, she received a new credit card. She grabbed it right away and ran out to buy toilet papers and food that can last for months with the credit. She has forgotten that there were the electric bills standing out there. Without the ability to pay the expenses, she became in debt. And a vicious cycle began.

It might look insane to us to spend all the card credits to toilet papers while not paying electric bills. But this is caused by a “scarcity tunnel”, as introduced by the episode.

In the “scarcity tunnel”, as the podcast puts, one has a tunnel vision that one can only see the things he/she does not have. It is like covering the eyes of the horse with the “flip” so that it can only see the things ahead and not anything on the sideways. When one is having this scarcity tunnel vision, the thing that is lacking is on top of the head, and everything else is abandoned.

Of course, we might not be so scared about not having enough toilet papers (except when you’re stuck in the toilet without toilet papers) that we will accumulate toilet papers for months, but we all have our own fear. Fear of not being accepted in a social circle may lead us to put on a mask and act not as our true selves. Fear of failures may prevent us to try something new or take on a new role. Fear of insecurity may lead us to hold onto something worldly that does not really give us true security. Examples? Money, houses, cars, or even a boyfriend/girlfriend.

But why do we fear? I have no answers for everyone.

Lack of security.
Fear of not having enough (inadequacy) leads to greediness, which drives us insane to take more and want more of something we may not actually need.
Fear of being ignorant leads to dishonesty, where we make stuff up to make ourselves look good and worthy.
Realizing our fear of deficiency that may trap us inside the scarcity tunnel may be a solution for us not falling into it.
“It is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things in all that is allowed to the choice of our free will.” -Ignatius Loyola (1491–1556) and the Spiritual Exercises)

But why am I fear?

If adequacy gives us a “tunnel vision”, could we make use of it for the greater glory of God?

This is perhaps why Jesus says “How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:3)

When we think we are poor in spirit, we will focus on the spirit.

And perhaps, when we are having a tunnel vision on God, we put all our effort into seeking Him, and therefore having the kingdom of Heaven!

It suddenly makes so much sense.

Thanks God!

*The podcast episode mentioned here is the episode “Too Little, Too Much: How Poverty and Wealth Affect Our Minds” featured on Hidden Brain.