Science vs. Religion

One of the most common examples of how many people create strict categories in life is in the case of science's relationship to religion. This discussion was a regular news story a few months ago as certain jurisdictions in North America were dealing with whether or not they would allow the teaching of what is called "Intellectual Design." This is a perspective that asserts that the natural world is best understood as something emanating from an intelligent designer rather than from purely natural causes.

As this was debated, the issue I am mainly addressing – that we tend to think in very strict categories – was in the forefront. A common suggestion was that science should remain in the science class, while issues of origins and creation should be limited to the religion or philosophy class. I was struck by the lack of understanding of the fact that, whether we are aware of it or not, our approach to science will be determined by our philosophical and spiritual convictions.

That a secularist would want to remove spiritual discussions from the science class is logical, since they don't believe in the supernatural. For them to include anything that even approaches the concept of God, is to introduce fantasy into the laboratory.

What I don't understand is how a person who claims biblical faith could accept this position. To analyze the creation apart from the Creator is an insult to the one we claim to love. To the secularist scientist, the creation is an impersonal collection of chance relationships. To the believer it is the expression of the Great Artist, the design of a loving Architect, a gift of our Heavenly Father. The Earth itself is not just a giant laboratory that we can dissect any way we choose. It is our home in which we serve our Lord and Master, the Creator of that home.

As in everything else, believers need to proclaim this truth everywhere, including in the science class. To do that we must first allow the categories of science and religion to be truly integrated in our minds, hearts, and lives.