May I ask what is the foundation of your belief?
Is it the bible?
If so may I ask have you read the bible " cover to cover" or do you select only the parts that you feel make sence.
I am genuinely curious and as you seem to like your science I would like to know how you deal with the bible given it is so wrong in many parts.
I think it would be strange to expect a human breeding program and then make lust a sin.
Alex
For me having faith in God does not come in contradiction with my rationalistic self. I can manage both like millions others.
I do not think that the structured concept of hell or heaven or religion came the day human beings first came in, after all these concepts are all in scriptures, and such scripting could have taken place only after human race acquired some civility, some knowledge, means only after we started living in atleast a primitive social set up. That sums up your questions.
Elaboratung further, you see lust must be exercised with restrain in a civilized society but certainly it was not applicable to primitive human beings like animals of today. So acting on lust may lead you to criminal offense, that is the outcome of civil society, but in Godly rule book this soils your inner self and straight road to sin.
Yes you are right bible has issues, Hindu scriptures have issues, Islam has issues..why? Because they are scriptures, written or conceived by so called saintly people with whatever they knew at that time. These are wonderful literary works and with no disrespect I must say there is no harm in occasionally applying rationalistic approach while handling them.
For example in Hindu scriptures, there is a concept of 'sati', wife in most of the case forced or brainwashed to immolate herself along with funeral of her deceased husband. How horrendous! But now these things are changed and completely curbed.
Thats why I said, having faith in God is fine but as the society evolves there are many things associated with religion that too must change. The biggest crisis which Islam is facing today is, the complete resistance to change. The change probably will not come from those who claims to be the preachers of God or religion. The change will come from state's involvement. What is civil and what is not from religious point of view and rationalistic point of view is different. Ultimately there has to be a fine balance but rationalistic approach must prevail in most cases.
