Perhaps one of the greatest issues of mankind is the existence of God. Why? Because if God exists, there should be, depending on the character of that God, a dramatic change in the way we live our lives. Our purpose, our morality, our culture, our philosophy, and our world-view will all be impacted.
Regarding this issue, some people say, “God contradicts science. Therefore, God doesn’t exist.” And on that foundation, they simply discard all guilt and pleasure regarding God-given purpose or morality.
Now, this common thing to say was not always common. In fact, for the majority of science’s history, most people did not have that belief. Just a few examples. Roger Bacon, perhaps the father of the scientific method, was a Franciscan monk. Isaac Newton, the hero of classical mechanics and calculus, was a theologian who wrote more about the spiritual than the physical. Blaise Pascal was a defender of both the scientific method and the Christian faith. Leonhard Euler, who introduced much of modern mathematical terminology to the world, was a devout Christian who often involved himself in debating atheists. Gregor Mendel, the Father of Modern Genetics, was an Augustinian priest. Max Planck, who frontlined quantum mechanics, was a Lutheran elder. Georges Lemaitre, the first proposer of the Big Bang theory, was a Catholic priest. All of these people saw science and faith as compatible, and many even saw them as complementary.
Even Albert Einstein said, “Religion without science is blind. Science with religion is lame.”
Now here is something fishy. If all of these scientists held the view that God did not contradict science, to the point that their whole lives were invested into both God and science, then why do so many of us today not hold this view? What in the world happened? Well, people such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Karl Marx happened. I think most historians would agree that it wasn’t until very recently that people started to develop this idea that God and science are not compatible. It wasn’t until recently that religion was viewed as a hindrance to the development and advancement to science, technology, and therefore society. And that’s very important to realize.
Many things go wrong when we say, “God contradicts science. Therefore, God doesn’t exist.” Here are a few.
1) We say that Bacon, Newton, Pascal, Euler, Mendel, Plank, and Lemaitre were wrong.
It is easy to take a stance on little issues. But when we are talking about the existence of God, perhaps the greatest issue of humanity, I don’t know if I would have the guts to stand up to the face of some of the greatest contributers to science. Without these men, the study of science wouldn’t be half of what it is today. What would I know about science? What right do I have to say that science proves them wrong?
2) We put faith into science.
Why do people say God contradicts science? Because of the likes of Nietzsche and Marx. Why are their theories correct? There is no reason to believe so. There is no reason to believe that religion is opposed to science. Thousands of people in history pursued higher education and made advancements in science for the sake of God. Even painters like Michaelangelo and music composers like J.S. Bach cited God as their inspiration. And more than that, people opened up orphanages and hospitals, abolished child labor and slavery, and peaceably took stances against tyranny precisely because of their religions. The argument of God contradicting science lies almost solely on the word of some philosophers. And what does it mean to trust somebody’s word? Faith.
Faith is not scientific. We cannot argue for the superiority of science on unscientific grounds.
3) “God contradicts science” does not imply “God doesn’t exist.”
If God exists, God should contradict science. Why? Because science only concerns itself with the natural and not with the supernatural. They are in different realms. If God did not contradict science, then God would not be supernatural. Then God would not be God.
It is like saying “It is illegal to purchase liquors under the age of 21 in the United States. Therefore, those who purchase liquors under the age of 21 in China are violating the law.” That is unreasonable, because U.S. laws have no effect on the Chinese. Similarly, science, also known as the laws of nature, have no effect on God.
Can you imagine how insulting this would be to God? If a man draws a 2-dimensional picture, can the picture then say, “The man is not 2-dimensional. Therefore he does not exist.” Of course not! Of course the man would not be 2-dimensional. How could one create something unless one was greater than that something?
Of what use is this babbling? Here’s what. I’ve had enough conversations with people to realize that many people do not worry all that much about discovering truth. Or if they do, it is worth sacrificing for the sake of comfort. Ignorance is bliss. And so people throw up these smokescreen excuses like “God contradicts science. Therefore, God doesn’t exist.” And they go ahead and live as if he doesn’t exist. But the fact of the matter is their arguments turn out to be pretty shallow and baseless most of the time.
I am not too worried about people who claim to have investigated the facts of reality and concluded that God does not exist. I am worried about those who have simply disregarded the existence of God simply from a quick throwing together of weak baseless arguments, just to satisfy their convenience.
And on the other hand, I am not too worried about people who claim to have investigated the facts of reality and concluded that God DOES exist. I am worried about those who have simply ADOPTED the existence of God simply from a quick throwing together of weak baseless arguments, just to satisfy their convenience.
I think I advocate backing up beliefs in general, but when we’re talking about the existence of God, everything becomes so much more severe. Literal life and death and more are on the line. Every now and then, I back up and look at my life and my world, and I ask myself, “What presuppositions am I making right now? What don’t I know right now that might be withholding me from truth?” Often I get scared and wonder if I’m on the right track. Is Christianity even true? Am I living a lie?
I hate to be such a fuzzy-feelings-devourer, but I think that more people should be doing this sort of wondering. It’s not an issue on the scale of “Do I like Coke or Pepsi?” It’s an issue on the scale of “Is the meteor going to hit earth or not?”
So whatever it is that you believe, I urge you not to take it for granted, even if your parents say so, or if your priests and pastors say so, or if your teachers say so, or if your governments say so. Investigate.
– Larry
LARRY LIN 