The debate between science and religion are as old as science and the same religion. Pretending to have a special revelation of God, religion often has soared to dizzying heights and at times in his search for truth and understanding of the mysteries of life, opposed to science. Science, pretending to be humble when dealing only with what can be perceived through the senses, it has also become arrogant in some cases, denying any role or even religious faith value on human life.
and furious battle continues. However, as we approach the dawn of a new millennium, is there any chance that the subject of faith and faith in the art may come to have a contact point? What are the goals of Christianity and science? Can we conceive of common goals for both? Where lies the final answer to human questions?
But first, let me introduce myself. I am a practicing Adventist Christian, I support the biblical revelation of the truth and I am especially interested in the prophecies. I am also a professional astronomer, with a strong interest in cosmology, its order and beauty. My faith and my profession I have presented insurmountable problems. With this conviction, the board questions above.
does
Christianity is Christian faith is grounded in God as revealed in the Bible. It states that God created human beings (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:18, 21-23), which instructed them about how they should live (Exodus 20:1-17, Micah 6:8; Matthew 22:36-40), that saves them from their sinful situation (Ezekiel 36:26, 27, Romans 7:24, 25; Ephesians 5:25-27), and promises them a future of satisfaction and eternal happiness (John 14:1-3, Revelation 21, 22).
Although the Bible was written by humans, she says that God is their true author (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). This God invites us to know Him (John 17:3). The main purpose of the Word of God is allowing us to bring such a special relationship that promotes the full development potential.
John addresses this issue by linking it to other aspects of our relationship with Him (1 John 2:13, 14). First, know God as one "who is from the beginning"-the Creator *. Second, to relate to God as those who "have overcome the evil"-a victory based on the revelation of God through His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 5:4, 5) -.
The Bible invites us to have faith in God as Creator and Redeemer, the kind of faith without which it may please Him (Hebrews 11:6).
science does is
First science tries to satisfy human curiosity. God created us with an innate desire to investigate and find out. Consider astronomy, for example, that seeks to answer questions that both men and women have made since they began to look to the sky. What are the stars? How did? Do they affect our existence here on earth? But apart from satisfying our natural curiosity, science also want to investigate and to subjugate nature for the benefit of mankind, which is a strong argument for scientific research.
When God told Adam and Eve were "dominion" over creation (Genesis 1:26), was with the clear idea that they should take responsibility for the welfare of the atmospheric environment rich mineral, vegetable and animal. In fact, God put human beings in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it "(Genesis 2:15). Therefore, from the principle should be a responsible and beneficial interaction between humans and nature.
The nature and faith
If Christianity emphasizes the need to believe, and science says the need to understand the world around us, is there any link between faith and nature? I think so, and to discover we should look at the two books of God, divine revelation through the Word of God and nature. When David said: "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1), was not merely expressing the poetry that flowed from his musical heart. He was also expressing a fundamental concept of biblical concept: you can not see the wonders of nature without giving testimony of their faith in God. Because God's glory is its 1 , we understand that this passage says, "Nature says the character of God."
However, it could be a problem. For Adam and Eve may have been relatively easy to understand God as they walked through the Garden of Eden perfect, but for their children must have been much more difficult to have the same clear understanding, as they grew amid "thistles and thorns and pain and tears. God's work in nature is so damaged due to the appearance of sin that the reflection of his character in nature can not be discerned so clearly as before entry of evil. Immediately this begs a question: sin "affected only the Earth, the human home, or at our space environment?
Before the space to become the subject of questions and scientific research, Christians generally believed that humans would never to travel into space and thereby pollute the environment beyond the sin. He took Psalm 115:16 ("The heavens are the heavens of the LORD, and has given the earth to the sons of men") so quite literally giving it precisely that meaning. Today we know more, we left our footprints on the moon and the vastness of space has come under continued study of science. Thus, one can legitimately ask, is there a place created by God where sin has not entered or in which it has not felt its influence?
