Christians and science

[Bork]

I recently read the article about the guy working on the Human Genome project stating his belief for a creator.

I have always been interested in science, and often have been under the impression that science and christianity don't mix... however, i understand there are adament christian scientists.

So, I was wondering if anyone can recomend some books that deal with scientists finding faith through their science, and/ or losing faith through their science.

I don't want creation// evolution books. I asked in that thread already, where I imagine most people focus on that material.

thanks,
bork

 

[Locrian]

I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions. I would like to say that I think you are on the right trick. Much of the antagonistic history between science and religion is either overblown or just plain manufactured, often by both sides.

Personally I see no problems being religious and a scientist. The percentage of religious people in the sciences is higher than people think, though lower than the rest of society. The big exception might be astronomy; there are precious few religious people in that area, with a proportion of non-religious people being greater than 90%.

 

[Bork]

I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions. I would like to say that I think you are on the right trick. Much of the antagonistic history between science and religion is either overblown or just plain manufactured, often by both sides.

Personally I see no problems being religious and a scientist. The percentage of religious people in the sciences is higher than people think, though lower than the rest of society. The big exception might be astronomy; there are precious few religious people in that area, with a proportion of non-religious people being greater than 90%.

Do you know why in astrology? Can you reccomend a good book for astrology that might explain this?

 

[Locrian]

No, I didn't say anything about astrology, just astronomy. More specifically, here I mean astrophysics.

As for why, I doubt there is a book that goes into why astronomers tend to be so atheistic. I can provide evidence this is the case if you need it (I'd have to go dig up a Nature publication from a few years ago that did the study), but why it is so is out of my area of expertise.

I'll take a guess though. Central to Western religion is the importance of mankind. When studying the universe, the consistent trend for the past three hundred years is the removal of humans from a place of importance. First, we were removed from the center of the universe. Then our sun was removed from the center of the universe. Then the stuff that makes us up turned out to be pretty common.

In biology, everywhere you look things are amazingly tuned for life to operate well. In astronomy you find that an inconceivable portion of the universe is totally inhospitable and dangerous to life. So dangerous you wonder how much longer we'll last at all. The earth is special in that regard, but if you ask yourself what someone was thinking when they made this universe, you can't answer "they made it for us." At least, it is very difficult to do so. Modern cosmology leaves room for a God, but it just doesn't mesh well with Western religious scriptures.

That certainly doesn't mean there aren't religious people in astronomy. There's also a question of whether this isn't a self-propogating process. The astrophysicists I spent time with as an undergrad were openly and proudly atheistic, which might be a turn off to religious people.

It's an interesting question.

 

[Michael]

I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions. I would like to say that I think you are on the right trick. Much of the antagonistic history between science and religion is either overblown or just plain manufactured, often by both sides.

Personally I see no problems being religious and a scientist. The percentage of religious people in the sciences is higher than people think, though lower than the rest of society. The big exception might be astronomy; there are precious few religious people in that area, with a proportion of non-religious people being greater than 90%.

Ya, but then again, most astronomers put faith in things like "Big Bangs", inflation, dark energy, dark matter, and the gas model solar theory.

I pretty much agreed with everything you said.

 

[Bork]

oops, my bad... I can't read worth a dang

Yes Michael, I understand... but I often take the view that all should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[HumbleUnderdog]

The way i see it, no matter what area of science you are into, everyone knows that each element is broken down into molecules then into atoms then into something else that I can't remember what they're called. But doesn't that have to end (or begin) somewhere? Where could the simplest form of matter come from?No matter what area of science you are in, that question has to come to mind, since it involves every aspect of science.

 

[angelpoet]

There is some argument that Darwin was converted on his deathbed, but truthorfiction.com has stated that if this did happen, the evidence is inconclusive. There are a number of books about it found on the truthorfiction.com website.

Also, didn't C.S. Lewis become a Christian because of his scientific views? Not sure, but worth looking into. Could be also true for J.R. Tolkien.

What about Josh McDowel?

I'm not an expert, so don't qutoe me. Juest some names that came to mind. Did you try doing a search for scientific Christians?


The Canadian Science and Christian Affiliation, csca.ca, might have something for you, too.

Personally, I think we need wayyyyyy more Christians in the science field. I hope you go for it.

 

[steen]

I would suggest going here:

http://www.asa3.org/
..Science in Christian Perspective
The American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) is a fellowship of men and women in science and disciplines that relate to science who share a common fidelity to the Word of God and a commitment to integrity in the practice of science....

 

[Darkhorse]

I would suggest Isaac Newton's writings - I have heard that they sound like theology.

 

[TheAntiLion]

I recently read the article about the guy working on the Human Genome project stating his belief for a creator.

I have always been interested in science, and often have been under the impression that science and christianity don't mix... however, i understand there are adament christian scientists.

So, I was wondering if anyone can recomend some books that deal with scientists finding faith through their science, and/ or losing faith through their science.

I don't want creation// evolution books. I asked in that thread already, where I imagine most people focus on that material.

thanks,
bork

a good book is Being a Christian In Science by Walter Hearn. It isn't about creation vs. evoultion, just pratical advice. There are also some Vertias forum lectures you can download for free too that are pretty good. Site being: http://www.veritas.org/3.0_media/index.php

The two lectures I would highly recomend from there are:

1. Has Science made Faith In God Impossible? – William Lane Craig
2. Scientists and their gods – Fritz Schaefer
3. Research as Ministry – David Larson

 

[HumbleUnderdog]

Will internet tickle your (the OP's) fancy some?

From what I have seen, since God is the Creator of everything, than everything is proovable and points toward God. Science, the creation of earth, the big bang, all points towards God.

 

[jess91877]

There was a book I purchased YEARS ago, called "scientists who believe", it was a good account of successful scientists, and their walk with the Lord.

Also, I am a scientist and a Christian. I would not necessarily say the two do not mix, but for me personally, as I age/mature and get further along in my career, I am ready for a change from the sciences. However, it can be very interesting, and in industry you will rarely have to deal with issues and concepts that interfere or go against God's kingdom. It is a myth that all science goes against principles of God...then again, I am a chemist and don't deal with any living organisms. More data than anything else.

 

[SuperSaint4GodDBZStyle]

History's most famous scientists were christians, such as Boyle, Da Vinci, Pasteur, and others. I suggest you go to www.nwcreation.net and look at Bruce Barton's lecture on "The Icons of Evolution". This is where he states the origins of evolution, but for your question he talks about the Christian scientist in the past also. Back then most scientists based their thinking on the Bible. God bless.