SCIENCE REINFORCING FAITH

1. Harmonizing Science & Faith: Why Science Isn’t The Enemy SCIENCE REINFORCING FAITH David Katerndahl, M.D.,M.A. University United Methodist Church

2. Have You Ever Been Involved In The Science & Faith Controversy?

3. INTRODUCTION • > 70% Of People In Western Countries Believe In • Both God & Evolution • Ongoing Creation-Evolution Debate In Schools • Debate Has “Spilled Over” Into Debate About The Big Bang

4. HISTORY OF DEBATE IN THE U.S.

5. POLARIZATION OF EMOTIONAL DEBATES Low Stress

6. POLARIZATION OF EMOTIONAL DEBATES Moderate Stress

7. POLARIZATION OF EMOTIONAL DEBATES High Stress

8. POLARIZATION OF EMOTIONAL DEBATES CUSP CATASTROPHE MODEL

9. “From our point of view, however, any interpretation of Genesis which accommodates the standard system of evolutionary geological ages is a clear-cut compromise with atheistic evolution, and it is very sad that Christians who profess to believe the Bible as the Word of God will not acknowledge this.” - Henry Morris (1918-2006) Instigators Of Conflict It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that). - Richard Dawkins (1941- )

10. CONTENT Relationship Between Science & Faith Biblical Support For Science God’s Revelation / Natural Theology Compatible & (At Least) Complementary

11. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE & RELIGION Conflict – Fundamentalists, Atheists Independence – Stephen Gould Dialogue - Complementary Integration - Reinforcing

12. Do Science & Faith Conflict?

13. DO SCIENCE & FAITH CONFLICT? -Augustine (354 – 430 AD) “Damage Is Done When We Claim Scripture Is Right Over Science.”

14. DO SCIENCE & FAITH CONFLICT? • Both Are “True”? • Science Works! • Isaiah 45:19 “I the Lord speak the truth, I declare what is right.”

15. Why Blind Acceptance Of Science Is Hazardous • Scientific Process Is Incremental • Scientific Results Are Incomplete • But, Over Time, Scientific Results Approach Truth

16. Why “Literal” Interpretation Of English-Based Scripture Is Hazardous • Intent – Not Science Textbook • Multiple Literary Styles • Scientific Errors & Contradictions • Scripture & Translation Not Unchanging • Author(s) – Human Hands • Hebrew – Indistinct

17. “It is not nature and Scripture that contradict; rather, it is science (man's fallible interpretation of nature) and theology (man's fallible interpretation of Scripture) that sometimes fall into conflict.” --Christian Answers website DO SCIENCE & FAITH CONFLICT?

18. Are Science & Faith Independent?

19. Science & Faith:Internally Consistent, Externally Discordant? • Commitment To Reality • Sense Of Wonder • Progress In Understanding • Recognition Of Incompleteness • Need For Engagement • Common Language • Distinct Methods Of Investigation • Common Starting Point • Common Set Of Objects Explored • Common Set Of Values

20. How Do Science & Scripture Differ? Scientists Faithful Math Hebrew/Greek Understanding & Salvation Technology How Why Observation & Revelation Experimentation Changing Canon

21. Purpose(s) Of Scripture & Science • “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 • “How to go to Heaven (Scripture); How the heavens go (Science)” - John Polkinghorne (1930- )

22. BUT: -Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) “Every formula which expresses a law of nature is a hymn of praise to God.”

23. BUT: -John Calvin (1509 – 1564) “Astronomers investigate with great labor whatever the sagacity of the human mind can comprehend. Nevertheless, this study is not to be reprobated, nor this science to be condemned, because some frantic persons are wont boldly to reject whatever is unknown to them. For as astronomy is not only pleasant, but also very useful to be known: it cannot be denied that this art unfolds the admirable wisdom of God.“

24. Does God Want Us To Pursue Scientific Inquiry? Are Science & Faith Interrelated?

25. BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE MARK 12:30: “And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” (NLT) ISAIAH 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord;” (KJV) PSALM 111:2: “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.” (NRSV)

26. BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE • Are We “Commanded” To Do Science? • Job 12:7-8 – Earth will teach us. • “Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you.” (NLT)

27. BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE • Are We “Commanded” To Do Science? • Wisdom of Solomon 7:17-22 – God brings scientific knowledge • “For it is He who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists, to know the structure of the world and the activity of its elements; the beginning and end and middle of times, the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons, the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars, the natures of animals and the tempers of wild animals, the power of spirits and the thoughts of human beings, the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots; I learned both what is secret and what is manifest, for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me.”

28. BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE • Are We “Commanded” To Do Science? • Ecclesiastes 1:13 – Use wisdom to understand things on Earth • “With all my wisdom I tried to understand everything that happens here on earth. And God has made this so hard for us humans to do.” (CEV)

29. “I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” -Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)

30. BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE HANDOUT: Viewing Genesis 1 As Scientific Paper • Scientific Method (GEN 1) • Frame Of Reference (e.g. non-movable Earth) • Initial Conditions • Experiment/Observation • Final Conditions

31. In What Ways Do We Learn About God? Should It Include Science?

32. GOD’S REVELATION / NATURAL THEOLOGY ROMANS 1:19-20: “They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (NLT)

33. GOD’S REVELATION / NATURAL THEOLOGY PSALM 19: 1-4,7-10: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.” (NLT)

34. GOD’S REVELATION / NATURAL THEOLOGY General Revelation (Natural Theology)

35. GOD’S REVELATION / NATURAL THEOLOGY • Margaret Towne— • God’s Direction = “Religion” • God’s Action = “Science”

36. SCIENCE & FAITH NOT IN CONFLICT • Nature & Scripture In Harmony • “Science” Advocated In Scripture • Well-Done Science & Theology Are True • Both Internally Consistent

37. SCIENCE & FAITH NOT INDEPENDENT • Natural Theology • Complementary Characteristics • Goals / Purposes • Ways Of Learning • Questions Addressed • Changeability

38. SCIENCE & FAITH ARE INTERDEPENDENT • Christian Theology Critical To Development Of Scientific Method & Western Science • Science & Faith Inform Each Other • To Fully Understand, Science & Faith Depend Upon Each Other • God May Use Science To Accomplish His Goals

39. Complementary (Reinforcing) Nature • Combining Different Research “Methods” • Quantitative-Qualitative • Combining Different Foci • Combining Different Strengths • Viewing Reality Through Spectacles • Different Lenses • Depth Perception

40. -Gottfried Liebniz (1646-1716) “It is God who is the ultimate reason of things, and the knowledge of God is no less the beginning of science than his essence and will the beginning of beings.”

41. “The only path to knowing God is through the study of science—and for that reason the Bible opens with a description of the creation.” -Maimonides (1135-1204)

42. APPARENT CONFLICT • Science versus Theology • Incomplete Science / Errant Theology • Application Of Both Beyond Their Intent • Use Of Non-Original Documents

43. What does it mean to say that science and faith are compatible?

44. COMPATIBILITY “Compatible”# = “Capable of existing together in harmony” #Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary

45. COMPATIBILITY:Are The Gospels “Compatible”? • Include Different Events • Disagreements (examples): • Genealogy Of Jesus (Matthew versus Luke) • When Tables Of Moneychangers Overturned • Last Supper = Passover Meal?

46. Principles For Understanding Biblical DiscrepanciesA (And Science-Faith) • Unexplained is not necessarily unexplainable* • Fallible interpretations do not mean fallible revelation* • Understand context of passage* • Use clear passages to interpret difficult ones* • Do not base teaching on obscure passages* • Scripture is a human work with human characteristics* • Just because a report is incomplete does not mean it is false* • New Testament citations of Old Testament need not be exact • Scripture does not necessarily approve of all of its records* • Bible uses non-technical language* • Scripture may use rounded or exact numbers* • Not different literary devices* • Error in copying does not mean an error in the original • General statements do not mean universal promises • Later revelation supercedes previous revelation* *May apply to science-faith discrepancies AMcDowell, 2006

47. Principles For Understanding Biblical Discrepancies (And Science-Faith) • NOT Included As Explanations: • One Is Wrong • God Is Deceiving Us

48. Based Upon The Vagueness Of The Original Hebrew Of Genesis & Supported By Various Translations & Ancient Theologians: • Science-Scripture On Creation Are Compatible: • Origins Of The Universe & Earth • Sequence Of Light-Plants-Sun • An “Evolutionary” Process • Humanity’s Animal & “Supra-Animal” Nature • 6 “Days” Of Creation • Genesis1-Genesis 2 Discrepancies

49. JOHN WESLEY ON GENESIS “The inspired penman in this history [Genesis] … [wrote] for the Jews first and, calculating his narratives for the infant state of the church, describes things by their outward sensible appearances, and leaves us, by further discoveries of the divine light, to be led into the understanding of the mysteries couched under them.” - John Wesley (1703-1791)

50. What Does The Catholic Church Say About The Compatibility Of Evolution & Faith? • “…In his encyclical Humani Generis (1950), my predecessor Pius XII has already affirmed that there is no conflict between evolution and the doctrine of the faith… Today, more than a half-century after the appearance of that encyclical, some new findings lead us toward the recognition of evolution as more than an hypothesis. In fact, it is remarkable that this theory has had progressively greater influence on the spirit of researchers, following a series of discoveries in different scholarly disciplines. The convergence of the results of these independent studies—which was neither planned nor sought—constitutes in itself a significant argument in favor of the theory.” -Pope John Paul II, 1996