Science vs. Religion

Science vs. Religion

As I write this article, I realize it will be refuted by many who are more focused on science than religion. Yet, it is of utmost importance to address this subject. Currently, a television series called “Closer to Truth” is streamed on Amazon Prime. Especially, the subject of science versus religion has become a much-watched discussion topic. The producers and writers make the following statement: "The Greatest Thinkers answer the deepest questions."

The responses to this television program have been diverse. Attacks from both the scientific and religious communities have been numerous. Various viewpoints are presented by a long list of highly educated individuals, each a specialist in their field.

The question at hand: does science need religion? And vice versa, does religion need science? Can they coexist in peace? The answers brought forward by the specialists in their respective fields cover all possible angles. This is to be expected, as each individual can find arguments to build a foundation for their personal conviction when addressing the subject of Science versus Religion. Remarkable are also the far-fetched suggestions such as multi-reality and so on. Yet, there is a difference which is clearly being, maybe even willingly, overlooked. At all times, Religion has the final answer. Those who are aware of the above-mentioned television series have seen that science never, and let us emphasize that, never has been nor ever will be able to find the final answer.

Science is fundamentally focused on proof and facts. That is why we were taught in school that an experiment, conducted in a controlled environment, can be considered successful if the outcome is consistently the same when the parameters are the same. In other words, the outcome of the experiment can be anticipated based on the various aforementioned parameters. Inherently connected to this is the fact that the definition of an experiment always generates a new question for which science will try to find a definition or controllable outcome. This means that science will NEVER be able to reach a definitive beginning.

Science may reach a barrier because the knowledge or technology to continue answering questions and defining new challenges is lacking. A believer in the Creator will always be able to ask a simple yet profound question: "And where did your definition originate?" The answer can and will always be: where science stops, religion continues with a simple answer: God.

For the true believer, the logic is simple; God gave men the power to use their brains. Creation came before science. Where science fails to answer, religion has an answer. The scientists interviewed in this 3-episode television series frequently neglected to address this particular fact. Although science continues to reach new frontiers and break boundaries, there will always be the question, "What then was before the newly found definition?"

As a Christian, I can say: The Creator, He who is, was, and always will be. It may be that science refuses to accept this fundamental truth, yet it can never be denied. Why is that? When there is a new subject to be defined by science, the outcome and answer of the question asked by science are not yet known, thus the option of God as an answer is possible. This means that God can never be excluded from the equation. Again, where science stops, religion continues.

The real believer has no issues with science, but science has issues with religion. We, as believers, know that all is possible with God, and thus, we will not be surprised if there are unanswered questions.

Remarkably, many members of the scientific community try to ridicule believers, while at the same time presenting assumptions as facts to keep religion out of the picture. Yet, an assumption should not be considered science, as it is not a proven fact but a suggested fact. Think, for instance, of the “Oort Cloud.” One of the many science websites referencing this cloud states: "The Oort cloud’s distant edge could lie some 100,000 times further out from the sun than Earth, more than a third of the way to its nearest stellar neighbor, Proxima Centauri."

This is taught in schools and universities as a cluster of galaxies and/or rocks that we cannot observe. So, how then is this science? Has somebody visited this belt of galaxies/rocks and confirmed it? The answer is unequivocally no, and thus we can conclude that this is not science, but just an assumption presented as a given fact.

The questionable tactic of presenting assumptions as fact has clouded the real world of science but has enabled the scientific community to keep the Creator out of the possible answers. Even so, religion will have the last word, as it simply can say: "Great statement about the ‘Oort Cloud,’ but if the belt even exists as science claims, where or how did it come into being?" The answer, if not known to science, will be God for those who are considered believers.

It is of utmost importance to state that the true believer understands knowledge is obtained by learning and experimenting, and those have been made possible because the Creator created. Besides the various arguments made in this article, we as believers use faith. (The definition of faith seen from a religious point of view is: "Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.") Faith will be able to answer the questions where science stalls. Of course, this is for the unbelieving scientist a too simple approach, and it is fair to say that a so-called unbeliever will never understand the God-given peace in the answer "God" to any and all unknowns. On top of that, those who have received the Holy Spirit of God know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has the final say. It is a certainty embedded in the very core of the believer.

Sorry Mr. Science Man, but when you don't have the answers anymore, we have one for you: God, the Creator of the universe, is the final authority and the final answer to all undefined issues and challenges. Period. Any other answer is more focused on denying God than it actually presents a serious alternative to God. With God, all is possible.

To keep it very simple, where science fails to provide a final answer, religion at least has an answer. That answer is God, and throughout history, science has failed to disprove religious beliefs, and all the while, science books had to be rewritten because of faulty science or indeed assumptions which were presented as facts. The word of God has never been disproven, the Bible has never been rewritten, and even more remarkably (for the non-believer), science has helped provide and prove various aspects of religious statements and/or history as described in the Holy book.

He who wants to see proof of science supporting Christianity only has to do a simple search on the Internet. A few examples where science has supported or confirmed Christian beliefs are:

Big Bang Theory: The Big Bang Theory, which describes the origin of the universe, aligns with the Christian belief of creation ex nihilo (out of nothing). Many scientists, including Georges Lemaître, a Catholic priest and physicist, contributed to this theory.

Finetuning of the Universe: The precise conditions necessary for life to exist in the universe (such as the exact strength of gravity, the properties of water, etc.) are often cited as evidence of a purposeful design, which resonates with the Christian belief in an intelligent Creator.

Human Genome Project: The sequencing of the human genome has shown the complexity and intricacy of human DNA, which many see as evidence of intelligent design. This discovery aligns with the Christian belief that humans are uniquely created by God.

Historical Accuracy of the Bible: Archaeological discoveries have often confirmed the historical accuracy of events described in the Bible. For example, the discovery of ancient cities like Jericho and the Hittite Empire has validated biblical accounts.

Medical Advances: Many medical advances have been made by Christian scientists who were motivated by their faith to alleviate suffering and improve human health. For instance, the development of modern nursing by Florence Nightingale, a devout Christian, was faith driven.

These examples show that science and Christian faith can coexist and even complement each other in various ways.

Let it be crystal clear that a scientist at all times can continue being a researcher while also believing in God. He (God) is and will always be the Alpha and the Omega. Many scientists have indeed discovered this truth. Let us hope and pray for those who have the arrogance to utterly deny the existence of God, for they will be hopelessly lost, searching for the real beginning.

Thank you for reading this article.

With love, 

Rev. Gus B.