A great conflict has arisen! The world of science versus the life of faith. I have spent the better part of my life admiring both worlds and what they have to offer.
The life of faith is one I strive to obey on a daily basis. It has changed me for the better and shaped who I am. The world of science intrigues me as it advances our understanding of the world around us.
Are these two truly in conflict? Can any harmony be found between them?
Checkout the Second of a four part series from the ‘Why Jesus’ discussion done at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
If you would like to listen to this lecture, click on the audio file below.
If you would like to watch this section of the lecture on video please view the clip below.
This is an outline of the above discussions:
Intro: Romans 1:19-29 & Psalm 19:1-3
Good Science | Bad Science |
| Knows it’s Boundaries (operating science) | Has no Boundaries (everything) |
| Scientific Method (hypothesis testing) | Highly Speculative (Ideas impossible to test) |
Good Faith | Bad Faith |
| Knows it’s Boundaries | Has no Boundaries |
| Works with Science (Humility) | Goes against Science (Dogmatic) |
| Interprets correctly (Poetry & Genealogy) | Interprets poorly (Literally) |
Science is guided by the Scientific Method
- Observation & questioning
- Hypothesis & predictions
- Testing
- Analysis (Confirmation vs debunked)
- Repeat
Theories are strengthened when predictions lead to new discoveries
- Gravity bending light
- Existence of black holes & gravitational waves
- Standard Model predicts particles & Higgs boson
☼ Beware of philosophy/speculation as science
– We are the center of the universe
– Multiple universe explains away creation
– The universe is eternal (Steady State Theory)
– God does not exist
– Questions of Value, Morality & Supernatural
Faith in God is based on faithful living
1. God Reveals Himself
(General & Specific Revelation) → Nature & Scripture
- Truth – Objective facts made known by God
- Commands – God’s authoritative direction to us
- Promises – God’s assurance of what He will do
2. We Respond
(Faith is our proper response to God’s revelation)
- Belief – A conviction of the facts given by God
- Obey – Behaving in accordance to God’s direction
- Trust – A reliance on God’s Word/promise
Faith is strengthened by revelation proving true in the real world
- The universe had a beginning
- The order of creation
(Nothing → Universe → Living Matter → Human Consciousness)
1. Origin of Matter
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2. Origin of Living Things
Genesis 1:21
God created the great creatures of the sea & every living and moving thing
3. Origin of Mankind
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image,… male and female he created them.
- Quarantine, Unclean foods, Circumcision
- Emotions affect health
☼ Beware of opinions & bad interpretation as revelation from God
– Genealogies can be used to date events (Bishop Usser)
– We are the center of the universe (clash will Galileo)
– The days of creation must be 24 hours long
There can be Harmony
- Science explains repeated phenomena in creation not one-time event or ultimate meanings
- Bible is not a science book. It does not tell us everything we want to know, but all that we need to know in order to live a faithful life (John 20:30-31)
Conclude: 2 Peter 1:3-4 & John 20:30-31
Click this link to view the first lecture: https://drbrianperkins.com/2019/04/02/questions-leading-to-god/
Click this link to view the third lecture: https://drbrianperkins.com/2019/04/23/biblical-support/
Please feel free to comment below.