• The Convergence of Science and Theology

Science and theology are often viewed as antagonists. Some people believe advances in science eliminate the need for theology. Other people believe the Bible has all the answers, even to scientific questions. What is the resolution to this conflict? In my previous post, What is Your Soul,^<1> I outlined the Genesis creation story. It is not a scientific description. It is a poetic explanation of God's relationship with His creation. He created us with sufficient reasoning power to understand, in part, the logic of the material universe. If this is true, then science and theology will seamlessly combine into one truth, once both are perfected.

For example, our scientific theories now provide an understanding of the structure of the whole material universe and how it evolved from the Big Bang. Those theories are built on careful observation of cause and effect, so we are certain the whole material universe is ruled by cause and effect. In my post Do We Have Free Will,^<2> I used this to conclude that each of us has a soul, which is not part of the material universe, and is responsible for giving us free will, the ability to make real choices. Proving this did not require reference to religious texts, only to science. J. B. S. Haldane (1892—1964),^<3> a famous scientist and atheist came to a similar conclusion, which he summarized this way:

But if death will probably be the end of me as a finite individual mind, that does not mean that it will be the end of me altogether. It seems to me immensely unlikely that mind is a mere by-product of matter.

For if my mental processes are determined wholly by the motions of atoms in my brain I have no reason to suppose that my beliefs are true. They may be sound chemically, but that does not make them sound logically. And hence I have no reason for supposing my brain to be composed of atoms.

In order to escape from this necessity of sawing away the branch on which I am sitting, so to speak, I am compelled to believe that mind is not wholly conditioned by matter.

J. B. S. Haldane in "When I am Dead" page 209 of [PossibleWorlds]Possible Worlds by J. B. S. Haldane, 1927

Modern scientific advancements lead some atheistic philosophers to conclude there is something about our mind that is "not wholly conditioned by matter." Theologically that part of us is called our soul. I am using the term soul simply to name the part of us outside the material universe. Traditional theological use of soul is more extensive.^[1] This is one way modern science makes theology easier. Ancient philosophers had a much more difficult time proving we each have a soul. Scientific discoveries reveal things about God, just like our study of a painting can reveal things about the artist.

Science studies mechanical details of the universe. Theology studies why things happen. Philosophers like René Descartes (1596—1650)^<4> and Baruch Spinoza (1632—1677)^<5> tried to explain everything from the mechanical point of view. In response G. W. Leibniz (1646—1716),^<6> a celebrated scientist, mathematician, and philosopher used an analogy:

This is as if, in order to account for the conquest of an important place by a great prince, a historian were to claim that it occurred because the small particles of gunpowder, set off by the contact of a spark, escaped with sufficient speed to push a hard and heavy body against the walls of the place, while the little particles that make up the brass of the cannon were so firmly interlaced that this speed did not separate them ...

Discourse on Metaphysics, section 19, by G. W. Leibniz, page 22 of [Leibniz1686]Pages 1 to 40 of Discourse on Metaphysics and Other Essays, Discourse on Metaphysics by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, 1991 publisher: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.

He does not deny the importance of a properly built cannon. However, focusing only on the details of the cannon did not reveal the reason for the battle. To find out that, the historian tried to understand the motivations of the people involved. Science helps us understand the structure and operation of the universe. Theology helps us understand why it exists, why we exist, and what part we play in the universe. Science walks hand in hand with theology as two parts of one picture.

In future posts I will explore the theology presented in the Bible and some of the reasons rational people believe it is true. C. S. Lewis wrote:

Christian theology can fit in science, art, morality, and the sub-Christian religions. The scientific point of view cannot fit in any of these things, not even science itself. I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.

C. S. Lewis in [WeightOfGlory]The Weight of Glory and other addresses by Clive Staple Lewis, 1949 publisher: Harper Collins page 140.

In other words, the proof of Christianity is in its explanatory power. It is the same in the physical sciences. Theories must fit with observations or they are discarded.

Theology and science are both tools for exploring reality. Neither one gives a complete picture alone. Both have mysteries we do not understand.^<7> Neither can be blamed for the mysteries they uncover. Each of us is a very small part of reality. It is not surprising we cannot understand all of it, or even ourselves.

Please join me on this journey. Agree or disagree with me in the comments sections. Skeptical questions are welcome.