The Big Questions series
Is the scientific theory about how the universe came in to existence at odds with the Bible. Short answer: Not in any way.
Two different fields of knowledge that don’t intersect
Science and spirituality-religion are entirely different fields with entirely different methodologies. Science explores the physical universe. It doesn’t explore the spiritual universe. The spiritual universe and religion don’t explore the physical universe.
Scientific methodology – empirical
Scientific methodology aims toward a theory to define an observed observation of the physical world. “The process in the scientific method involves making conjectures (hypothetical explanations), deriving predictions from the hypotheses as logical consequences, and then carrying out experiments or empirical observations based on those predictions.” This eventually forms a theory.
Spirituality
Spirituality is our connection with the unseen world. It’s occult (hidden). God is spirit. The spirit compels us into our life pursuits, reactions, and quests. It’s the unseen nature of love, truth, justice, empathy, helping others, ideas, and creativity – things that we can’t touch or feel or study empirically but they exist.
Religion
Religion is a set of beliefs, practices, and traditions about making individuals and this world better through serving God (how we should live with in love for others). The Apostle James said: “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1: 27 (NASB)) James’s definition is well supported by Jesus and the prophets.
Individual scientists might be religious and spiritual but their work doesn’t intersect with religion and spirituality. All scientists can say is that their field doesn’t find God through its efforts.
The Bible tells us that God created the universe. It doesn’t tell us how God created it. Science might tell us that. But the Bible is not a book of science, history, or any modern discipline. It’s a book about people’s experiences with God and includes some tales that circulated at that time about creation.
Theories may not totally explain our world
The Big Bang theory is one theory that explains how the universe came into being. Generally the theory stands up to current observations and investigations such as particle physics. It’s showing that Black Holes lead to the formation of galaxies. But science only understands around 10% of the universe. Dark Energy and Dark Matter are speculations that might explain the other 90%, and there is some observable evidence for something affecting natural forces. There are other theories of the universe: 3 Theories That Might Blow Up the Big Bang. 10 wild theories about the universe.
Some scientists are atheists and like to spread the idea that religion is just superstition. Yet religion is experiential. You believe because the things you are taught work. Scientific studies on prayer show that it works. Treating people the way Jesus showed us works. If these things didn’t work most of the time, people would abandon them. Religion would die.
Science doesn’t have a “First Cause” explanation for the universe. Most definitions are circular arguments that talk about this repeatedly happening. But what created the rules of the universe and put started it originally? Science doesn’t have an answer.
Takeaway
I really like science. But understanding that spirituality-religion and science are two entirely different fields of endeavor with very different focuses helps us understand that the two fields don’t intersect and aren’t in conflict.
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The standard of belief and conduct for Christianity is love. God is love. We’re asked to be like God.
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Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.
– Dorian
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