Although we need not speculate about what is unknown or has not been revealed, we have this assurance: "The land ruined and tainted by sin, merely reflects dimly the Creator's glory. It is true that his object lessons have not disappeared. On each page of the large volume of His created works may still notice the writing of his hand. Nature still speaks of its Creator. However, these revelations are partial and imperfect. " 2 "The skies may be for them (youth) a study book, which they can learn lessons of great interest. The moon and the stars may be his companions, speaking of the love of God in the most eloquent language. " 3 Thus, the nature of God continues to speak. And of course we have the written word which proclaims the nature and glory of God.
Many believe the two books of God refer to different issues. A book tells us about nature while the other tells of his Maker. However, although the two books are different, both are examples of how God communicates with us. Through one talks about his works, which is called general revelation of nature. In the other, we talks about himself which is known as special revelation.
General revelation answer questions about the physical universe: How does nature? How does one do with the other? How do you understand the order and rhythm, chaos and decay, the space and time? You can answer these questions by observing the natural world and the use of scientific methods.
special revelation answer questions that go beyond the physical world: Why is nature the state it is? What is the meaning and purpose of life? Should we be accountable to a higher being? How do we relate to God? How do you solve the problem of sin and its destructive power? Is there life after death? The answers to these questions presuppose the existence of a power or a higher being, and are outside the scope of natural science. That higher power, whom we call God has revealed through the Bible. There you can find answers to some of the great concerns of life.
Since both nature the Bible have the same author who does not lie nor can it (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2), the responses obtained from the Bible can not be in contradiction with those obtained on the nature of the topics covered both books. This does not mean that students of nature and students of the Bible always agree on the interpretation of information. The Bible makes it clear that it can be understood by those with spiritual discernment, that is, those that take into account in studying the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-16). This truth had been proclaimed in the Old Testament and appears to extend the condition of spirituality beyond Bible study to the investigation of nature. Therefore, the knowledge of God and the recognition of their existence and wisdom are needed to obtain a deeper understanding of the problems posed by nature.
we strive to know God by studying his two books, we must remember that we can not get satisfactory answers through the study of one and neglect the other. Albert Einstein understood this complementary principle when he said: "Science without religion is lame, and religion without science is blind. " 4
common goals of science and Christianity
However, we need not be lame or blind. Are there common goals on which they can match the Christian faith and science and common projects in which they can ship? If the nature and the Bible are two ways that God has chosen to communicate important information, and if these two books can help us in our search for companies in the physical and spiritual, then why is not logical that both science and the Bible reason and faith must play a role in our spiritual and intellectual life? In other words, should not our origin, purpose and future to be informed and guided by what they reveal of faith and reason?
consider the appeal of Isaiah: "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, he brings out their army calls them all by name, no miss, such is the greatness of his strength, and power your domain "(Isaiah 40:26). Here we have an invitation from God to study his works expressed in the planets, stars and galaxies. Why should we make such a study? First, to obtain personal knowledge of God. Secondly, to find that our Creator is great in power and that is eternal. Third, to discover why God created this great universe. God does not want us all to be astronomers, but wants us to study and meditate on your wonderful creation. The study of this land as the study of extraterrestrial allow us to know not only the greatness of God but also the responsibility of being His stewards.
This raises important questions. Stewardship Is the only reason for scientific research or we have additional reasons? Both the scientific study of the physical universe as a study with a more spiritual approach in order to meet his Maker should be closely linked. Therefore, I regret that there is any separation between these two disciplines.
Note the recent trend in cosmology. About seventy years ago, cosmology was embarked in a direction that has led to a seemingly satisfactory physical explanation of the origin of the universe. Although there are many details still need to understand the Big Bang model of the origin of the universe has been accepted by most scientists as a framework within which it is hoped that further progress can be made. 5 collaboration between astrophysics, particle physics and theoretical physics has led to an idea about the first moments of the universe's existence. However, it has also led to the recognition that there is a barrier in time beyond which even our best theories can not penetrate. The first microseconds of the universe remains veiled in mystery. Moreover, cosmologists have come to recognize that many aspects of the universe require precise tuning of initial conditions and values \u200b\u200bof physical constants. This barrier of time and fine tuning have led to a renewed interest in the old questions about the design of the universe, the designer can, and what happened in that first split second or even earlier.
