If you can deem a priori a certain final action as “good,” science is a useful tool to systematically perform actions which are increasingly conforming approximations of the “good” action by judging and choosing between increasingly general principles used to perform one’s actions.

If you can deem a priori a certain overarching principle as “good,” religion is a useful tool to systematically define principles which are increasingly specific applications of the “good” principle by judging and choosing between increasingly diverse actions used to define one’s principles.

Unfortunately, they are only tools, for we are incapable of deeming anything good — our approximations and applications are imperfect. Defining good (or evil) is the mistake Adam and Eve made, and Jesus cautioned against — “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good.” By virtue of being alive, we all act, and we all use principals to determine our actions. Our actions can increase our understanding of universal principals, but they cannot enable us to completely grasp reality, let alone redefine it. Our principles can guide our actions, but they cannot give us a perfect action, let alone move our muscles. Both are governed by our finiteness. You can use the tools, but you can’t trust the answers they provide in every inherently unique situation. Finding the ultimate “good” in life is hopeless if we trust ourselves. You can only trust in the pre-existing definer of good: God. So, in the end, we can’t use science or religion by themselves to attain good principles or good actions — we must trust that God is doing that in us through the power of his Spirit, by the grace of his Son. Our role is simply to believe Him: he promises to love us, communicate with us, and make us good through relationship with Him, as he shows us what love is. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”

All those conclusions are drawn from my search for God, which began when I acknowledged my distrust of all the imperfect science and religion I knew, and asked–no, cried out to God to show himself to me. And Jesus was the only voice in the throng that rang true. And he made some radical claims, which I decided to trust after reading the New Testament a couple times. And though I fail to trust him at times, he has never failed me. He is a refreshing spring of life that never goes dry!