How does your faith affect your view of science?

[DarkProphet]

I aways find it troubling when Christians say things like "evolution is not a fact it's a theory" or "science doesn't actually prove anything". I'm not going to go into what wrong with these statements because this isn't the debate forum but I do want to know how these statements originated. So my question is how does your faith affect your view of science?

 

[cutie76]

To me, science is a gift from God that explains a little bit of how He operates.

In His goodness, He allows mere humans some insight into how His creation works.

It's unfortunate that some people use that gift to discredit His existance. The created is denying the Creator, it's kinda silly.

Did you know that the skull that was found that was thought to be of an unevolved man (which would have proved evolution) was really a scam? They put a human skull with a monkey jawbone.

 

[MikeMcK]

To me, science is a gift from God that explains a little bit of how He operates.

In His goodness, He allows mere humans some insight into how His creation works.

Reknowned physicist, Robert Jastrow, once described science as a trail of bread crumbs that God leaves so that we may find Him.

It's unfortunate that some people use that gift to discredit His existance. The created is denying the Creator, it's kinda silly.

It's even sillier when people who try to say that science is incompatible with Christianity, but refuse to acknowlege that some of the most respected and influential scientists were Christians.

 

[DarkProphet]

Did you know that the skull that was found that was thought to be of an unevolved man (which would have proved evolution) was really a scam? They put a human skull with a monkey jawbone.

Yes I have heard of Piltdown man, the lesson from that would be to scrutinize the evidence of something before accepting it as truth. In any case what you are basically saying is that science is the explanation of how God works, if that is the case then do you count the Biblical descriptions of how God works as science?

 

[DarkProphet]

It's even sillier when people who try to say that science is incompatible with Christianity, but refuse to acknowlege that some of the most respected and influential scientists were Christians.

This is true Isaac Newton, arguable the most important scientist ever, was a strong Christian. However, so was Galileo but his findings were not in line with the churches so he was silenced. If science is incompatible with Christianity it is because Christians refuse to acknowledge findings.

 

[childofGod31]

Science is amazing and fascinating.

But if the conclusions contradict the Bible, then I agree with the Bible. Because I believe God knows better and humans can be in error (even scientists).

 

[MikeMcK]

This is true Isaac Newton, arguable the most important scientist ever, was a strong Christian.

I don't know if you're aware of this but, as a young man, Newton planned to leave science behind to study for the pastorate. It was only after reading the Bible's account of the universe that Newton realized that science was a Heavenly calling.

However, so was Galileo but his findings were not in line with the churches so he was silenced.

Remember, though, much of what we believe today about that incident is actually a myth.

Galileo was the victim of a personal crusade by a corrupt pope and a few of his followers, not Christianity or, in all fairness to Roman Catholicism, the Roman Catholic church.

There was actually a revolt in the leadership of the Roman Catholic church over the way that Galileo was treated and the way that science was evaluated. It was so big that it threatened to shake up the leadership of that organization. And it should also be noted that they ended up apologizing and absolving him of the false charge of heresy.

If science is incompatible with Christianity it is because Christians refuse to acknowledge findings.

Or it may just be incompatible with Christianity.

 

[Digit]

I don't feel the two are incompatible in any way. Why would they be? I mean God created everything, so we all have the same facts, evidence and things to work with. I believe we interpret things differently, I still to this day cannot understand why people work so hard to try and prove Christianity false. It's odd, considering people pick up a history book, read something, and believe it 100%. Yet with Christianity, it's not so.

Odd, anyhow I have no issues with science and what it has done for us. We can use it to unwrap the amazing puzzle of the universe God created for us, and it coincides nicely with the Bible for me, which is God's unfallable Word. Just because many people say something is so, does not make it so. I stand with God, not the world.

Digit

 

[DarkProphet]

It's odd, considering people pick up a history book, read something, and believe it 100%. Yet with Christianity, it's not so.

If I founded a school one of the first lessons would be to ask for proof. So opening a history book and believing it 100% would be a folly.

Odd, anyhow I have no issues with science and what it has done for us. We can use it to unwrap the amazing puzzle of the universe God created for us, and it coincides nicely with the Bible for me, which is God's unfallable Word. Just because many people say something is so, does not make it so. I stand with God, not the world.

Digit

I like this attitude but I have to ask how do you reconcile the parts of the Bible that do not coincide with science like...

Leviticus 11:20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
​

a four legged duck.

 

[Digit]

If I founded a school one of the first lessons would be to ask for proof. So opening a history book and believing it 100% would be a folly.

