Sometimes it seems religion and science describe two different worlds. (One is observable . . . science, the other is in our imagination . . . religion). Science roots us in our daily lives. Religion, on the other hand, is about a reality called “spirit” that can’t be observed with scientific tools.
Here’s where things can go wrong. The two need to respect the other’s competence. Religion must accept scientific fact as part of God’s wisdom. Science must allow for truth to exist that can’t be physically verified.
In the past, religion has closed its eyes to scientific fact. “What do you mean the earth is round?! And you say ‘the earth travels around the sun?!’ Blasphemy!”
Science, since the Enlightenment (1600’s), has placed “reason”, aided by the scientific method, as the only way of coming to know what is true. You say, “God said let there be light? And that’s how it all started? Prove it.” You say, “Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead? Prove it.”
Some think when we talk about religion we have to put our knowledge of this world on the shelf (eg. our knowledge of astronomy.) Faith tells us Jesus “came down from heaven”, “he suffered death and was buried, and rose again”, then he “ascended into heaven”, and “is seated at the right hand of the Father.”
Science can read these words as indicating a heaven situated a few miles above us, from which he “came down” and then “ascended” back to “sit at the right hand of God the Father.” It’s like a palace in the air with two chairs set side by side. Nice thought, says science, but there is no evidence this is true.
I’m not trying to be a smart aleck here. This is what the words of the bible can cause us to imagine about God and Jesus and heaven. And these imaginings can seem childish next to the hard and sometimes scary facts about the limitless cosmos.
What can we say to help here? I think the first thing to remember is the difference between believing and imagining. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” This is a statement of faith acknowledging a fact . . . there is one God, and all that is, comes from God.
But then we imagine. “What did making the earth look like?” Michelangelo tried his brilliant best in the Sistine Chapel. Remember that painting of God the Father on the cloud reaching out with his divine finger to touch the finger of the sleeping Adam? Did it really look like that? No. But does it convey a truth? Of course. God created us out of love. How exactly? We don’t know. Science can help here.
So two things are happening here. The WHAT (Faith) and the HOW it happened (science).
The WHAT of Faith . . . God created the heavens and earth in the “seven days” of creation.
The HOW of science . . . nature, over millions of years, progressed in form and complexity to bring about the beings we observe.
The WHAT of Faith . . . God made us from the dust of the earth and blew his spirit into us. (Genesis 2)
The HOW of science . . . evidence suggests an evolutionary force of nature brought about, over millions of years, a physical body capable of holding the human soul. The soul, created directly by God. Nature cannot create a spiritual soul.
The church wants us to know what is true; then artists and poets imagine the visuals. Science offers proven physical knowledge that can help us understand more deeply the brilliance of God, who, by the way, is the very source of reason itself.
Faith and Science . . . both on the same team.
Blessings.
Fr. Tim
