Deon Barnard

My response to the article:

Do faith in God and science contradict?

From: http://www.gotquestions.org/science-God.html

Here’s the article:

Question: “Do faith in God and science contradict?”

Answer: Science is defined as “the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.” Science is a method that mankind can use to gain a greater understanding of the natural universe. It is a search for knowledge through observation. Advances in science demonstrate the reach of human logic and imagination. However, a Christian’s belief in science should never be like our belief in God. A Christian can have faith in God and respect for science, as long as we remember which is perfect and which is not.

Our belief in God is a belief of faith. We have faith in His Son for salvation, faith in His Word for instruction, and faith in His Holy Spirit for guidance. Our faith in God should be absolute, since when we put our faith in God, we depend on a perfect, omnipotent, omniscient Creator. Our belief in science should be intellectual and nothing more. We can count on science to do many great things, but we can also count on science to make mistakes. If we put faith in science, we depend on imperfect, sinful, limited, mortal men. Science throughout history has been wrong about many things, such as the shape of the earth, powered flight, vaccines, blood transfusions, and even reproduction. God is never wrong.

Truth is nothing to fear, so there is no reason for a Christian to fear good science. Learning more about the way God constructed our universe helps all of mankind appreciate the wonder of creation. Expanding our knowledge helps us to combat disease, ignorance, and misunderstanding. However, there is danger when scientists hold their faith in human logic above faith in our Creator. These persons are no different from anyone devoted to a religion; they have chosen faith in man and will find facts to defend that faith.

Still, the most rational scientists, even those who refuse to believe in God, admit to a lack of completeness in our understanding of the universe. They will admit that neither God nor the Bible can be proved or disproved by science, just as many of their favorite theories ultimately cannot be proved or disproved. Science is meant to be a truly neutral discipline, seeking only the truth, not furtherance of an agenda.

Much of science supports the existence and work of God. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” As modern science discovers more about the universe, we find more evidence of creation. The amazing complexity and replication of DNA, the intricate and interlocking laws of physics, and the absolute harmony of conditions and chemistry here on earth all serve to support the message of the Bible. A Christian should embrace science that seeks the truth, but reject the “priests of science” who put human knowledge above God.

My response in red:

Answer: Science is defined as “the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.” Science is a method that mankind can use to gain a greater understanding of the natural universe. (the best method we have by far).

It is a search for knowledge through observation (controlled testing, experimentation and sound reason). Advances in science demonstrate the reach of human logic and imagination. However, a Christian’s belief in science should never be like our belief in God. A Christian can have faith in God and respect for science, as long as we remember which is perfect and which is not. (Huh? What does that even mean? How do you just pronounce something perfect?)

Our belief in God is a belief of faith. (Therein lies the problem!) We have faith in His Son for salvation (from what?), faith in His Word for instruction (have you read this “word” recently? Full of contradictions and immoral teachings), and faith in His Holy Spirit for guidance (How does something that can’t be seen, heard or observed in any way, guide people?). Our faith in God should be absolute (why?), since when we put our faith in God, we depend on a perfect, omnipotent, omniscient Creator (huh? Says who? Where do these ‘facts’ come from, and why aren’t they plain to science and reason, let alone all contrary religions?). Our belief in science (we don’t ‘believe’ in science. It’s a method of inquiry) should be intellectual and nothing more (that’s exactly right). We can count on science to do many great things (yip), but we can also count on science to make mistakes (yip. And?). If we put faith in science (we don’t!), we depend on imperfect, sinful, limited, mortal men (uh, yes, that’s why we don’t put ‘faith’ in science…). Science (you mean scientists) throughout history has been wrong about many things, such as the shape of the earth, powered flight, vaccines, blood transfusions, and even reproduction (who said they weren’t?). God is never wrong. (Jeez! SAYS WHO? Have you read the Bible lately?)

Truth is nothing to fear (could have fooled me), so there is no reason for a Christian to fear good science (Christians have good reasons to fear good science). Learning more about the way God constructed our universe (Science demonstrates clearly that there is probably no creator God) helps all of mankind appreciate the wonder of creation (uh… nope). Expanding our knowledge helps us to combat disease, ignorance, and misunderstanding (Yes! Yes! Yes!!!). However, there is danger when scientists hold their faith in human logic above faith in our Creator (Oh enough already! Scientists don’t do faith, and there is no creator!). These persons are no different from anyone devoted to a religion; they have chosen faith in man and will find facts to defend that faith (sigh… this is hopeless).

Still, the most rational scientists, even those who refuse to believe in God, admit to a lack of completeness in our understanding of the universe (damn right, but a knowledge that surpasses the church’s by a million fold, and growing). They will admit that neither God nor the Bible can be proved or disproved by science (Nor can the tooth fairy, Easter bunny or flying spaghetti monster… because its bull shit!), just as many of their favourite theories ultimately cannot be proved or disproved (They’re called theories for a reason). Science is meant to be a truly neutral discipline, seeking only the truth, not furtherance of an agenda (yes. And?)

Much of science supports the existence and work of God (What?! How? Where? Since when?). Psalm 19:1 says (and this matters because?), “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” As modern science discovers more about the universe, we find more evidence of creation (exactly the opposite is true). The amazing complexity and replication of DNA, the intricate and interlocking laws of physics, and the absolute harmony of conditions and chemistry here on earth all serve to support the message of the Bible (Message of the Bible? Which particular message is that? How do we even begin to draw that conclusion?). A Christian should embrace science that seeks the truth (correct), but reject the “priests of science” (hahaha. Really?) who put human knowledge above God (Which God is that?)

Tags: contradict, evidence, faith, god, reason, science

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011 at 15:16 and is filed under philosophy & religion, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.