Any christian mathematicians or physicists?

[Asnath]

Hi there,

My question will be short: `How did you come to believe in the existence of God and to become a christian?'

Thank you.

 

[Embedded]

I work in academia and there are not many these days. The subject of a scientists religious bent is not relevant to their science and so it rarely, if ever, comes up.

I, personally, have only met one that I would consider 'religious.' He is a Methodist. His name is William (Bill) Phillips and was a 1997 Nobel Laureate for Physics. More info on wikipedia. Since I can't yet post links just search for 'William Daniel Phillips'. He is also one of the founders of the 'International Society for Science & Religion' (google for that also.) They have an extensive library of essays and a very comprehensive reading list.

 

[ChetSinger]

I was educated as a physicist and now work in mathematics. But I became a Christian shortly before I started college, so I might not have the kind of testimony you're looking for.

 

[Sayre]

I was educated as a physicist and now work in mathematics. But I became a Christian shortly before I started college, so I might not have the kind of testimony you're looking for.

I'd like to read it

 

[juvenissun]

I work in academia and there are not many these days. The subject of a scientists religious bent is not relevant to their science and so it rarely, if ever, comes up.

I, personally, have only met one that I would consider 'religious.' He is a Methodist. His name is William (Bill) Phillips and was a 1997 Nobel Laureate for Physics. More info on wikipedia. Since I can't yet post links just search for 'William Daniel Phillips'. He is also one of the founders of the 'International Society for Science & Religion' (google for that also.) They have an extensive library of essays and a very comprehensive reading list.

How many is many?

 

[juvenissun]

Hi there,

My question will be short: `How did you come to believe in the existence of God and to become a christian?'

Thank you.

I found the scientific message in the Bible is incredibly accurate. There is no way that could be true.

 

[TillICollapse]

It's too bad this thread is limited to mathematicians and physicists ... because I would say that while I believed in God through faith prior to any education I received, I believed certain things ABOUT God because they were demonstrated to me: things which might make for interesting examination from a physics POV.

 

[Embedded]

How many is many?

That I know of personally, one. I listed that person already. He works at NIST (among other places.)

There may be many more but I never ask. It would be considered impolite. Like asking someone if they are gay or straight (or one of the other variants.) None that I know of have any religious symbols in their offices. I have a copy of the bible in my office (amongst 400+ other books) but I have never noticed on in any one elses. Since it is a public school it may be considered inappropriate to have overtly religious symbols in ones workspace. Same thing with certain calendars. I have many posters and pictures in my office and labs. None of them are religious in nature and none are nudes (even 'artful' nudes.)

It would also be very unprofessional to ever question a student about their faith preferences. Though sometimes it becomes obvious if they ask to be excused for a particular observance. In general, we do not schedule tests for common religious holidays and if that doesn't work we accommodate the student(s) with a makeup exam.

Basically, from my experience, the issue of religion in public college/university life is that it is a non-issue. I also feel that that is the way it should be.

 

[juvenissun]

That I know of personally, one. I listed that person already. He works at NIST (among other places.)

There may be many more but I never ask. It would be considered impolite. Like asking someone if they are gay or straight (or one of the other variants.) None that I know of have any religious symbols in their offices. I have a copy of the bible in my office (amongst 400+ other books) but I have never noticed on in any one elses. Since it is a public school it may be considered inappropriate to have overtly religious symbols in ones workspace. Same thing with certain calendars. I have many posters and pictures in my office and labs. None of them are religious in nature and none are nudes (even 'artful' nudes.)

It would also be very unprofessional to ever question a student about their faith preferences. Though sometimes it becomes obvious if they ask to be excused for a particular observance. In general, we do not schedule tests for common religious holidays and if that doesn't work we accommodate the student(s) with a makeup exam.

Basically, from my experience, the issue of religion in public college/university life is that it is a non-issue. I also feel that that is the way it should be.

It is the way it is now.
It was not like that, and it is certainly not the way it "should be".

 

[essentialsaltes]

How many is many?

IIRC, roughly 40% of mathematicians and scientists are theists, and it was the same 100 years ago.

Otherwise, my experience is like that of Embedded. No one spoke of it, one way or another.

 

[Embedded]

It is the way it is now.
It was not like that, and it is certainly not the way it "should be".

In my own experience it has been this way for at least fifty years.

Until the USA becomes a theocracy (exclusive) instead of a democracy (inclusive) it is the way it should be in public institutions.

Private institutions, as always, can be as exclusive as they want.

It would probably have been so much simpler if the founders of the US had declared an official state religion... but they didn't. Aside from the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States there is also Article IV, paragraph 3 which says:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.​

(emphasis added)

Do you also think that this was not the way it was or should be?

 

[ChetSinger]

IIRC, roughly 40% of mathematicians and scientists are theists, and it was the same 100 years ago.

That was an interesting article. Thanks for that.

 

[essentialsaltes]

That was an interesting article. Thanks for that.

You're very welcome. It's one of those things that sticks in the mind. First, it's surprising that the level of belief in American scientists is that much different from that of the general public. Second, it's surprising that it hasn't changed in a century.

To the OP, I don't know if he's said anything very personal about his journey, but one person to look into further would be mathematician & pastoral advisor John Lennox.

 

[ChetSinger]

I'd like to read it

Hmmm, my testimony? It's not impressive, imo. I was raised a Lutheran by dedicated parents but with me it didn't stick. By my teenage years I fancied myself a scientist-in-training and thought the Bible was bunk. I remember once being given creationist literature and laughing while I browsed through it.

I did have one weird experience in high school. One of my teachers, apparently a Christian, invited another Christian teacher into our room to give a talk discounting evolution. I suppose that would be illegal today, but back in the 1970s people didn't care as much. What made the experience weird was that I wanted to speak up and tear down what she was saying but was unable to open my mouth and make a sound. I knew what I wanted to say and desperately wanted to say it but couldn't move my throat. So she finished her talk without interruption. To this day I suspect the Holy Spirit temporarily shut me up.

Over the next year God moved in my life, softening my heart. I gave my life to him while in senior HS and have never regretted it. I did missions work after HS, then moved back home after a couple of years and began attending college. I studied physics, liked it, and got a BA with MCL honors in the early 1980s.

I gave little thought to origins or creationism for about ten years. If you had asked me what I was, I probably would've identified myself as some kind of OEC.

I've never worked as a physicist, although musical acoustics has remained a private interest of mine for decades. I've developed a series of mathematical models of musical instruments that create sound by simulating their physics. Professionally, I've been a computer programmer since the early 1980s and now do mathematical modeling work for a large market research company.

These days I'm mostly a YEC, in that I believe God created life pretty much as we see it now, and that humanity began with Adam 6,000 years ago. Regarding the cosmos, I've been intrigued by the theories of Hartnett and Humphreys but unfortunately lack the skills to fully understand them.

 

[ebia]

You're very welcome. It's one of those things that sticks in the mind. First, it's surprising that the level of belief in American scientists is that much different from that of the general public. Second, it's surprising that it hasn't changed in a century. To the OP, I don't know if he's said anything very personal about his journey, but one person to look into further would be mathematician & pastoral advisor John Lennox.

and, of course, theoretical physicist turned Anglican priest, John Polkinghorne.

 

[Embedded]

Interesting article Essentialsaltes.
Chetsinger that is an interesting testimony. Thanks for sharing.

One of my students was an excellent Physics major. She was the daughter of a Lutheran I think it was Lutheran) pastor and after she graduated she decided to get her doctorate in divinity rather than pursue science. She is now a youth pastor in Vermont. She is a very 'liberal' pastor (pro-choice, pro social justice, pro equality (race, gender, sex, marriage... etc), pro science, pro occupy, and pro environment)

Technically, teaching creationism in a public school has always been 'illegal'. It has always been, and continues to be, very poorly enforced. There are many science teachers in the public school system that do not teach evolution due to pressure from the school district and parents in the community. There are quite a few that teach outright creationism. Even if some parents complain it rarely makes the news.

 

[juvenissun]

In my own experience it has been this way for at least fifty years.

Until the USA becomes a theocracy (exclusive) instead of a democracy (inclusive) it is the way it should be in public institutions.

Private institutions, as always, can be as exclusive as they want.

It would probably have been so much simpler if the founders of the US had declared an official state religion... but they didn't. Aside from the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States there is also Article IV, paragraph 3 which says:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.​

(emphasis added)

Do you also think that this was not the way it was or should be?

The society it should be, in my mind, is the one like that in Joshua's time in the Old Testament. It is more (better) than a theocratic system. Judaism survived for millenniums with a good reason.

 

[Sayre]

and, of course, theoretical physicist turned Anglican priest, John Polkinghorne.

Thanks. I'll check him out.

 

[Sayre]

Hmmm, my testimony? It's not impressive, imo. I was raised a Lutheran by dedicated parents but with me it didn't stick. By my teenage years I fancied myself a scientist-in-training and thought the Bible was bunk. I remember once being given creationist literature and laughing while I browsed through it.

I did have one weird experience in high school. One of my teachers, apparently a Christian, invited another Christian teacher into our room to give a talk discounting evolution. I suppose that would be illegal today, but back in the 1970s people didn't care as much. What made the experience weird was that I wanted to speak up and tear down what she was saying but was unable to open my mouth and make a sound. I knew what I wanted to say and desperately wanted to say it but couldn't move my throat. So she finished her talk without interruption. To this day I suspect the Holy Spirit temporarily shut me up.

Over the next year God moved in my life, softening my heart. I gave my life to him while in senior HS and have never regretted it. I did missions work after HS, then moved back home after a couple of years and began attending college. I studied physics, liked it, and got a BA with MCL honors in the early 1980s.

I gave little thought to origins or creationism for about ten years. If you had asked me what I was, I probably would've identified myself as some kind of OEC.

I've never worked as a physicist, although musical acoustics has remained a private interest of mine for decades. I've developed a series of mathematical models of musical instruments that create sound by simulating their physics. Professionally, I've been a computer programmer since the early 1980s and now do mathematical modeling work for a large market research company.

These days I'm mostly a YEC, in that I believe God created life pretty much as we see it now, and that humanity began with Adam 6,000 years ago. Regarding the cosmos, I've been intrigued by the theories of Hartnett and Humphreys but unfortunately lack the skills to fully understand them.

Thank you

 

[Sayre]

You're very welcome. It's one of those things that sticks in the mind. First, it's surprising that the level of belief in American scientists is that much different from that of the general public. Second, it's surprising that it hasn't changed in a century.

To the OP, I don't know if he's said anything very personal about his journey, but one person to look into further would be mathematician & pastoral advisor John Lennox.

All I know about Lennox is that he is a YEC. He is coming to my city soon - is he worth listening to?