While scientific research has provided many answers about the workings of nature, also have raised deeper questions. Many of them are related to our deepest concerns about life, its origin, its purpose and its future. Then, it is reasonable that some scientists suggest that only God can give answers to these questions. 6 Others, however, have refused to admit that God plays a role in it, hoping that the continued progress of science ever answer any troubling questions. Still others argue that the deepest questions are outside the scope of natural science and is best left to philosophers and theologians. Let these three attitudes. Three
attitudes about the unanswered questions
First, God is the answer to all our questions, communicating the truth either by means of the Bible or through the church . While for many Christians this may seem an appealing option, we perceive the dangers that lie in it. Imagine a person of the S XVI can not understand why the planets revolve around the sun. Most scientists and theologians taught that time, supposedly based on divine revelation in Scripture, that the Earth is the center of our planetary system. However, a century later, Isaac Newton explained this mystery by the law of gravity. The advancement of science has made numerous occasions where we had to leave earlier claims of direct and miraculous God. This approach to "God of the gaps" that seeks to assign all unexplained phenomena of the universe is wrong and runs the risk of making this "God" will eventually become unnecessary. Those who believe that God plays an active role in our universe do so because they found much evidence of intelligent design and established a personal relationship with him.
Second, science provides the answer to all our questions . Because to recent scientific progress, some believe that, if given enough time, science could answer all our questions. They ignore the obvious limitations of science and its tentative nature. Moreover, science can best respond to the questions of "how" rather than the "why." God created us as individuals inquisitive, has chosen to disclose or make available to us some things and not others. (See Deuteronomy 29:29.) Those that have been disclosed are vital to our relationship with him. When we go to his eternal presence, we can do all those other questions whose answers are shrouded in mystery today, which does not give us permission to be lazy or discouraged in our scientific activities. Rather, it should lead us to recognize that there are many aspects of God and his creation that are still hidden to us.
Thirdly, philosophy and theology can answer our questions . Depending on the mental constitution of each of us, we get to choose between philosophy (metaphysics) and theology or try to combine them in some way to find answers to questions that go beyond the scientific. Christians realize that while these disciplines are based on logic and human reasoning, never reach the target while not taking into account the existence and power of the Creator of all things. This is precisely the weakness of the entire non-Christian philosophy and theology.
However, to Christian theology can not answer all questions. As our understanding of natural phenomena is hindered by the barriers of space, time and understanding, our interpretation of the word is imperfect. In addition, we are finite creatures whose mental capacity can not fully understand the mind of the Creator. (See Isaiah 55:8, 9, Romans 11:33.)
Conclusion
human curiosity is not limited only to the physical aspects of nature. It has also led to deeper questions are formulated about the origin, purpose and destiny of human beings. God's intention in creating the universe and populate it with intelligent creatures was not just give us many interesting fields of study, but also lead to him as the Creator and, through that, lead to an understanding depths of our existence depends entirely on him.
One of the most successful perversion of Satan is that he has succeeded in separating science from religion, and through this process has corrupted our understanding of our Creator and his saving relationship to us. In this way, bereft of Christianity philosophy can not answer tough questions because it ignores the One who is the answer. Nor can the theology itself answer these questions if it limits itself to the mere study of special revelation. And science alone can not provide the necessary responses especially if you ignore the legitimate role of God as Creator. Only when science, theology and Christian philosophy, giving priority to collaborate the revealed Word of God, the Bible come to get satisfactory answers. When we recognize God's omniscience and our limitations, and express our respect and love for him, we will fulfill its original purpose in inviting us to contemplate the power of creation and salvation.
Mart de Groot (Ph.D., University of Utrecht)
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