Science and Christianity: Science and Christianity: friends or foes?friends or foes?

Steve TaylorSteve Taylor

Ever heard the following?Ever heard the following?

“ “ Scientists donScientists don’’t believe in God ” t believe in God ” ““At the present rate of progress, it is At the present rate of progress, it is

almost impossible to imagine any almost impossible to imagine any technical feat that cannot be achieved”technical feat that cannot be achieved”

“ “ Science is based on evidence, Science is based on evidence, Christianity is based on faith ”Christianity is based on faith ”

Great scientists who are also Christians…Great scientists who are also Christians…Past: Faraday, Maxwell, FlemingMorse etc

Today: Andrews, Burgess,Lennox, McIntosh, Nevin, Wright etc

The limitations of ScienceThe limitations of Science Limited remit : Limited remit :

‘‘How or what... but not why?’How or what... but not why?’

Science is always changing : Science is always changing :

No certaintiesNo certainties Scientific method based on repeatable experiments: Scientific method based on repeatable experiments:

Origins ?Origins ? Science Science does not does not and and cannotcannot disprove the claims disprove the claims

of Christianity!of Christianity!

Christianity: evidence basedChristianity: evidence based CreationCreation

Where did everything come from?Where did everything come from?Life from non-life… information implies Life from non-life… information implies

IntelligenceIntelligenceRight and wrong…we are moral beingsRight and wrong…we are moral beingsDesign is everywhere….Design is everywhere….

‘‘For the invisible things of Him from the For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; even understood by the things that are made; even His eternal power and Godhead’His eternal power and Godhead’

Romans 1:20Romans 1:20

Sandcastle in Oregon…Accident or Design?

Christianity: evidence basedChristianity: evidence based

BibleBibleClaims to be the Word of GodClaims to be the Word of GodTeachings unsurpassedTeachings unsurpassedNever proven wrong, always correctNever proven wrong, always correctPredictive prophecies fulfilled in detail….Predictive prophecies fulfilled in detail….

Psalm 22…Psalm 22…

“They pierced my hands and my feet…they look and stare at me… they divide my garments among them, for my my clothing they cast lots…”

Written 1000BC, 300 years before crucifixion was inventedFulfilled in detail when Jesus was crucfied

Christianity: evidence basedChristianity: evidence based

ChristChristThe central figure of human history - BC:ADThe central figure of human history - BC:ADClaimed to be God:Claimed to be God:

“ “ I and my Father are one “ John 10:30I and my Father are one “ John 10:30Eyewitness accounts of life and miraclesEyewitness accounts of life and miraclesRose from the dead 3 days after crucifixionRose from the dead 3 days after crucifixion

Christianity: evidence basedChristianity: evidence based

‘‘Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as fulfilled among us, just as those who from the those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.were instructed.

Luke 1:1-4Luke 1:1-4

Christianity: evidence basedChristianity: evidence based

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He to whom He also presented Himself alive after His also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, suffering by many infallible proofs, being being seen by them during forty days and speaking of seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Acts 1:1-3Acts 1:1-3

“ He is not here, for He is risen, behold the place where He lay”

Matthew 28:9

• predicted• seen by witnesses

• friends • doubters• enemies

• believed by millions• best explanation…?

The facts: 1.Christ lived2.Christ died3.His tomb was empty

The empty tomb...The empty tomb...

ConversionConversionThen: Then: Thomas the doubter, Paul the Thomas the doubter, Paul the

persecutor, Lydia the seller of cloth…persecutor, Lydia the seller of cloth…Throughout history:Throughout history: Wesley, Newton…Wesley, Newton…Today…Today…

Christianity: evidence basedChristianity: evidence based

Science and Christianity….Science and Christianity….

Science arose out of a Christian worldview Science arose out of a Christian worldview ‘‘Friends… not enemies’Friends… not enemies’

Some great scientists also Christians:Some great scientists also Christians: ‘‘It is the very nature of science, that leads me to belief It is the very nature of science, that leads me to belief

in God’ in God’ Professor John Lennox (Oxford)Professor John Lennox (Oxford)

Science: limited remit, no certainties:Science: limited remit, no certainties:On origins – speculativeOn origins – speculative

Based on repeatable experiments:Based on repeatable experiments:The scientific method…The scientific method…

So where is the conflict….So where is the conflict….

Naturalism: Naturalism: ‘‘There is no Creator, no design, no purpose. There is no Creator, no design, no purpose.

Everything there is emerged and evolved by Everything there is emerged and evolved by chance from an unknown void…’chance from an unknown void…’

‘‘Nothing + no-one = everything’Nothing + no-one = everything’ Unproven philosophy (not science)Unproven philosophy (not science) Christianity and naturalism are opposedChristianity and naturalism are opposed Science and naturalism are opposedScience and naturalism are opposed

Questions to the atheist….Questions to the atheist….

How did fine-tuned orderly Universe arrive out of How did fine-tuned orderly Universe arrive out of chaos by chance?chaos by chance?

Where did it all come

from?

How did life arise spontaneously from

dead material?

Some conclusions…Some conclusions…What is faith….What is faith….

A verdict based on evidenceA verdict based on evidenceTrust in a reliable personTrust in a reliable person

Christianity is a reasonable faith based on Christianity is a reasonable faith based on solid evidence….solid evidence….creation, reason, Bible, history, Jesus Christcreation, reason, Bible, history, Jesus Christ

The message of Jesus:The message of Jesus:‘…‘…the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the Gospel’believe the Gospel’

Mark 1:15Mark 1:15