Really? I never got any proof at school. We read books upon books, which just stated things. Khan did this, Napolean did that, this animal eats bacteria. I didn't see any proof at all. It was just learning. Why does every, little, tiny, single, miniscule fact of the Bible, demand SO MUCH evidence, for someone to believe it? It makes me really sad to even think about it.

I like this attitude but I have to ask how do you reconcile the parts of the Bible that do not coincide with science like...

Leviticus 11:20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
​

a four legged duck.

Google is your friend. Man, if I had a $1 for each time someone found a translation error, and thought it was a contradiction, I would be a rich rich man... then I would have to tithe and would be poorer. But seriously, this is another wonderful thing about the Bible. It was written by many different people, it contains 62 books (I think thats write) all written at different times, by different authors. Yet it is perfect. There are no errors. Look at our film industry for example, lets look at Lord of The Rings. How many millions of dollars, how many thousands of people did it take to create it, over many years, yet you watch it, and continuity errors fly out of the screen at you. The Bible has survived for 2000 years, LoTR didn't last 2 hours. *laughs*

Digit

 

[DarkProphet]

Really? I never got any proof at school. We read books upon books, which just stated things. Khan did this, Napolean did that, this animal eats bacteria. I didn't see any proof at all. It was just learning.

I know what you mean, it's one of the main things I hate about the school system. It's also why I would want to found my own school.

Why does every, little, tiny, single, miniscule fact of the Bible, demand SO MUCH evidence, for someone to believe it? It makes me really sad to even think about it.

The difference is that there is more at stake with the Bible and many things in the Bible do not appear to coincide with science.

Google is your friend. Man, if I had a $1 for each time someone found a translation error, and thought it was a contradiction, I would be a rich rich man... then I would have to tithe and would be poorer. But seriously, this is another wonderful thing about the Bible. It was written by many different people, it contains 62 books (I think thats write) all written at different times, by different authors. Yet it is perfect. There are no errors.

Digit

If you acknowledge the existence of translation errors in modern versions of the Bible then how can you say it is perfect?

 

[Digit]

I know what you mean, it's one of the main things I hate about the school system. It's also why I would want to found my own school.

When your parent told you that you can turn the kettle on by pressing the button, did you demand proof? Did you try and switch it on by rubbing your stomach instead? I didn't. I accepted it. My parents loved me and would not lie. Just like God. He would not lie about the things He has told us. Proof is awesome, but I won't beat myself up about things I don't know, or things that are beyond my ability to prove.

The difference is that there is more at stake with the Bible and many things in the Bible do not appear to coincide with science.

Yeah I understand you, and it's a large problem. I feel the key word is 'appear' here, because I thought that way too, and when I dug further, many things became apparent, and I could see that I had been taught things out of context.

If you acknowledge the existence of translation errors in modern versions of the Bible then how can you say it is perfect?

The Bible, as written, or rather inspired by God, is perfect. When man decided to translate it, from the original manuscripts, to different languages, we have made mistakes. The NIV version is far better than the KJV (in my opinion), I've had some discussions about the KJV already, there is a word in Genesis, firmament, which means a physical seperation, like a barrier. This is better translated by us in the NIV as an expanse. We all know the sky is not solid, but when the KJV was translated, they were under influence of Egpytion Cosmology views, which believed the sky was a barrier between them and the heavens.

Digit

 

[DarkProphet]

When your parent told you that you can turn the kettle on by pressing the button, did you demand proof? Did you try and switch it on by rubbing your stomach instead? I didn't.

I didn't either... I pushed the button to try it.

My parents loved me and would not lie. Just like God. He would not lie about the things He has told us.

I suppose this is something else that you have to accept on faith because if God was not a benevolent God then he could lie and we could never know.

The Bible, as written, or rather inspired by God, is perfect. When man decided to translate it, from the original manuscripts, to different languages, we have made mistakes. The NIV version is far better than the KJV (in my opinion), I've had some discussions about the KJV already, there is a word in Genesis, firmament, which means a physical seperation, like a barrier. This is better translated by us in the NIV as an expanse. We all know the sky is not solid, but when the KJV was translated, they were under influence of Egpytion Cosmology views, which believed the sky was a barrier between them and the heavens.

Firmament was my second choice for an example but you are right in that can be simply interpreted differently. In any case that passage in the NIV...

Leviticus 11:20 " 'All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you.

now mentions four legged insects. This is not an improvement over a four legged duck. I agree that this is probably the most comprehensive translation of the Bible, yet it still contains errors. You also acknowledge the fact that changing world views has changed how parts of the Bible are interpreted. With this in mind I ask... How do you reconcile your belief in the Bible with scientific oberservations?


​

 

[ebia]

I aways find it troubling when Christians say things like "evolution is not a fact it's a theory" or "science doesn't actually prove anything". I'm not going to go into what wrong with these statements because this isn't the debate forum but I do want to know how these statements originated. So my question is how does your faith affect your view of science?

It gives me confidence that the world is a predictable place and therefore that science can help us answer certain types of questions about our world. Which can, then, help to inform and enable ones faith if one lets it.

(Note that I, like many Christians, don't have a problem with the Theory of Evolution).

 

[MikeMcK]

I like this attitude but I have to ask how do you reconcile the parts of the Bible that do not coincide with science like...

Leviticus 11:20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.​

a four legged duck.

The first thing we do is to ask whether or not we're reading the verse or passage in it's proper context. In this case, you're not doing that, so we would look at the entire passage to see where you went wrong.

vv 21-23 go on to list several specific insects, such as locusts and grasshoppers, and refers to the owph as "other" insects.

So we can see from context that it isn't referring to ducks.

The next thing we do is to take into account that there may be another meaning that we have not considered.

In this case, the word translated "fowl" is owph, and refers to any flying thing, not just ducks.

Given that, and since we know that ducks neither creep nor "go upon all four", then we know that it isn't referring to a duck.

 

[Digit]

I didn't either... I pushed the button to try it.

Exactly! I have a relationship with God, which is the same as me trying it by pushing the button. The difference is, that when my parents taught me how to push the button, I didn't question. I just tried. Just like when the Bible tells me how to have a relationship with God, I don't question, I just try as best I know how.

I suppose this is something else that you have to accept on faith because if God was not a benevolent God then he could lie and we could never know.

Well let me put it this way, God hasn't lied yet. I mean, He has built up all these rules for us, and they aren't there to ruin our fun. They are there to help us live a better life, with more fun. I don't think I would like it if my fiance lied to me, or someone stole from me, or she was adulterous when we get married. The rules are there to protect us. I see no evidence of a lie yet, and I feel no lie either. So I guess yeah, in a way you are right we have to take it on faith, but that's a lot easier when it all just seems to work and make sense. For me anyhow.

Firmament was my second choice for an example but you are right in that can be simply interpreted differently. In any case that passage in the NIV...

Leviticus 11:20 " 'All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you.

now mentions four legged insects. This is not an improvement over a four legged duck. I agree that this is probably the most comprehensive translation of the Bible, yet it still contains errors. You also acknowledge the fact that changing world views has changed how parts of the Bible are interpreted. With this in mind I ask... How do you reconcile your belief in the Bible with scientific oberservations?​

Did you read all of that link? The word basically has many meanings:

sherets {sheh'-rets}
Which means literally:
1) teeming or swarming things, creepers, swarmers
1a) of insects, animals, small reptiles, quadrupeds

I hope that helps.

Digit.


​

 

[salida]

DarkP--

My faith just verifys science and vice versa. A great website is www.reasons.org. It concerns belief and science. A guy with a PhD in Chemistry started it.

 

[kulenok]

Great question! I'll tell you. My faith affects my view because i look at any discovery or anything from science through opened eyes, as a saved person. My faith is great I feel great to be Christian you know, you should try it Darkprophet.

 

[ValleyWalker2]

I don't know if you're aware of this but, as a young man, Newton planned to leave science behind to study for the pastorate. It was only after reading the Bible's account of the universe that Newton realized that science was a Heavenly calling.



Remember, though, much of what we believe today about that incident is actually a myth.

Galileo was the victim of a personal crusade by a corrupt pope and a few of his followers, not Christianity or, in all fairness to Roman Catholicism, the Roman Catholic church.

There was actually a revolt in the leadership of the Roman Catholic church over the way that Galileo was treated and the way that science was evaluated. It was so big that it threatened to shake up the leadership of that organization. And it should also be noted that they ended up apologizing and absolving him of the false charge of heresy.



Or it may just be incompatible with Christianity.

Just an FYI for everyone;

"In 1991, the Catholic Church reconsidered Galileo's case and absolved him of all wrong doing. Oh, well. It's the thought that counts."

 

[ContentInHim]

If I founded a school one of the first lessons would be to ask for proof. So opening a history book and believing it 100% would be a folly.



I like this attitude but I have to ask how do you reconcile the parts of the Bible that do not coincide with science like...

Leviticus 11:20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
​

a four legged duck.

What version has birds? I can find "insects" and "winged swarming things". And that's just from the Jewish translations.

As for your OP, the longer I live the more I see the Bible proved. Archeology in particular is proving the history in the Bible. As for science, I hold out great hope that quantum physics will provide many explanations. I happen to disbelieve the ToE but that's just because it cannot be proven just as Creation cannot be proven. So I chose!