The domain of religion and science
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The document examines the relationship between religion and science, emphasizing their different focuses: religion addresses existential questions about origin, identity, purpose, and morality, while science seeks to explain the natural world through observable phenomena. It discusses the compatibility of scientific theories, such as the Big Bang, with Christian faith, suggesting that both realms can harmoniously coexist rather than being in conflict. The document also highlights that many esteemed scientists throughout history have maintained a belief in God, arguing that understanding the universe's order and design can draw individuals closer to the divine.
![Statistics of Distinguished Scientists
• According to 100 Years of Nobel Prize [1],
65.4% of Nobel Prize Laureates, have
identified Christianity in its various forms as
their religious preference
1. Shalev, Baruch Aba (2003). 100 Years of Nobel Prizes. New
Delhi : Atlantic Publishers & Distributors.
Check out Wikipedia article: List of Christian
Nobel laureates
Book based on statements (quotes)
826 Nobel Laureates from 1901 to 2011](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/mod2lec3-171215051527/85/The-domain-of-religion-and-science-17-320.jpg)
The domain of religion and science
- 2. Outline 1. Introduction 2. What do Scientists say? 3. Where Science and Scripture are in Harmony 4. Fine Tuned Examples 5. Summary
- 3. Science & Religion Have Different Focus • Religion tackles the big issues – Origin – where did we come from? – Identity - who are we? – Purpose – why are we here? – Destiny – where are we going? – Morality – How should we live? • Science is designed to discover information – about the natural world and organize that information into testable laws and theories. – Transcendent or supernatural phenomenon are rejected Religion Science Method: Faith (unseen) Theories (observable) Reason: Why How
- 4. Working Definitions Words have precise meaning in science • Hypothesis: educated guess, based on observation (facts) and supported by background knowledge or understanding. • A scientific theory summarizes a hypothesis supported with repeated testing. – Systematic and comprehensive knowledge organized into a framework that is applicable to a wide variety of circumstances – Theories can be disproven – but not proven – When a theory is said to be true it means it agrees with known observable evidence
- 5. Scientists use Theoretical Models • Scientists use theoretical models to explain the natural (physical) world. – Theoretical model: A framework of ideas and concepts from which we interpret observations and experimental results. • Models approximate the “real” complex world • Richard Feynman, Nobel Laureate: “Scientific knowledge is a body of statements of varying degrees of certainty -- some most unsure, some nearly sure, none absolutely certain.” – Example: Kinetic Theory of Gases Molecules are hard spheres which undergo elastic collisions resulting is a property we call pressure
- 6. Scientific Method • Over time a Theory may gain widespread acceptance – No observations found that are contrary to the predictions • A Scientific Law is a concise, universal statement usually as a simple mathematical statement • Law of Gravity: F = G(Mm)/R2 • Newton’s Laws of Motion (e.g., F = d(mV)/dt) • 1st Law of Thermodynamics (DQ + DW = DE) • Einstein’s Mass Energy Equivalence: E = mc2 Observe nature, collect verify and organize data, and generate hypothesis Ideally, Construct a Mathematical Model Predictions Construct Theory Note: Models are approximations to nature Verify predictions through controlled experiments
- 7. Information Science Recently Discovered the Scientific Method Data (Facts) Information Knowledge Wisdom Who, what, when & where How Why Ackoff, R. L. (1989). From data to wisdom. Journal of Applied Systems Analysis 15: 3-9 • The DIKW hierarchy was first proposed by Ackoff in 1989 Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction Synthesize Analyze Organize Collect
- 8. Science Relies on Order and Design • The scientific method rests on the foundational belief that there is an order and universality in the Universe. – Physicist Paul C. Davies: "...to be a scientist, you had to have faith that the universe is governed by dependable, immutable, absolute, universal, mathematical laws of an unspecified origin.”
- 9. God’s Hand in Order and Design • Early, science giants envisioned universal laws in keeping with the rationality of God the creator: – Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Boyle, Newton, Leibniz, Pascal, Dalton, Faraday, Herschel, Joule, Lavoisier, Kelvin, Ohm, Ampere, Pasteur, Maxwell, Planck, Kelvin, Mendel, etc. • The Christian worldview provides a coherent framework for the – order of nature • It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands… Isaiah 45:12 – rationality of the human mind • …we have the mind of Christ 1 Corinthians 2:16
- 10. Independent or Overlap? 1. Science and Religion are independent • Non-Overlapping Magisteria (NOMA): religion and science are in separate domains ("magisteria") – Prof Stephen Jay Gould, Harvard Evolutionary Biologist, Paleontologists and Historian 2. Science and Religion are in conflict – Richard Dawkins, Michael Shermer, Victor Stenger 3. Science and Religion complement one another and can be constructively integrated • Albert Einstein: “Science without religion is blind and religion without science is lame.” • Max Planck: “There can never be any real opposition between religion and science, for one is the complement of the other.” • RTB: “God’s word and God’s world (properly interpreted) must be in harmony.” Harmony or conflict
- 11. Outline 1. Introduction 2. What do Scientists say? 3. Where Science and Scripture are in Harmony 4. Fine Tuned examples 5. Summary
- 12. No Place For Christians In Science? (Commenting on the 15% of people on the National Academy of Sciences that believe in a personal God) “That’s a problem that needs to be addressed. How come the number isn't zero? That should be the subject of …investigation.” Neil deGrasse Tyson Host of PBS “NOVA”, Hayden Planetarium, NYC "I don't want the religious person in the lab telling me that God is responsible for what it is they cannot discover. It's like saying no one else will ever discover how something works.”
- 13. Some are Hostile Dr. Richard Dawkins Author: The God Delusion Speaking at UT …he ravaged creationism and design theories that claim a supernatural being created the universe… Austin American Statesmen 3/20/08 • “The enlightenment is under threat. So is reason. So is truth. So is science, especially in the schools of America…... We have to devote a significant proportion of our time and resources to defending it from deliberate attack from organized ignorance. We even have to go out on the attack ourselves”
- 17. Statistics of Distinguished Scientists • According to 100 Years of Nobel Prize [1], 65.4% of Nobel Prize Laureates, have identified Christianity in its various forms as their religious preference 1. Shalev, Baruch Aba (2003). 100 Years of Nobel Prizes. New Delhi : Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. Check out Wikipedia article: List of Christian Nobel laureates Book based on statements (quotes) 826 Nobel Laureates from 1901 to 2011
- 18. Outline 1. Introduction 2. What do Scientists say? 3. Where Science and Scripture are in Harmony 4. Fine Tuned Examples 5. Summary
- 19. Scientific Theories Evolve • Static/Infinite Universe: Universe is infinite and always existed – View held by scientists for centuries until middle of 20th century • Big Bang: The universe had a beginning about 13.8 billion years ago that marks the creation of space and time. Example: Origin of the Universe – Widely accepted theory with significant scientific evidence – Prof Richard Feynman (Nobel Laureate): “If you thought that science was certain - well that is just an error on your part.”
- 20. Big Bang Theological Implications • The theological significance of the Big Bang Theory is significant. – It suggests a supernatural creation or causal agent of the universe – The evolution also displays incredible fine tuning or design 1. Causal agent: outside of space-time 2. Fine tuning: Large number of constants, parameters and initial conditions were “just right” for the universe to evolve • Einstein concluded “there must be a beginning and a beginner” • … physicists and cosmologists have uncovered numerous eye-popping "cosmic coincidences," remarkable instances of apparent "fine-tuning" of the universe. (PHYS.org April 3, 2014)
- 21. Christian Truth Claims are Constant God speaks through Scripture: In the beginning, God created (Baraʹ) the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) • Hebrew word definition: Baraʹ – To supernaturally create something that is totally new or extraordinary (not fashioned from something else) • God brought the universe into existence from nothing • This sounds a lot like the Big Bang – Properly interpreted, there is agreement or harmony between science (cosmology and astrophysics) and scripture.
