We are not the masters of the universe that we think we are

A day to remember and honour those who suffered and died for freedom and peace in the Far East. It was impossible to forget as well the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki just days before. Perhaps the defining moment of the 20th Century, the atomic bomb was a huge technological achievement, but also a terrifying one. It demonstrated that scientific advance, along with its innumerable benefits, also has a very dark side. Today, we are able to dominate and manipulate the natural world in ways that were unimaginable only a couple of generations ago. Our understanding of the inner workings of the atom is one example. Others include the modification of the genes of animals and plants, the development of plastics and other synthetic materials, the creation of intelligent machines and the global internet. The potential for harm as well as for good with all these is enormous. In the book of Genesis, God tells humankind to ‘fill’ and ‘subdue’ the earth, something which seems to have been achieved. However, we also need to remember other aspects of that ancient story. Adam was told to tend the garden which was his home, a reminder that we have a duty of care towards nature. Without looking after the riches it freely offers us, we would quickly perish. There is also a warning we should not ignore, even though it is couched in imagery strange to us – forbidden fruit, a talking snake, etc. If we come to think that we are able to do anything we choose and find technological solutions to any problem we face, putting ourselves, as the Bible would say, in the position of God, it will be the death of us. The terrifying events of 75 years ago remind us that, while we may congratulate ourselves on all humanity has achieved, we also need to acknowledge we are not the masters of the universe we might think. We have received the resources and powers of the natural world as a gift and need to ask for God's help to use them wisely and well. By The Reverend Dr Peter Shepherd, of Cemetery Road Baptist Church, Sharrow.