How should Christians use science?

Answer 1

Regardless of religious affiliation, mankind must approach science for what it is - mankind's best attempts to explain the physical universe. Where many in science go wrong is in their complete separation of biblical teachings (primarily due to requiring the element of faith) when coming up with their 'assumptions' as to what happened without being there (no eyewitnesses) - based primarily on testing means available and best guesses along a constructed 'law' or hypothesis (without fully re-creating the events in a lab).

When one looks at the history of mainstream religious teachings, especially in the dark and middle ages of Europe, there is good cause for the 'revolution' of scientific and philosophic ideas permeating the discussion - to the point now that the pendulum has shifted in the other direction. A relatively small percentage of Christians in any century truly have a clear understanding of Scripture. Without these truths of God revealed, mankind is on a wayward course.

Answer 2

Science is derived from the word for knowledge, because science is the search for knowledge about the natural world. This is knowledge that can never be manipulated or used to prove a preconceived idea about the world. The best scientists realise that ethics are are prerequisite for proper research, making science an ideal vocation for good Christians.

So, a Christian should use science to establish what the facts really are, careful to ensure that the proper methodology is used and that any conclusions arrived at really do fit the known facts, even if those conclusions seem at variance with the desired outcome.

Answer 3

Christianity in general teaches that falsehood and deceit are sins. So the knowing dissemination of falsehood about science and evolution should also be regarded as sins.

Thus, the first question to be asked should be whether, to the best of our knowledge and ability, science and evolution should be regarded as essentially factual. If the answer to this question is 'yes', then we should do everything in our power to acquaint ourselves with the facts of science and evolution, and everything in our power to aid the proper study of those subjects. To do otherwise would be contrary to Christian teaching.

Whether science and evolution are based on fact is not something that can be based on religious conviction. It must be based on the genuine efforts of scientists who seek to uncover the truth about the natural world. And the overwhelming evidence is that science is soundly based on empirical, testable evidence. The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection has been subjected to probably more debate and more rigorous testing than any other scientific premise, and has established itself as the best explanation for the existence of life as we now know it. A good scientific theory should be able to predict facts not yet known, and the Theory of Evolution has done this, thus establishing itself as scientifically valid.

Christians who wish to be honest with themselves and with those in their care must approach the study of science, including the science of evolution, as scientifically established, and should not seek to undermine belief or understanding of those sciences for religious purposes. It is an accepted fact that Christianity and the Theory of Evolution are not incompatible.

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