Science and Belief in God…

There is a world wide misconception that the more intelligent, rational, and scientific minded you are, the less one will be able to believe God. A study done in 1998 showed that only about 7% of the scientists in America believe in a personal relationship to a personal God! It is very common to believe there is a war going on between Science and Religion. Media reports and the wide spread publicity of battles between secular and religious people over the teachings of evolution in schools, stem-cell research, in vitro fertilization, and teachings of many other areas of medicine and science give credibility to the claims of Dawkins, Harris, and others in that field. There is a common world wide assumption that one can be either scientific and rational or religious. Does one have to choose between thinking scientifically and belief in God?

“My scientific training makes it difficult if not impossible to accept the teachings of Christianity,” said Thomas a young Asian medical resident. “As a believer in evolution, I can’t accept that Bible’s prescientific accounts of the origin of life.”1

“And the Bible is filled with accounts of miracles,” added Michelle, a med student. “They simply could not have happened.”2

Starting from the miracle of incarnation, birth of Jesus Christ, and the bodily resurrection of Christ the New Testament is filled with accounts of miracles Jesus did during his earthly ministry. The scientific mistrust of God’s Word began with the Enlightenment thinking that miracles can not be reconciled to modern thinking, and to the rationalistic thinking pattern of the world. In other words the world input in the process of thinking pattern of a modern man is a huge stumbling block to believe what is written in the Bible.

I have started my career as a young Assistant Professor in Chemistry and this gave me good foundation of Science and to know the necessary details to stand for God’s Word when evolutionists debate with Christianity. One of the reasons that many would not be able to agree with Dawkins is that we are willing to concede that science may not be able to account for everything about human existence to every thinker’s satisfaction. Evolutionary science assumes that complex life-forms eventually evolved from less complex forms through the process of natural selection. This is in direct contradiction to the Genesis account of creation in the Bible. Many atheists are beginning to believe that Dawkins is wrong that science can not explain everything, and why scientific thought can be compatible with religious belief. In recent years majority of the scientists consider themselves deeply or moderately religious, and the numbers in this trend are on the increase. This is confirming that there is no necessary disjunction between science and deep faith.

“I believe science as we know it is a product of the Christian worldview. It was only in the Christian world that science developed and I believe could have developed. For example, in the Buddhist or Hindu worldview this physical realm is more or less regarded as an illusion and not representing ultimate reality. Of course, Christians don't regard this world as eternal, but nevertheless it's real. Science has flowed from a Christian understanding of reality, a Christian understanding of God, and a Christian understanding of the natural world. In general I believe that science is legitimate, that it does reveal the glory of God that it does confirm what the Scriptures say is valid and true”. Dr.Baumgardner.3

What is the purpose of Biblical miracle? They lead us not only simply to cognitive belief, but to worship God, and to realize that the Creator God is an awesome God, who formed us in our mother’s womb and knitted us. “For You formed my inward parts, You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works; and that my soul knows very well.” Ps: 139:13-14. We may justly be astonished at these living temples, the composition of every part, and the harmony of it all together. Psalm 139, talks about God’s perfect knowledge of man; and King David lays down this doctrine of address to God, acknowledging it to Him and giving Him the glory.

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
Kepler was a brilliant mathematician and astronomer. He did early work on light, and established the laws of planetary motion about the sun. He also came close to reaching the Newtonian concept of universal gravity - well before Newton was born! His introduction of the idea of force in astronomy changed it radically in a modern direction. Kepler was an extremely sincere and pious Lutheran, whose works on astronomy contain writings about how space and the heavenly bodies represent the Trinity. Kepler suffered no persecution for his open avowal of the sun-centered system, and, indeed, was allowed as a Protestant to stay in Catholic Graz as a Professor (1595-1600) when other Protestants had been expelled! 4

Jesus in His earthly ministry used miraculous power to heal the sick, feed the poor, raised the dead, the lame walked, and many received eye sight. The modern world and the modern man think of miracles as the suspension of the natural order; whereas Jesus meant them to be the restoration of the natural order. When God originally created the world there was no disease, hunger, or death and that is before the Fall in Genesis 3. Jesus Christ came to restore what was lost, and His miracles are a challenge to many minds, but a great promise to many hearts, and the hope of what we want to have in the future.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
Einstein is probably the best known and most highly revered scientist of the twentieth century, and is associated with major revolutions in our thinking about time, gravity, and the conversion of matter to energy (E=mc2). Although never coming to belief in a personal God, he recognized the impossibility of a non-created universe. The Encyclopedia Britannica says of him: "Firmly denying atheism, Einstein expressed a belief in "Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the harmony of what exists." This actually motivated his interest in science, as he once remarked to a young physicist: "I want to know how God created this world, I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts, the rest are details." Einstein's famous epithet on the "uncertainty principle" was "God does not play dice" - and to him this was a real statement about a God in whom he believed. A famous saying of his was "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."5

Summarizing it in a nut-shell, Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent God of the Bible is the Creator of all things. If we are in a battle in our minds between choosing Science and Christian faith, we have to read clearly what is said in God’s Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it;” John 1:1-5. Science and research in all areas are always in the process of discovering ‘something new’ which was already there!

Notes:
1, 2 Timothy keller, ‘The Reason for God” Belief in an age of Skepticism, Published by Penguin Group, USA, New York 10014, Copyright,@ 2008; Pg 84.

