The Role of Science in God’s world
www.labri.org
A/Prof. Frank Stootman
A Remarkable Universe
By any measure we live in a remarkable universe
We can talk of the existence of material elements or parts:
Fundamental particles, atoms, molecules, compounds, long-chain molecules
We can also talk of non-material elements which provides the relationship of the parts:
Properties of the above: why they relate the way they do, laws, principles, symmetries
Information, structure, function, teleology, QM mystery (not ignorance!)
Things to Explain - Believer or non-Believer
Three remarkable questions confront us ….
Why is there anything at all?
We discover and represent the universe
We do not create the form of the universe
The mathematical logic, the laws, the symmetries, the
principles
Why there is information in the universe?
The DNA Code, structure, function, teleology, and
the relationships of the parts
Why is humankind unique?
Self conscious, artistic, creative, experimental,
able to comprehend the universe and puzzle out
its mysteries
The Material and non-Material…
The universe we live in requires an
explanation for:
The material form: laws, principles,
mathematical logic …
AND
Its non-material form: the ‘why’, the
information, the meaning, the purpose, the
function
Science Material
Non-Material: time+chance+?
The Clock Analogy … A mechanical clock is made of many
parts for it to function as a clock This is the material layer
This is necessary but not sufficient
The relationship of the parts are necessary for it to function as a clock. The parts are: Engineered Designed This is the non-material layer
This is necessary but not sufficient
Together they are necessary and sufficient to explain the clock
Science
Science is an important tool to begin to answer some of these questions But it has limitations!
Definition: Science: L. scientia = knowledge, particularly
knowledge about the natural world
This knowledge is obtained by observation, measurement and/or experiment
The above knowledge is integrated into an understanding of the natural world and how it works
The Methodology of
Science Framework
Theoretical prediction
Inspiration
Hunch
Hypothesis
Observation/ Experiment
Check Inspiration/Hunch
Test Theory/Hypothesis
Data Analysis
Conclusions
Construction of theoretical framework
Predictions/Modifications/Improvements
Further observation/experiment
Build an objective picture of nature which is self consistent
Necessary Assumptions of Science
Necessary The universe has intrinsic form able to
be observed or measured:
Particulars Boundaries & Categories & Distinctions
Universals Laws, principles
Symmetries
Mathematical Logic
Rational
Spatial & Temporal Uniformity
Without these, science cannot be done
Philosophic Assumption of Science
Naturalism = The fundamental belief that starting only from basic elements (atoms, molecules, forces, laws, and properties) the whole of the natural world can be explained.
It is a worldview
Set of glasses with which to view the world
It is an important assumption but insufficient to explain all of reality Cannot explain the ‘why’ question
Naturalism
Paul Davies, "The Fifth Miracle", p6
"In the coming chapters I shall argue that it is not enough to know how life's immense structural complexity arose; we must also account for the origin of biological information. As we shall see, scientists are still very far from solving this fundamental conceptual puzzle. Some people rejoice in this ignorance, imagining that it leaves room for a miraculous creation. However, it is the job of science to solve mysteries without recourse to divine intervention. just because scientists are still uncertain of how life began does not mean life cannot have had a natural origin."
Naturalism
Stephen Hawking, "A Brief History of Time", p140
"The idea that space and time may form a closed surface without boundary also has profound implications for the role of God in the affairs of the universe. With the success of scientific theories in describing events, most people have come to believe that God allows the universe to evolve according to a set of laws and does not intervene in the universe to break these laws. However, the laws do not tell us what the universe should have looked like when it started-it would still be up to God to wind up the clockwork and choose how to start it off. So long as the universe had a beginning, we could suppose it had a creator. But if the universe is really completely self-contained, having no boundary or edge, it would have neither beginning nor end: it would simply be. What place, then, for a creator?"
Limitations of Science
There are many metaphysical (= beyond physics) questions not answered by science
Why does the universe exist?
Why does it have the form it does
The apparent temporal and spatial uniformity so that science is possible?
Laws, principles, symmetries, allows mathematical logic in order to do science? Why is the universe intelligible at some level
Where does the information come from in the coded DNA, or in the purposeful intricate cellular mechanisms?
Who am I?
What is just, moral and fair?
How can I be significant and have meaning?
There is More to the Universe …
“For the scientific message can teach us nothing else
beyond how facts are related to, and conditioned by, each
other … knowledge of what is does not open the door
directly to what should be.” ( Albert Einstein, “Out of My
Later Years”, p22)
“But science can only be created by those who are
thoroughly imbued with the aspiration towards truth and
understanding. This source of feeling, however, springs
from the sphere of religion… I cannot conceive of a
genuine scientist without that profound faith. The situation
may be expressed by an image: Science without religion is
lame, religion without science is blind” (ibid., p26)
The Central Question …
Prof. Paul Davies:
“How has this come about? Somehow the universe has
engineered not just its own awareness, but its own
comprehension. Mindless, blundering atoms have
conspired to make, not just life, not just mind, but
understanding” (‘The Goldilocks Enigma’, p5)
Modern Atheism
Modern atheism uses science +
paradigm of naturalism to explain all
natural explanations of the universe are both
necessary and sufficient
The natural paradigm forms a better &
complete grand narrative (=story) than (say)
the Biblical narrative
God is unnecessary
A Better Rational Explanation - The Christian Worldview
The limitations of science such as
The form of the universe: both material and non-material …
Are rationally explained by allowing transcendence & personhood
The unique Biblical revelation is much more comprehensive
Gives space for transcendence
Reveals a person behind the universe
artistic
creative
engineer
designer
the special form of the universe
Makes sense of being human with our own unique qualities
made in the image/likeness of God
Gives space for science
Space for Science
The Biblical revelation reveals
Boundaries & categories (Gen 1-3)
physical
metaphysical - morality, meaning, and significance
A creation of humankind with a mission
reflecting qualities of God
to rule & subdue
to create order and beauty
to make a difference
to develop
to think God’s thoughts after Him
to use the knowledge to fight the moral fall and intrinsic entropy
The Bible and Science
The Bible and Science
inform and support
each other
The fundamental
answers to the ‘why’
questions come from
outside
Science
Bible
Genesis 1
Genesis Is not a detailed science textbook and I don’t go looking for my science there.
However,
The biblical revelation in Genesis resonates with modern science …
The universe had a beginning - big bang
God created - inflationary universe
Started in chaos - quantum gravity
There is progress in creation - evolution
Separation of land and sea - plate tectonics
Humankind is created last - consistent with science
There was an original Adam & Eve - consistent
There is something special about humankind - observationally true: art, culture, creativity, language, abstract thought, transcendence
Conclusion
For the believer, the physical world is a rational template for wider truth into bigger dimensions
The amazing physical world points beyond itself to the existence of God …
and thus the following really makes sense …
“The heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world…” (Psalm 19)
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