Science and Christianity – Are they Compatible?

Contrary to what some people might think, there is no war between science and Christianity. In fact, modern science was hatched in the incubator of the Christian worldview. “The type of thinking known today as scientific, with its emphasis upon experiment and mathematical formulation, arose in one culture—Western Europe—and in no other.”^[1]

Why is this so? Because the Bible teaches physical creation is real and operates in an orderly way based on natural laws established by a rational God. Since God is trustworthy and dependable, creation too, was understood to be trustworthy and dependable. Since mankind is created in God’s image, he is a rational creature and capable of understanding the order found in the world. Thus, science was viewed as something possible because of the Christian worldview. With this understanding it comes as no surprise that the first scientists were often devout believers who were motivated by the love of science and love of God.

The earlier scientist was very likely to be a believer who did not think scientific inquiry and religious devotion incompatible. On the contrary, his motivation for studying the wonders of nature was a religious impulse to glorify the God who had created them.^[2]

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) is known for his inductive methodology which formed the very basis of the scientific method. He was also a devout Christian. Some of the first astronomers and pioneers of the scientific revolution include Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) and Galileo Galilei (1564-1642). These were all professing believers in God and the Bible. Isaac Newton (1643-1727) is credited as one of the most influential scientists of all time. Newton wanted his scientific work to be used for apologetics.^[3] The first modern chemist, Robert Boyle (1627-1691) was also a Christian, as were the first botanists, John Ray (1627-1705) and Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778). Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was a Christian who pioneered the study of electromagnetism. Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) was a Christian who founded genetics. Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) was a Christian biologist and chemist who is known for his breakthroughs with vaccinations.

Science as a means of discovery

God created us to be creatures who can know reality by what we observe. In the creation account, it says God brought the animals to Adam in order that he should observe and name them (Gen. 2:19-20). It was during this process of identifying similarities and differences (i.e., genus and species) between animals in nature that Adam realized there was nobody else like himself (another human).

The names that Adam gave to each creature God brought to him was an expression of its essential nature, “a task involving detailed observation, description, and classification. Thus, Genesis appeared to give divine justification to the study and analysis of the natural world.”^[4] Mankind’s study of the natural world is also implied in our God-given mandate to take dominion of the natural world (Gen. 1:28). Our ability to know truth about reality from general revelation is so effective that it actually becomes the basis for mankind’s universal judgment (Rom. 1:20; 2:15).^[5]

Science as a means of biblical clarification

Reason and observation can also help clarify a biblical author’s intended meaning. For example, there was a time when people thought Joshua 10:12-14 taught the sun revolves around the earth (because it was said to stand still). However, science has now shown the earth revolves around the sun, so there must be some other way to understand Joshua 10.^[6] Revelation 7:1 mentions the “four corners” of the earth. Taken at face value, this could lead some to argue that the earth was a square. However, science has shown the earth is a sphere. There must be some other way to understand this passage as well.^[7] The Bible also says that at the coming of Messiah hills will sing and trees will clap their hands (Isa. 55:12). We know from observation that hills do not sing, and trees do not have hands for clapping, so again, this must mean something else.^[8] I do not know any Christian who believes the sun revolves around a square earth that has trees with hands. This is because they have allowed science to help clarify these passages (they are either metaphors or phenomenological descriptions). Science and Christianity are not only compatible, but science can be helpful to a proper biblical understanding.

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1. Nancy R. Pearcey and Charles B. Thaxton, The Soul of Science: Christian Faith and Natural Philosophy (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1994), 17. ↑
2. Ibid., 19. ↑
3. Ibid., 41. ↑
4. Ibid., 35. ↑
5. All people are said to be aware of God’s existence. In Rom. 1:20 it says the knowledge of general revelation is clearly perceived. And the fact that it perceived but not receivedbecomes the basis of God’s judgment (Rom. 2:15). ↑
6. Richard G. Howe in “Classical Apologetics and Creationism,” Christian Apologetics Journal 11, no. 2 (Fall 2013): 5-31, 28. It is being reported from the perspective of the observer (phenomenological language). ↑
7. Norman L. Geisler, “Reviews [of the Views of Creation],” Christian Apologetics Journal 11, no. 2 (Fall 2013): 167-74, 170. This is a metaphorical description or perhaps an idiom. ↑
8. Howe in “Classical Apologetics and Creationism,” 12. This is also metaphor. ↑