Science and Christianity. Do you have to choose? In my opinion no

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Stephany Spencer
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1 Science and Christianity Do you have to choose? In my opinion no

2 Spiritual Laws Spiritual Events Physical Laws Physical Events Science Theology But this is not an option for Christians..

3 Absolute truth for a Christian dictates: interpretation of God s Word in the Bible AND interpretation of the world through scientific investigation SHOULD/MUST tally with each other in the end

4 Spiritual Laws Spiritual Events Physical Laws Physical Events Science Theology Natural Theology

5 Physical Laws Physical Events Science Spiritual Laws Spiritual Events Human Philosophy/ Theology

6 SCIENCE: How the world works physically Iterative uncovering of mechanisms Empirical data driven nsec Time scales billions of years CHRISTIANITY: Relationship between God and humans -History, literature and spirituality bible nm Spatial scales Light-years human interpretation of the bible Christian literature Search for unifying theories -Physics (GUT) -Biology (Evolution)

7 SCIENCE: How the world works physically Iterative uncovering of mechanisms (experimental design, data measurement & analysis) Primary literature -hierarchy of journals -citations and influence of an article -authors and their past work Secondary literature Reviews -hierarchy of journals -citations and influence of an article -authors and their past work Tertiary literature -textbooks General Public Media Documentaries CHRISTIANITY: Relationship between God and humans (History, literature and spirituality) Primary literature -bible fixed reference Exegesis by: Literary scholars, Historians Theologians Writers Christian leaders Reference literature (commentaries etc) General Public Christians Media

8 1. Science and Christianity don t work the same way 2. Science and Christianity don t solve internal disputes and disagreements the same way 3. Science and Christianity are not focused on the same outcomes

9 Can you be a Christian and a Scientist? - yes Scientists are explorers, they seek wisdom, they are not satisfied with status quo answers, they search for meaning, seek order in uncertainty. Historically many of the world s major scientific organisations and universities were established by Christian s under Christian principles. There is a legacy of Christians who have been scientists in such roles over hundreds of years. The world today has many Christian s who are active, well respected and award-winning scientists across all types of universities and research institutions.

10 Any high profile current examples? - yes Martin J Rees Astrophysicist University of Cambridge Francisco J. Ayala, Evolutionary geneticist and molecular biologist University of California Francis Collins Geneticist Director of the NIH Martin Nowak Mathematician and theoretical biologist Harvard University

11 My Journey Grew up in Canberra BSc and PhD at the Australian National University (Biochemist and Molecular Biologist) HFSP Post Doc Fellow University of Oxford ARC Research Fellowships at UWA Director of an ARC National Research Centre 120 people Grew up in a Baptist church community in Canberra Became a Christian at ~12 committing to follow Christ as Lord and Saviour Active CU member at University at ANU Active member of evangelical churches since in Canberra, Oxford and Perth Seeking to live as a forgiven person and explain to others what that life is like Publish on protein biochemistry, mitochondrial function, evolution of proteins and proteomes, epigenetics, cellular function

12 Why is being a Christian and a scientist perceived to be hard? -history of antagonism between science and theology, church and the state, church interference with the operations of universities. -media perception that the two are opposites. -Christian mis-understanding of science -creation science debate in US schools, and the rise of the New Atheist movement opposing it -links proposed between evolutionary thought, the meaninglessness of life, and social problems in western societies.

13 Polarised Views In Science and Christianity Scientific evidence Polarised views in the media creationism/evolutionism debate ethical use of biotechnology debate Origin of universe etc

14 Evolution data, theories and the foundation of interconnections in modern natural sciences vs Evolutionism (e.g. the New Atheists) - proof of meaninglessness, denial of creation or God s existence, criticism/countering of religion and superstition. Creation -biblical accounts, Christian theology, foundational principles of God s relationship with humans. vs Creationism (e.g. Creation Science Movement/Institute for Creation Research) - Literal scientific interpretation of specific scriptures, focus on education, litigation and research on evidence against evolution.

