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Science arises naturally     from a Christian worldview    

Christianity and Science Is scientific thinking consistent with a Bible-based Christian worldview? How should we use the two sources of information (in the Word and the Works) that are graciously provided for us by God?.

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Science arises naturally     from a Christian worldview    

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  1. Christianity and ScienceIs scientific thinking consistent witha Bible-based Christian worldview?How should we use the two sources ofinformation (in the Word and the Works)that are graciously provided for us by God? Lecture at Wheaton College (March 27, 2003)by Dr. Deborah Haarsma( with slides selected by Craig Rusbult to makea file for the ASA Science Education Website )

  2. Science arises naturally    from a Christian worldview     • We are studying God’s handiwork (Ps 19:1) • God calls us to do science (Gen 1:28, 2:19-20) • We are gifted to do science (Gen 1:27) • Nature is controlled by one God in a faithful manner (Ps 119:89-90, Ps 74:16-17) • We cannot know God’s mind a priori (Job 38, Ps 135:6), but we can learnhow He governs nature (Prov 25:2) • Redemption history haspast, present, and future (time is linear)

  3. Science arises naturallyfrom a Christian worldview Christianworldview beliefs Beliefs necessaryfor doing science • We are studyingGod’s handiwork • God calls us to do science • We are gifted to do science • Nature is controlled byone God in a faithful manner • We cannot know God’s minda priori, but can learn howHe governs nature • Redemption history haspast, present, and future • Science is worth doing • Nature is understandable • Nature operates in consistent universal patterns • Logical models are not enough, experiments are needed • Time is linear  

  4. The scientific method is entirely consistent with a Christian worldview • A Christian does not have to pretendto be an atheist to do science (“methodological naturalism”) • Worldviews which are very differentcan share the subset of assumptionsnecessary to do science, soChristianity does not “own” science. • Some worldviews not as well-suitedto science (animism, circular time).

  5. Response toapparent conflicts with Scripture • Maybe science and scripture are at war? No! • Maybe scripture trumps science? • Maybe science trumps scripture?

  6. Article 2: The Means by Which We Know God We know him by two means: First, by the creation, preservation, and government of the universe, since that universe is before our eyes like a beautiful book in which all creatures, great and small, are as letters to make us ponder the invisible things of God:his eternal power and his divinity… Second, he makes himself known to us more openly by his holy and divine Word, as muchas we need in this life, for his glory and forthe salvation of his own. Belgic Confession   

  7. God Author of Author of Necessary Agreement Nature Scripture Human Interpretation Human Interpretation Potential Conflict Science Theology Two Books: Nature & Scripture

  8. God Nature Scripture Science Theology Two Books: Nature & Scripture A tool for resolving conflictsbetween science & theology • Hope: • Nature and Scripture are bothfrom God and must agree(all truth is God’s truth) • Strategy: • don’t throw out one and keep the other (don’t ignore some of God’s revelation) • keep pursuing both science and theology until the underlying unity of Nature and Scripture becomes clear

  9. Some apparent conflicts are due to faulty logic if someone requires or implies that a religion a scientific fact Example: • Christianity requires the Earth to be fixed • Science proves the Earth moves • Therefore, Christianity is false Possible responses to the flawed conclusion: • Reject the scientific claim • Reject the arrow (the “requires” line of reasoning)

  10. Nature displays the attributes of God glory, beauty, power, extravagance, creativity, faithfulness, intelligence, immensity, intricacy… • Worship is our most fundamentalfaith response to God’s creation • Nature proclaims God’s attributesin universal language • Scripture teaches us these attributes,but Nature shows their amazing extent • Science reveals parts of Nature thatwe cannot detect with our unaided senses

  11. God’s Immensity and Love As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:11-12

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