Today we're starting a new class called Scripture & Science. As a college student, studying engineering, I remember a particular day at the school library when I had the thought: "Well, I guess I'm going to have to look into scientific objections to the bible." I had been raised a Christian and believed the bible was God-inspired and infallible. However, I was now taking lots of science and engineering courses and it seemed like all my professors were atheists. (I learned later that the smartest physics professor was actually a devout Christian.)
I was faced with a dilemma. Do I go with scripture or science? I began an investigation, purchasing and devouring several apologetics books designed to undercut evolution and the old age of the earth. I found the arguments convincing and moved on. That worked out fine for me, but plenty of others came to the opposite conclusion, choosing science over scripture.
This is a crisis young college students face over and over in the West. They ask themselves, "Do I go with God and the bible or science and reason?" If this is your situation or if you know someone who is wrestling with questions like these, this class is for you!
Our teacher is Will Barlow who double majored in Physics and Math at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN before going on to do graduate work. Later he pursued biblical studies and is now going into ministry full-time. His aim in this class is to survey the most common ways Christians have worked scripture and science together. His non-dogmatic approach will inform you so you can make up your own mind about what is best.
In today's episode, Barlow explains the goals for this class and introduces a few belief systems and his general approach. Instead of seeing scripture and science as enemies locked in a battle, he thinks we should learn from both the book of the bible and the book of nature.
Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WwypAP39Hw&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV1Etu1jXO3jbUQ6CFI-2k6W&index=1&t=369s
See below for notes.
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About Will Barlow:Interested in faith/science discourse since childhoodBachelor’s degree in Physics/MathematicsMaster’s degree in Secondary Education (STEM focus)Published God & Science book in late 2016Future head pastor of Compass Christian ChurchGoals for this class:Learn about different ways to interpret Genesis 1Learn about current views in physics, biochemistry, and geologyThink more about miracles, and how we define a miracleThink about multiple ways to reconcile the Bible and scienceBe prepared to tell those outside the faith that multiple options existWhy present multiple options?1 Peter 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respectWhen are multiple options better than one?Churches of Christ motto:“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”Scenario One:A current agnostic who thinks that all Christians are Youth-Earth creationists. This person believes in evolution. If all you know is Young- Earth creationism, and you don’t know that some Christians believe in evolution, how can you overcome that objection?Scenario Two:A former Christian who grew up in a church but doesn’t remember much about how to reconcile science and faith. This person has a vague feeling about how seriously we should take the text and is suspicious of “non-literal” interpretations. If you take a non-literal view of Genesis 1 and don’t know about the other options, how can you effectively help this person?What is a belief system?According to Collins Dictionary, a belief system is “the set of beliefs that people have about what is right and wrong and what is true and false.”According to Oxford Dictionary, a worldview is “a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world.”Examples of Popular Belief SystemsScientific AtheismNOMA — science and religion simply don’t mixTheism mixed with distrust of science“God of the gaps”What if there is a better way?Truth SeekingFrom my perspective, truth-seeking is a never-ending process.To be a truth-seeker, we must constantly challenge our beliefs, which means we also may be challenging our filters (our belief system, our worldview).How do we decide what the best worldview is? How do we decide what the best belief system is?My BiasI believe that God has revealed himself in several waysThrough the BibleThrough the lives of men and women throughout timeThrough nature“Two books” philosophy - Bible and natureHas God revealed himself through nature?Romans 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.Psalms 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.Scripture vs. ScienceScripture:Eternal truthWisdomHistorical account of Hebrew people, Jesus, and early ChristiansHow to have a relationship with God, Christ, and othersScience:Pursuit of understanding of the world around usKnowledgeProcess-drivenHow to understand the mechanics of the world and universe around usFamous Christian Scientists:GalileoKeplerPascalNewton (Arian!)MaxwellMendelLemaitreHeisenberg von BraunKatherine JohnsonPolkinghorneWhat is our assumption about the Bible?