I did not see this coming

[tynoxic]

okay, i am a freshman in college, and my major is geology. i am just really interested in how the earth is made up, and how the continents are shifting, how earthquakes occur, etc. i just really find it all interesting, and would love to have a career related to this someday after i graduate.

but here's the thing, i'm a Christian. and i just read our first reading assignment for the class, chapter one in the text book, and it's basically all about the big bang theory and how that is how the universe has come to be. and obviously my faith doesnt agree with that at all.

so i was thinking is it completely necessary to change my major to business or something that doesnt conflict with Christian ideas? i really dont want to do that though cuz it sounds boring and uninteresting for me (im not saying business is boring, it just is to me, haha im not insulting business majors).

or is it fine to study what interests me, despite what it may be, and pursue a career in it?

i dont want to be a hypocrite, that's the bottom line here, and im really not sure what to do.

i know this is probably an atypical type of topic for this thread, but i'd really appreciate any kind of suggestions or feedback.

[JackOfClubs]

You shouldn't change your course. If you like it, you should keep with it, its just a different theory on how the Earth was formed. Definitely stay with it though.

[Grey fox]

*facepalm*

Just becuase a book that's thousands of years old has a different theory of how the world was created to the scientific one you're learning, you're considering dropping a subject you love!?!?

That's crazy!

(And, in the politest way possible, it sounds like you are not open to any other suggestions or ideas that differ from the Christian ones, that's just not healthy.)

I'm not putting a downer on your beliefs, I just think it would be entirely foolish of you to let them come between you and happiness.

BUT, if you can never accept the fact that there is a possibility that the big bang theory is correct (and anyway, surely you can argue that God created the big-bang in the first place?????) then you really shouldn't be doing geology. Seeing as geology is about the formation and creation of rocks and shiz over time.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Whether the big bang theory is correct or not, it's just a theory. You don't have to believe it in order to study geology, but you will have to understand that religion and science are not the same thing. In any scientific study, you will run into things that don't necessarily mesh with your own religious beliefs. But you're not studying religion--and your own personal faith doesn't have to be involved with this at all.

I say stick it out. This is just one part of the huge puzzle of geology, and doesn't mean that your major is against the church or anything remotely like that. In order to go anywhere in higher education you have to be open to running into new ideas, and this is your first real taste of that.

[Ortizitthisone]

I fully agree with Jessi here. The Big Bang Theory is just that -- a theory.

The predominant theory in the scientific community used to be that the Earth was flat. Obviously, we now know that's not true.

Science is constantly changing. New discoveries are being made, new theories are being formulated all the time about the Earth, the Universe and their origin.

You don't have to give up your beliefs in order to pursue your career of choice. There are plenty of scientists out there who also happen to be Christian.

I am Christian, and I personally believe that through science, we find God. I have evidence for this as well. I would highly recommend checking out Lee Strobel's "The Case for A Creator." It was originally a book, but it also comes in a documentary-style movie form, which I much prefer. You can find them both on Amazon or eBay. I promise you, it will change the way you look at science.

[INFERNO]

Science and religion are not mutually exclusive and it's perfectly fine to study geology. If you're going to run away from something everytime it conflicts with your religious beliefs, then might as well lock yourself up in solitary confinement.

Remember though, you're doing geology, you're not doing astronomy, theoretical physics, etc... .

If I were you, I'd stay with geology because you know what it entails and despite that, you still want to study it. Furthermore, you say you wouldn't be as happy if you were studying something else, so stay with studying geology and perhaps you can also take it as an opportunity to expand or challenge/re-define your religious beliefs.

If all else fails, remember, science and religion use two completely different paradigms and you can easily have both in the same person.

[Atonement]

You don't have to believe the Big Bang Theory, but you do have to understand it. That is what the calss does. Teaches you the theory, but not fact. Fact is what you accept as truth.

Anywhere you go in college will teach you things that conflict with your faith. Most early history classes, teach origin of man contrary to Eden, biology with evolution, geology with big bang, and if you get specific, the bible talks about how to conduct business, so that would conflict with your faith too.

On a side personal note, your faith has nothing to do with creationism. Your faith has to do with a relationship with Christ. Whether or not you believe in evolution has nothing to do with your relationship with Jesus. Be strong in your faith and don't be another stupid, ignorant Christian that is afraid of new and more open ideas. I say this because if you want to succeed in life, you need to open your eyes to other beliefs. I don't mean to call you stupid, but I want to encourage you to broaden your horizons and be open to new ideas.

[Ortizitthisone]

As a science student and as a scientist, you will always be asked to think critically. You should think critically about everything you learn, accept it as theory, but not necessarily as fact.

[tynoxic]

yeah, i guess i never really did plan on changing majors, like i was going to stick with it anyway. but i just wanted some confirmation that it was okay to do that, and you guys helped alot with that, thanks, i appreciate it.