God and Science

Roughly and somewhat inaccurately put, science is the study of God’s creation. The hope is that we might come to better understand creation and know how best to respect it while, at the same time, we take advantage of it for our survival. The scientific method may be a recent development in human history, but our investigation of creation in order to explain what is seen and experienced is as old as human existence.

One only need look at the first creation story in Genesis chapter 1 to see the brilliance of human observation of God’s created order. Detailed knowledge based on in-depth observation led the author(s) to realize that there are distinct dependencies within the biosphere that practically demand an orderly progression of life forms. It also presents the belief that there must have been a given sequence in the development of the physical world even before life appeared.

Bud unless a person has done a bit of research, the tone and belligerence that many American political and religious figures use might lead them to believe that scientific inquiry and theological reflection are bitter enemies – that scientists are anti-God. And once people are brought to the point that they believe such things, they might easily conclude that it’s up to that vocal group to protect God from scientists.

When a lot of money can be made via scientific discovery (e.g., drilling for and refining oil, pharmaceutical development, telecommunications and computing) the ‘advancements’ gained for humanity are gladly taken advantage of without complaint. But if the study of scientists involves such topics as evolution, human biology, ecology, or climatology – among others – critics find ways to present it as “the work of the devil”. Not always in so many words but certainly in attitude.

There was a time when the church was fully in support of science. Yes, there’s the famous incident when Galileo was imprisoned by church authorities (church and state were not separate in that time and place) for his accurate observation that Earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around, but the church was not rejecting science. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s, when scientists were able to examine in depth the unseeable, that the church turned against science. There was the fear that the secrets of God would be discovered.

The most peculiar part about the anti-science crusade of today is that so much of it is being waged against those scientists whose findings tell us we are in the process of destroying what God created – and loves. Instead of being grateful and heeding such warnings, we hear that God would not allow us to destroy God’s creation, that God would stop us. We hear that God put us in charge of Earth and that having dominion over it means that we can do whatever we please. We have even heard things like, “Who cares about snail darters, anyway?” and “What value are spotted owls?”

The way I see it, all creatures created by God are loved by God. The environment God created to support all living things is also loved by God. God blessed humanity with both the inquisitiveness to want to know more about creation and the cleverness to investigate those questions. When scientists that specialize in archaeology and paleontology explain what they are discovering, they are using the resources they were blessed with by God. If what they uncover doesn’t quite fit the rigid belief system that some demand we all accept, who is being worshiped? The God of creation - or Those who claim to have all the answers? When scientists that specialize in climatology and the biosphere explain what they are discovering and their findings are blasted by that same rigid crowd, who is being worshiped?

I think the God who equipped humanity to engage in scientific inquiry is hardly threatened when we do so. In fact, I believe that God's proud of what He brought forth when we do so. What do you think?