Summary Statements - 20 of X - Toward a Biblical view of Science
A Biblical view of modern science will not dispute the benefits of modern science, but it will confront the epistemology and presuppositions of modern science.
Modern Operational Science can never provide the “truth” of so-called universal mathematical laws derived from science because God is sovereign and contingent. However, because God is rational and faithful, we can expect to find and describe (mathematical) regularities in His Creation.
Modern Historical/Origins Science (for example, Big Bang theories & evolutionary theories) contradict Biblical history and cannot be proven. They are sheer (but quite advanced, mathematical speculation based upon naturalistic (atheistic) presuppositions.
The practical benefits of modern science should be celebrated by the Church and used for the good of mankind in an ethical/moral way as supported by Biblical principles.
A Biblical view of science will allow for God's self-revelation as contained in the Bible includes God's sovereignty, free will (contingency?), miracles/signs/wonders, the spirit world, angels, heaven, hell, providence, the Trinity, creation-fall-redemption, consummation, God, etc. Any inferences derived from the Bible story regarding God's faithfulness (in normally/providentially ordering the world so that it operates in a regular way) must be tempered by God's free will/sovereignty (contingency) (His ability to act in any way He chooses at any time). In both the OT and NT, God could and did provide “signs” to His people (that violated the so-called “laws” of nature).
Scientific theories and mathematical “laws” should be held tentatively, recognizing that God is not obligated to always act the same way (the God of Deism), regardless of how useful and accurate the scientific theories may appear to be. These statements and assertions will be discussed in detail in this blog.
Note: See also J Byl/T Goss “How Should Christians Approach Origins”
Christians should develop a distinctly Christian approach to the Operational and Historical sciences consistent with Biblical principles, always emphasizing that there is no (certain) “truth” to be found in science. This may mean developing new theories which go against the accepted narrative (e.g., special relativity, heliocentricity, etc.) All knowledge is personal knowledge. The only way to know truth is through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accordingly, there is no neutral education; all teaching assumes or starts with a particular world view.
[Add comment on the scientific creationist attempt to push for equal time for teaching creation science alongside evolution, without reference to the Bible] (see Lindberg/Numbers “God & Nature” p. 411+)
From a Biblical perspective, God starts with the physical (see esp. the OT sacrificial system), and then moves to the spiritual (Christ's atoning sacrifice). In a similar way, the best way to teach our children science is by introducing physical phenomena first (without associated theories), and then later discussing the various theories that have been “created” to explain the phenomena. First the physical, then the spiritual-theoretical. In addition, a better way to teach modern science is to focus on key scientist-philosophers (e.g., Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, etc.) and study and discuss their lives (and theologies) in the context of their time periods. In other words, go deep on a few key thinkers. Repeat some of their experiments. This is the opposite of how modern (Christian) textbooks/curricula teach science.
[Sample “liberal arts” textbooks that have good historical content: L. Taylor's “Physics, The Pioneer Science” (1941); The Project Physics Course textbook (published in the 1970's & 1980's)]
[books that explore the philosophies/theologies of the key scientists – E. Burtt's “The Metaphysical Foundations of Modern Science”; I. Barbour's “Issues in Science and Religion” (1966) (add other references]
Questions to be answered:
What are the characteristics of a Biblical view of science?
Other questions ….
