The problem is that today's myths and superstitious beliefs were yesterday's strongly held and sometimes fundamental beliefs. History has many examples of beliefs that have been overturned once the basis for those beliefs have been thoroughly investigated and understood.

Here is a significant one from history. Up until the early 1800s it was considered that only living organisms could make organic compounds. In 1828 Wohler synthesized urea from inorganic chemicals. This overturned the belief in "vitalism" and resulted in a major shift in thinking and indeed had theological implications. It may be a coincidence that Darwin conceived his ideas of evolution through natural selection about 10 years later.

Now-a-days we accept and appreciate the synthesis of organic and biochemical compounds and the theories of vitalism have been largely laid to rest.

Another example from my own experience. I grew up a Seventh-day Adventist and was old enough in the late 50s and early 60s to understand sermons that I heard on Sabbath. I remember sermons that preached that man would never reach the moon because sin was confined to this world. I don't think the fact that I grew up in New Zealand had anything to do with the sermon topics either! I rather gather from friends my age in other parts of the world that similar sermons were preached elsewhere. I remember too, the subtle shift in sermons, of the boundary of man's exploration, once it became abundantly clear that man was likely to reach the moon, and maybe the planets. I don't hear those sort of claims in sermons any more.

The point is that science has challenged our beliefs in the past and some of those beliefs have been overturned. Science is going to continue to challenge our faith because in some areas we have interpreted the Bible incorrectly. I am under no illusion that we have reached a final interpretation of Biblical truth. The fact that as a church community we continue to have differences of interpretation is evidence of that. I am not going to throw out my beliefs simply because they are challenged by science.

I hold onto our beliefs dearly and value the faith that I have been given.

However truth is an experience, a dynamic to be explored and developed, not a destination, that once found, you can sit back and claim to have discovered it all. I remain convinced that science will not challenge the relationship that I have with God, nor the relationship that He wants us to develop with one another.