15 So is there a solution? Exegesis of ancient scriptures is complex and debated for linguistic and exegetic reasons amongst Christians: e.g what kind of literature is Genesis 1 and Genesis 2? -history, poetry or polemic (an argument) how do we interpreteother sections of the bible that quote or refer to Genesis? Should any of the Bible be read as a scientific document? Who were the audience and what was the central message of passage X? Who was the author and how was the information provided to him? dream, vision, narration

16 So is there a solution? You don t always need the miraculous (physically unexplainable events) for their to be meaning and purpose in events. (Consider symbolism in communion) Many things we previously did not understand how they happened, now science can explain in process - this is a good thing. Still many things science cannot explain in process or considers highly improbable events (mechanism unknown or outcome unusual) Explained, improbable or unexplainable true, unlikely and false evidence My opinion: A Christian who ignores scientific evidence and answers is missing out on what 100s of years of human endeavour has taught us about the world

17 So is there a solution? Boundaries of science are complex and debated When science finds no meaning (eg in evolutionary processes) it does not mean there is no meaning, just that science can t find it When science finds no practical reason to apply ethical constraints it does not mean we should have no boundaries in our ethics - Art, Literature, Language, Law, Philosophy all have their own methods distinct from science. -Christianity argues that God s view overrides human views and we discover these boundaries through relationship with God. My opinion: A scientist who thinks science answers every aspect of our lives is missing out on what 1000s of years of human experience has taught us

18 So what about Evolution.. A potted history of evidence and the theories to explain it

19 Progression of evidence as a basis for evolution Evidence of age of the earth Astrometry, rock formation processes, rock layers, ocean mud, ice layers, radioisotope decay etc etc Evidence of time elapsing in the biological world Evidence of progressive complexity of organisms Evidence of extinction, divergence of populations along biogeographic lines, evidence from isolation and differential selection Genetic /DNA evidence of relationshipsbetween organisms

20 Perfect creations in an unchanging world is not what is observed by scientific investigation extreme climate change over millennia physical environment changes across continents predator and competitor changes extinctions physical isolation by land movement and island boundaries adaption through selection over many generations Biological organisms adapt and modify, they evolved in the past and continue to evolve today, The same is seen in the birds, the bees, the flowers, and in humans

21 Progression of Principles and Philosophy of Evolution Lamarkian explanation (~1790s) - passing on characteristics to offspring that are acquired during a lifetime of struggle- as a means of evolution Darwinian explanation (~1860s) -survival of the fittest by selection of traits over generations as a means of evolution (natural selection) -survival of the selected (sexual selection) Neo-Darwinism explanations -Mendelian Darwinism (~1930s) -synthesis of Darwinian evolution through natural selection with Mendelian genetics gives the mechanism of inheritance and the molecular basis of variance -Kin Selection Theory (~1960s) an explanation of evolution in social species helping of related individuals to maximise inheritance of genes like you own

22 So what about Creation.. How do Evangelical Christians understand Genesis 1 and its impact on Christian Theology - exegesis - explanation or interpretation of a text Ancient Hebrew words have many meanings and are translated through context And there was evening, and there was morning--the first day. Gen 1:5 echad one first yowm day time other times age to be hot boqer morning dawn clearing ending breaking forth order hayah and exist be follow ereb evening dusk/darkness blurring beginning mixing chaos hayah and exist be follow

23 Central assertions of Genesis 1 shared by all exegetical positions of mainstream Christianity 1. God made all that constitutes this universe in which we live 2. God was pleased with his creation 3. Humanity was the climax of God s creation 4. Humans have a God given responsibility over the rest of the created order. 5. God sustains the created order to this day

24 Interpreting Genesis 1 Position 1 Literal scientific reading exegesis -6 days (yowm=24h) creation sequence -creation ex nihilo by the Word of God -instantaneous species and living kingdom establishment -often but not always -young earth and universe Position 2 literal scientific reading with old earth and period of time exegesis -6 periods of time presented as creation sequence (yowm=age) -creation initiated by the Word of God -slower establishment of species and living kingdoms in line with scientific evidence -old earth and older universe Position 3 Non-scientific reading of the text and exegesis -focus on what the passage tells about God as creator -focus on poetic nature and structure of the narrative and its meaning - polemic theory for the origin of its meaning - 7 days of revelation to the author theory of its origin -parable presentation of an unknowable work of God (see also Job 38)

25 So is there a solution? Constructive conversations between science and Christianity not in the media. -respect each other s histories -understand each others approaches and methodology of solving uncertainty. patience is required -recognise they focus on different aspects of the same reality -recognise that science and Christianity are both based on absolute truth so. -for Christians this means seeking God s wisdom to find it -for scientists this means building data and testing hypotheses -for Christians who are scientists, this means doing both.

Has not Science Debunked Biblical Christianity?

Has not Science Debunked Biblical Christianity? Martin Ester March 1, 2012 Christianity 101 @ SFU The Challenge of Atheist Scientists Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge