science and scientific materialism

© 2010 by Fulcrum Ministries (www.FulcrumMinistries.org) 1

Developing Developing a Biblical a Biblical WorldviewWorldview

Science and Scientific MaterialismScience and Scientific MaterialismByBy

James C. Wright, J.D.James C. Wright, [email protected]@FulcrumMinistries.org


Science and Science and StewardshipStewardship

The scientific method was The scientific method was developed by Christians to developed by Christians to fulfill our mandate to be fulfill our mandate to be stewards of God’s creation.stewards of God’s creation.• God created humanity to

oversee and care for the earth and all it contains. Gen. 1:28

• For example, Adam was given authority to name (interpret) the animals. Gen. 2:19-20

• The heavens, even the heavens, are the Lords; but the earth hath he given to the children of men. Psalm 115:16


Science is a Blessing . . .Science is a Blessing . . . Science emerged only Science emerged only

under a Biblical worldview under a Biblical worldview as Christians sought to be as Christians sought to be faithful stewards of creationfaithful stewards of creation

It has produced great It has produced great blessings as scientists have blessings as scientists have understood the richness understood the richness and wonders of creation and wonders of creation • Examples: Medicine,

transportation, communications, information technologies, agricultural revolution


. . . And a Great Danger. . . And a Great Danger Apart from the Biblical Apart from the Biblical

doctrine of stewardship (to doctrine of stewardship (to serve), science can be a serve), science can be a great danger great danger

Science can run amuckScience can run amuck• Examples: Human cloning,

euthanasia, pollution, genetic enhancement of deadly pathogens

Science needs a Biblical Science needs a Biblical worldview to both enable it worldview to both enable it and to set proper ethical and to set proper ethical limitslimits


Scripture and NatureScripture and Nature“[L]et no man ... think or maintain that a man can search too far or be too well studied in the book of God's word, or in the book of God's works; divinity or philosophy; but rather let men endeavor an endless progress or proficience in both.”Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626), the father of the scientific method


The Scientific MethodThe Scientific MethodThe scientific method

was developed by Sir Francis Bacon

Based on inductive reasoning (hypothesis, experimentation, observation, reproducibility and conclusion)

It rejects deductive reasoning from “a priori” first principles


A Biblical WorldviewA Biblical WorldviewScience could only emerge from a Biblical worldviewScience could only emerge from a Biblical worldview Classical Age: Greek philosophy viewed pure Classical Age: Greek philosophy viewed pure

thought and ideas as more “real” than the thought and ideas as more “real” than the material universe. material universe. • Deductive method from first principles derived from pure

reason

Medieval Age: Reality known through deductive Medieval Age: Reality known through deductive reasoning from “reasoning from “a prioria priori” first principles derived ” first principles derived from a blend of Greek philosophy and from a blend of Greek philosophy and ecclesiastical tradition and dogma. ecclesiastical tradition and dogma. • Catholic church (and early reformers) attack the ideas of

Copernicus and Galileo


A Biblical WorldviewA Biblical WorldviewScience could only emerge from a Biblical worldviewScience could only emerge from a Biblical worldview

Non-Western Worldviews: Polytheism and Non-Western Worldviews: Polytheism and pantheism provide no basis for believing in pantheism provide no basis for believing in consistent laws or order throughout the material consistent laws or order throughout the material universe.universe.


Science and the Science and the ReformationReformation

Science was an out-Science was an out-growth of the Reformation:growth of the Reformation:• Ultimately, the Reformation

valued an unencumbered pursuit of truth through both Scripture and science, free from ecclesiastical tradition and dogma

• As a result, Reformation thinkers were willing to challenge medieval dogma and attitudes in all areas

• Affirmed that both special revelation (Scripture) and general revelation (creation) disclosed God’s nature


Biblical Roots of ScienceBiblical Roots of Science Science arose from Christianity’s attempt to Science arose from Christianity’s attempt to

understand God's creation - the natural understand God's creation - the natural world.world.• Science is only possible if the material universe is

orderly, governed by a common set of laws throughout, and human reason is able to inductively comprehend those laws.

• These assumptions arise from a Biblical worldview, rooted in God as the creator who made the universe as a reflection of his own unchanging character and who made man in his image (reason, creativity, ability to perceive order and understand creation).


Sir Isaac Newton Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727)(1642 - 1727)

The beauty and regularity of creation could only The beauty and regularity of creation could only “proceed from the counsel and dominion of an “proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.”intelligent and powerful Being.”

““The Supreme God exists necessarily, and by the same The Supreme God exists necessarily, and by the same necessity he exists always and everywhere."necessity he exists always and everywhere."

““This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent Being.... This Being governs dominion of an intelligent Being.... This Being governs all things . . . as Lord of all.”all things . . . as Lord of all.”

““Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance.”This did not happen by chance.”


The Fallacy of The Fallacy of Scientific Scientific

MaterialismMaterialism

Science can only know,Science can only know,and is limited to, the and is limited to, the realm of material cause realm of material cause and effect. and effect.

Therefore, some mistakenly conclude that those Therefore, some mistakenly conclude that those limits define all of reality.limits define all of reality.

The great danger is when there are no objective The great danger is when there are no objective ethical limits – it becomes “science” run amuckethical limits – it becomes “science” run amuck


Scientific MaterialismScientific Materialism

““The cosmos The cosmos is all that is, is all that is, or ever was, or ever was, or ever will or ever will be.”be.”-- Carl Sagan, -- Carl Sagan, Opening to Opening to CosmosCosmos


Scientific MaterialismScientific Materialism Scientific materialism Scientific materialism

is not scientific! is not scientific!

It rejects the It rejects the inductive scientific inductive scientific method because it method because it is a deductive is a deductive philosophy that philosophy that defines reality based defines reality based on unproven on unproven a priori a priori assumptions (assumptions (e.g.e.g., there is no God and all reality is , there is no God and all reality is material).material).

It does the very thing it falsely accuses Christians of It does the very thing it falsely accuses Christians of doing – doing – a prioria priori deductive reasoning! deductive reasoning!


Follow the Evidence . . .Follow the Evidence . . .““[I]n natural philosophy ([I]n natural philosophy (i.e.i.e., , science), the investigation of science), the investigation of difficult things by the method of difficult things by the method of analysis, ought ever to precede analysis, ought ever to precede the method of composition. This the method of composition. This analysis consists in making analysis consists in making experiments and observations, experiments and observations, and in drawing general and in drawing general conclusions from them by conclusions from them by induction and induction and admitting of no admitting of no objections against the objections against the conclusions, but such as are conclusions, but such as are taken from experiments, or taken from experiments, or other certain truthsother certain truths.”.” Sir Isaac NewtonSir Isaac Newton


The scientific method is incompetent in the realm The scientific method is incompetent in the realm of the spiritual (non-material) and the miraculous of the spiritual (non-material) and the miraculous (non-natural cause and effect). (non-natural cause and effect).

It can neither prove It can neither prove nor disprove nor disprove spiritual spiritual reality or supernatural effects (reality or supernatural effects (e.g.e.g., miracles)., miracles).

Science, however, can recognize God’s impact on Science, however, can recognize God’s impact on nature. nature. • Design indicates a designer (the genetic code, the order

of the cosmos) • First causes (the “big bang”)

But Know Your Limits . . .But Know Your Limits . . .


God is Not God is Not the Author the Author of of ConfusionConfusionSpecial revelation Special revelation (truth through Scripture) (truth through Scripture) and general revelation (truth through creation) and general revelation (truth through creation) ultimately should agree because the both arise ultimately should agree because the both arise from a God who is not author of confusion, and from a God who is not author of confusion, and because both reflect the consistent and orderly because both reflect the consistent and orderly nature of God. nature of God.

““For I am the Lord, I change not.” For I am the Lord, I change not.” Mal. 3:6Mal. 3:6


If there’s a conflict, Scripture trumps science If there’s a conflict, Scripture trumps science because it is direct revelation as to both because it is direct revelation as to both material and spiritual reality; of natural cause material and spiritual reality; of natural cause and effect and the miraculous.and effect and the miraculous.

In contrast, science is limited to the material In contrast, science is limited to the material realm of cause and effect (although it can realm of cause and effect (although it can point to God).point to God).

Where there is an inconsistency, we either Where there is an inconsistency, we either don’t fully understand the material universe of don’t fully understand the material universe of cause and effect, or we don’t fully understand cause and effect, or we don’t fully understand Scripture.Scripture.

Scripture and ScienceScripture and Science


In the quest to know God and his creation, we In the quest to know God and his creation, we need Scriptural as well as scientific humility. need Scriptural as well as scientific humility.

In humility, we need to be willing to re-evaluate In humility, we need to be willing to re-evaluate not only scientific dogma, but also theological not only scientific dogma, but also theological tradition on issues where Scripture is silent or tradition on issues where Scripture is silent or ambiguous.ambiguous.

We need to encourage our youth to pursue the We need to encourage our youth to pursue the sciences, while avoiding the fallacies of sciences, while avoiding the fallacies of scientific materialism.scientific materialism.

We must discern between true scientific method We must discern between true scientific method and the philosophy of scientific materialism.and the philosophy of scientific materialism.

Scripture and ScienceScripture and Science

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