3. Scientists Who Believe www.rae.org/believe.html You +1'd this publicly.
Dr. Baumgardner: I believe science as we know it is a product of the Christian worldview. It was only in the Christian world that science developed and I believe ...
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4, 5 Famous Scientists Who Believed in God
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/sciencefaith.html
8 Dec 2011 – Evidence for God from Science: Christian Apologetics ... However, in the past, and even today, many scientists believe that God exists and is ...

Book References:
1. Payer To Move Your Mountains, “Powerful Prayers for The Spirit-Filled Life.” (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, 2000)

2. Practical Psychology for Pastors, William R. Miller, Kathleen A. Jackson (The University of Mexico), second Edition, Prentice –Hall Inc, 1995,1985, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.

3. Jay E.Adams, ‘The Christian Counselor’s Manual, ‘The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973)

4. John G. Kruis, ‘Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling; (Grand rapids: Baker Books, Third edition, p. 169-170)

5. David G. Benner & Peter C. Hill, ‘Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology & Counseling’ Second Edition, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1985, 1999)

6. Dr. Larry Crabb, “Effective Biblical Counseling” How Caring Christians can Become Capable Counselors, (Hammersmith: Marshall Pickering, 1985), p. 100-104)

7.The Matthew Henry Study Bible, ‘King James version’ The best of Matthew Henry’s Notes in a Handy One Volume Reference Bible, World Bible Publishers, Inc; 1994, Iowa Falls, U.S.A.

8. David Seeking A Heart Like His, ‘Beth Moore’ Life Way Christian resources, Nashville,Tennessee, 2010, pgs: 206-210.

9. Jay E. Adams, ‘Critical Stages of Biblical Counseling’ Finishing Well, Breaking Through, Getting Started, (New Jersey: Zondervan, 2002)

10. Jay E. Adams, ‘How to Help People Change’ The Four-step Biblical Process, (Grand rapids: Zondervan, 1986)

11. John F. MacArthur, JR. Wayne A. Mack & The Master’s College Faculty, ‘Introduction To Biblical Counseling’, “A Basic Guide To The Principles And Practice Of Counseling”(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,1994)

12. Jay E. Adams, ‘Lectures on Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978, p.192-203)

13. The Holy Bible, New King James version, Women of Destiny Bible, “Women Mentoring women Through the Scriptures” A Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, Copyright 1982.

14. Deuteronomy becoming Holy People, Stephen D. Eyre, p:32-26; IVP connect, An imprint of Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1998, 2004.

15. Metzeger, Bruce M. (ed); Michael D. Coogan (ed) (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504645-5.

16. Mitchell, Stephen, 1987. The Book of Job. San Francisco: North Point Press. Cited in R. T. Pennock, 1999, Tower of Babel, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

17. Stormie Omartin, “The power of a praying wife”, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene 97402; copyright @1997; pgs81-85.

18. Timothy keller, ‘The Reason for God” Belief in an age of Skepticism, Published by Penguin Group, USA, New York 10014, Copyright,@ 2008; Pgs 84 - 96.

Website References:

1. Christian Science - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Science
Jump to Beliefs and practices‎: Christian Scientists believe that the effect of this spiritualization of thought is shown in healing - physical, emotional, and ...
Mary Baker Eddy - The Christian Science Monitor - Christian Science practitioner

2. Church of Christ, Scientist - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Christ,_Scientist
This belief in the unreality of imperfection, stemming from the allness of God, Spirit, is the basis of Christian Scientists' characteristic reliance on prayer in place ...

3. Scientists Who Believe
www.rae.org/believe.html
Dr. Baumgardner: I believe science as we know it is a product of the Christian worldview. It was only in the Christian world that science developed and I believe ...
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4. Collins: Why this scientist believes in God - CNN
articles.cnn.com/...04.../collins.commentary_1_god-dna-revelation?_...
3 Apr 2007 – I am a scientist and a believer, and I find no conflict between those world views.As the director of the Human Genome Project, I have led a ...

5. Christian Science Origins, Christian Science History, Christian ...
www.patheos.com/Library/Christian-Science.html - United States
Christian Science (officially, the Church of Christ, Scientist) is a religion that focuses on spiritual healing through prayer. Its stated purpose is to restore the ...

6. Christian Science-Christianity- Faiths & Practices - Beliefnet.com
www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Christian-Science/index.aspx
14 Feb 2012 – Beliefnet presents beliefs, articles and more about Christian Science.

7. Famous Scientists Who Believed in God
www.godandscience.org/apologetics/sciencefaith.html
8 Dec 2011 – Evidence for God from Science: Christian Apologetics ... However, in the past, and even today, many scientists believe that God exists and is ...

8. Christian Science Beliefs - Distinctive Beliefs of the Christian ...
christianity.about.com/od/christianscience/a/christsciencebeliefs.htm
Learn basic Christian Science beliefs and practices with this overview of what the Christian Science Church teaches its members.

9. Christian Science - ReligionFacts
www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/christian_science.htm
18 Dec 2005 – Rennie B. Schoepflin The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy and the History of Christian Science Willa Cather. a-z religion index / christian science ...

10. The Origin of Science
www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/a/science_origin.html
6 Mar 2002 – This is not to say that the Bible is a science textbook that contains raw scientific truths, as some evangelical Christians would have us believe.