Though each of us has a unique subjective perspective, the truth regarding questions of reality outside our control is not dependent upon what we believe. It's our goal to find and then form beliefs in and around the truth. - George F. Garlick Ph.D
I've recently become aware of and very interested in the subject of apologetics. If you're not familiar, this term does not refer to a group of people who feel remorseful, but to those who use science and philosophy to explain and defend a position. Specifically, this term currently applies to scientists, Christian and otherwise, who have stumbled upon proofs they wish to share with a world that on one hand demands it, and on the other hand completely rejects it without even looking at it.
And there is a lot of this proof. I am one of many who was raised in a Christian home by Christian parents who were afraid to even define the word "evolution" for me. As a result, when I went to college, I was completely bulldozed by professors who were more than happy to define it and use it to dismantle my faith. If my parents had given me vital information, I could have stood strong against this onslaught, but they didn't have it themselves and felt threatened by it. Now there are many, many books out there on the subject, notably those by Lee Strobel. I just finished reading The Case for a Creator by Strobel and it was incredible.
I thought The Journey to Truth would be basically an abbreviated version of The Case for a Creator, but while in the same vein, it offers a slightly different inoculation. The author, George F. Garlick (Ph.D), was a pioneer in the field of Holographic Ultrasound Technology, used in imaging. An intimate knowledge of the science involved and the study of physics gave him a unique perspective on the relationship between science and God. He chose to share these insights not out of a desire for fame, as he is well known as both a scientist and a philanthropist, nor for fortune, as all profits from the book are being donated to charities, but out of a genuine desire to enrich the lives of others.
I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read this book for review purposes, because it has absolutely given my rational brain a greater understanding of God in a way I never thought possible. We live in an empirical world, a world that demands evidence, and often even that isn't enough. Many Christians believe that those of us that crave such proofs are weak, that we ought to accept spiritual truths at face value. And they're probably right. On the other side there is the secular world, which has been given the mistaken impression that Christians are unintelligent because we're afraid of science.
Well Christians, there is no basis to this fear of science. If you seek, you will find, as I have, that science will actually bolster your faith to a degree you never thought possible. In fact, I think every Christian ought to read these books, I don't think it's possible to evangelize in this day and age without this vital information.
There are only two drawbacks to this book. The first is that the science is completely mind-bending, and while he tries, Garlick does not always do a very good job of making sense of it for the lay person. For example, when trying to explain the pre-creation state, he uses the example of an ice cube. When you heat it, it turns to water. Okay, I'm with you. Then gas. Still with you. Then an atom gas, then an ionized gas. Okay, got it. Then he says "Forces Unite With Strong" and then "All Forces Unite," without explaining what the heck that means. Lost me. The other drawback is that Garlick's abbreviated life story is mixed into the narrative. It's an interesting story, but it often seems totally random and distracts from the rest. If you aren't a science minded individual this will be difficult reading, but worth it. Even if you don't understand 100% of it, you will get the big picture, and that big picture is revolutionary and inspirational. If you're a book snob, the randomness will bother you at times, but you'll get past it.
Even with these drawbacks, I give this book five stars because of the enormous impact it has had on me, which overshadows everything else.
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I completely agree that science and religion can be and are completely related and scientific knowledge can actually increase faith rather than detract from it. Glad you enjoyed the book.
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