- 22. • Mass density distribution after about 380,000 years was “just right” for star formation to begin – WMAP (2003) satellite: Stunning confirmation of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) Radiation and Big Bang cosmology – George Smoot (Astrophysicist & Nobel Laureate) "If you're religious, it's like looking at God." – Prof. Geoffrey Burbidge (Astronomer & Professor): Everyone is running off to “join the first church of Christ of the big bang” Big Bang Theological Implications
- 23. Outline 1. Introduction 2. What do Scientists say? 3. Where Science and Scripture are in Harmony 4. Fine Tuned Examples 5. Summary
- 24. Fine Tuning of the Universe Cosmic Expansion and Fine Tuning from NASA Website • WMAP has determined the geometry of the universe to be nearly flat. A universe as flat as we see it today would require an extreme fine-tuning of conditions in the past, which would be an unbelievable coincidence. • Secular Fine Tuning Definition: “The Universe seems to have a number* of special features that are not explained in the Big Bang Theory several numbers which the theory doesn't specify must be fixed to very special values. This is called "fine-tuning" because these parameters must be "fine-tuned”. – Prof Ned Wright’s Cosmological Tutorial Notes (Presidential Chair in Physics at UCLA) *At least two dozen
- 26. Matter Antimatter Evolution Early Particle Evolution At t = 10-6 s: T =1013K the universe was filled with high energy gamma rays, which form particles (e.g. protons and antiprotons) in a process called pair production. Two photons come together to form a matter-antimatter pair Matter-antimatter annihilation E = mc2 governs this process Matter-antimatter annihilation creates lots of energy Something very strange happened at about 10-4 sec and nobody (no human, that is) knows why!
- 27. Matter Antimatter Evolution • Excess of protons to anti-protons – There was a small excess of matter compared to antimatter, roughly 1 billion (109)antiprotons for every 1 billion + 1 protons – If equal: no atomic matter and no life – only radiation! – The same ratios existed for • neutrons and antineutrons • electrons and positrons (anti-electrons) • One of the great mysteries of modern particle physics is the relative lack of antimatter… SLAC Summer Institute on Particle Physics, Aug. 2-13, 2004
- 28. Our Universe Should Not Exist • “All of our observations find a complete symmetry between matter and antimatter, which is why the universe should not actually exist.” 18 OCT 2017 Nature article CERN antimatter study Universe shouldn’t exist, CERN physicists conclude 10/27/2017
- 29. Example: Fine Tuned Galactic Parameters • Certain places (GHZ) in a galaxy are more hospitable to life than others. Reference: NASA Astrobiology Institute, May 18, 2001 • A planetary system must be close enough to the galactic center for: – A sufficiently high level of heavy elements to form rocky, or terrestrial, planets. • The planetary system must be far enough from the galactic center so: – Dangerous radiation, which would damage any carbon-based life, is less intense. – Gravitational perturbations of planets by nearby stars becomes less likely. Galactic Habitable Zone (GHZ) • The Milky Way’s GHZ lies • far from the center where radiation is less intense • between the spiral arms where gravity from nearby stars is much less
- 30. Example: Fine Tuned Solar Parameters • SHZ is where an Earth-like planet can maintain liquid water on its surface and support organic chemistry. – Astrobiologists define the SHZ as a region that is neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water and therefore life to exist. • Earth orbits a (main sequence G star) at right location in the SHZ for liquid water. Stellar Habitable Zone (SHZ) Intersection of (SHZ), and (GHZ) forms the “Goldilocks Zone” Rare Earth Hypothesis will be topic for next weeks talk
- 31. Outline 1. Introduction 2. What do Scientists say? 3. Where Science and Scripture is in Harmony 4. Fine Tuned Examples 5. Summary
- 32. Science Scripture Harmony 1. God existed before the beginning of time and created the universe – Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… – Colossians 1:16 - 17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 2. God created the universe from things unseen by our senses – Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
- 33. Apparent Science Scripture Disharmony 1. Neo-Darwinian Evolution is a collection of independent theories that “evolve” fairly rapidly over time 2. Major issues are: – Irreducible complexity – Divergent vs. convergent evolution – Punctuated equilibrium – Common design vs. common descent Topic of future talk
- 34. The Christian Worldview asserts that God is the author of universal and immutable ideas of: truth, logic, and the laws of nature. Since we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:28 - 29), we are uniquely gifted to discover these universal ideas using rational thought and evidence-based reasoning. Christian Worldview …we have the mind of Christ 1 Corinthians 2:16