Science vs Faith

"A bit of science distances one from God, but much science nears one to Him... The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator." - Louis Pasteur

Can we look more closely at the terms faith and science?

faith - complete trust or confidence in someone or something; strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

science - the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. (Webster)

At first glance, they may seem impossible to coincide. The need for proof and observation contradicts belief without evidence. However, there are many theories in science which are not purely based on observation and experiment such as:

1) The Big Bang
2) Macroevolution
3) Several Physics ideas (i.e. string theory)
4) Several Astronomy ideas (i.e. black-holes)

I believe a better definition of science would be an activity of study arriving at a logical conclusion, based on the available proof. In theory, this means that each person could come up with a different logical conclusion from the same evidence.

Many religions, but especially the Judeo-Christian faith, base their beliefs on faith. We don't need proof to believe. However, what if God wanted us to study Him, not in order to believe but because of our already existent faith?

God formed us with a brain, eyes, and ears that He continually asks us to use:

"Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?" Mark 8:18

Humanity has a natural, subconscious craving to follow God, whether we actively believe in Him or not. Yet, so many want to take the position that Christianity and science are two distinctly separate modes of thought. What is science but the study of God and His creations?

There are many arguments that advanced science is described in the Bible such as the belief that the Earth is suspended on nothing (Job 26:7), and possibly dinosaurs are described (Job 40:15 & 41:1). Some say that in Genesis 2:21, when God took one of Adam's ribs to form Eve, the word in Hebrew is curve instead of just rib. They say this may be acknowledgement of DNA. All of these are debatable theories.

Then, of course the whole of Leviticus is a study in psychology, sociology, and medicine. Many cultures at the time had little knowledge of sanitation practices and quarantining infectious diseases, unlike the Hebrews. (On how this saved many Jewish people during the Black Death much later on in history will be discussed in another blog post - stay tuned!)

Nevertheless, it is my belief that to separate science and Christianity is a fallacy and a detriment to humanity. We are made to seek God in many ways, and one of those ways is science. The "natural laws" are a testament to the order God brought out of the chaos. You may find it interesting there are many scientists (Christians and non-Christians) who agree that faith and science can and should mutually exist:

"Sometimes people ask if religion and science are not opposed to one another. They are: in the sense that the thumb and fingers of my hand are opposed to one another. It is an opposition by means of which anything can be grasped."- Sir William Bragg (physicist, chemist, mathematician)

"The gift of mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with this great power." - Nikola Tesla (physicist, inventor, electrical/mechanical engineer)

"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." - Einstein (theoretical physicist)

"This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being." - Sir Isaac Newton (mathematician, astronomer, physicist)

"One arrives at the conclusion that biomaterials with their amazing measure of order must be the outcome of intelligent design. No other possibility I have been able to think of..." - Sir Fred Hoyle (astronomer)

"The reason that science works is because God upholds the universe in a consistent and uniform way." - Jason Lisle PHD (astrophysicist)

There is so much that we don't know about the world. We have yet to understand the complexities of the human brain, the depths of the oceans, or the outer limits of the solar system. We have not discovered all the plants, animals, insects, and microorganisms on Earth, and there are new ones all the time. We have not yet invented everything or solved the world's many crises with our limited knowledge. Although we're forever searching and learning, we will never discover everything as some things in this life are beyond our grasp. In those situations, we must live by faith.

Science is like the brain and faith is like the heart. We never say we only need one or the other; we need both to survive. In conclusion, my scientific theory is that God is the most logical reason for everything that exists, and I base that on, not only the many ways God has touched my life and those around me, but also - faith.