Doing Away with Science Versus Religion

Popular thinking wants us to believe that science and Christianity are mutually exclusive.

I hope by now we’ve seen that nothing could be further from the truth.

What About Church Hostility to Science?

Of course, this isn’t to say that science and Christianity have always had a peaceful coexistence. 

Unfortunately, there are many examples in Church history of Christians resisting scientific developments, going to great lengths in doing so.

But is this because Christianity, fundamentally, is hostile to science? I think our series shows that it isn’t the case.

Perhaps it’s more likely that the Church is filled with people - men and women with biases, interests, and motivations that certain scientific (and religious for that matter) ideas challenge.

Sure, those things can be influenced by their faith, but they can also be influenced by a variety of other factors such as culture, politics, reputation, the period they lived in, and more.

It’s easy to say that Christianity and science are fundamentally opposed because it doesn’t require a lot of thought. We can chalk it up to an eternal grudge match and go on our way, convinced that we’re right and the other is wrong.

But to do so, tragically, misses the purpose of both science and Christianity. 

The Purpose of Science and Christianity

Science deals in the observable world - attempting to understand how its various processes work.

This is valuable for humanity as developments in science have (but not always) led to an improved standard of living. 

Christianity, on the other hand, while having a great deal to say about the observable world, also concerns an unobservable reality.

Christianity is built on belief in God, a transcendent being who sits above our natural and created world. The Gospel is concerned with connecting us to Him and the transcendent reality He brings.

But, at the same time, that same God, in the person of Jesus, took on flesh and set foot in the observable world of science. 

He ate and He drank, but He also performed reality-defying miracles.

This is a tension that exists for us as His followers. Science is a helpful tool, but it cannot remedy our deepest need - only Christ can do that.

But, at the same time, the God we follow did not scorn the observable world.

He imbued it with meaning, and I believe He’s passed that meaning along to science as well. 

So, the answer doesn’t rest in a culture war against two subjects that were never contrary to begin with. 

But, like many things in our faith, it rests in the mystery of the Incarnation; in the embrace of a beautiful, physical world we can use science to improve while also setting our sights on a beautiful union with God that goes far above what science or humanity could ever dream.

In other words: Science calls to the Creator, and the Creator calls to us.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

Theophilus Newsletter