One of the big objections I hear to the idea of faith in God goes something like this: “There is no God because – science!” We hear this on social media. We hear it in popular culture. The idea goes something like this: as we become more sophisticated, more savvy about the world around us, somehow the idea of God becomes as anachronistic as a flat Earth or diseases being caused by getting your feet wet. But really, does science argue against the very concept of God? Of the supernatural? Of things that exist outside the physical world as we understand it? I will admit, I enjoy science. I also believe in God. So I am not coming at this as an unbiased commentator. But I would argue that science and God are not mutually exclusive. Let me explain.
Science studies the natural world and tries to make sense of it. But since God is supernatural – above and beyond the natural world, science is not sufficient to define Him, to understand Him, or even determine whether or not He’s there. When we try to apply science to a super-scientific problem we run into a circular logic problem that simply reveals our worldview.
I heard a great talk about this years ago from a lecturer named Tim Nyquist. He walked through the idea that our assumptions underpin our conclusions. If we run across something we can’t explain we run back to our worldview. If one’s worldview says there’s no such thing as the supernatural, then he or she will only look for an explanation that exists within the realm of the natural world. Even if such an explanation can’t be found, then he or she can rest in the idea that someday science may be able to figure it out. However, if our worldview allows for the supernatural, then we will at least consider the Divine as a possible explanation. Either way, the worldview informs the conclusion – you wind up with what you started with. He even showed an example of this from the Gospel of John, seen here.
Take a look at this verse written by the Apostle Paul:
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20
Paul’s words in that passage tell us that it is evident and clear that God exists, simply by looking at the world around us! The order, the beauty, the majesty of the universe all point to a divine and powerful Creator. But again, this is worldview-dependent. Someone who rejects the idea of God could look at the same evidence and see an accident of evolutionary processes, a mundane coalition of matter and energy, a meaningless and random cosmos with significance only as we have ascribed to it. So you see, it’s not science that argues against (or for) God. It’s our worldview.
So, if our worldview informs our conclusions, our faith flows out of our worldview as well. Yes, I use the word “faith”, because we are all faith-based creatures. Where do you place your faith? Is it in God? Religion? A church? Is it in science? Reason? Humanity? Or is it something else altogether, maybe social justice, your own abilities or intellect – even the idea that living a good life will get you considerations in the afterlife? You are free to decide! I just pray your worldview and faith work for you and not against you.
There are many famous scientists who were also Christians: Newton, Pascal, etc. Even Albert Einstein, though not a Christian, conceded that, “the problem involved (with God) is too vast for our limited minds.” Great minds think there is no inconsistency between science and God, only the limited mind of the modern man think of God as anachronistic.
More and more scientists are discarding the idea of evolution in favor of creation because the facts ( science) just don’t fit. Unfortunately, the creationist point of view is still not politically correct, so a lot of them don’t vocalize their beliefs. It is kinda fun to watch this transformation!