Science and Faith Are Friends

from Patrick Morley

Volume 330
July 13, 2009

The other day I asked Chase, "How's it going?"

He said, "Oh, I guess I'm getting along okay." I could tell he was under a lot of work pressure -- with the economy and all.

I asked him, "Are you a spiritual man?"

He said, "Not really. I believe in science.”

I said, "Me too. In fact, I love science." He looked at me with that "where in the world is he coming from" look.

Einstein gathered a group of scientists and theologians. They concluded we need both science and theology. Science, they concluded, explains "how;" while theology explains "why."

Science is "provisional" truth. For scientists, new data is always being "discovered" which cannot be accounted for. Anomalies develop that the existing scientific paradigm cannot explain. A new scientific paradigm is proposed that resolves the anomalies and, bingo, we are good for another 10, 20, 100 years, or more (e.g., Copernican revolution to Newtonian revolution to quantum physics).¹

Christianity, on the other hand, is what Francis Schaeffer called "true" truth. There are no anomalies in the Christian system, only apparent anomalies (contradictions) that, on further investigation, can be explained. Scientists must walk on spongy soil; Christians can build on the rock -- the word of God.

Christians have had one and only one system for thousands of years .

The problem with science as a belief system is that you have to change textbooks every few years. How embarrassing.

Never be afraid of science. Science has never discovered anything except that which draws us closer to an understanding of the Almighty. Science, admitted or not, is drawing the world closer to Jesus.

Once he realized he did not have to choose between science and God, Chase took an important step forward by admitting that he did believe in God. I'm sure we will talk again.

Yours for changed lives,