Is Science an Enemy of Christianity?

For centuries, many have debated the roles of Christianity and science in our world. Some argue that scientific knowledge is the only ultimate means of explaining man and his environment, while others argue that Biblical knowledge is the only accurate and reliable means of explaining man and his environment.

This difference in views stems from the various areas where scientific explanations contradict Biblical explanations. 

The Bible states that:

  • God created the universe (Gen 1:1)

  • God created humans (Gen 2:7)

  • The universe and everything in it will

     be destroyed by fire at the end of                     time (2 Pet 3:7) 

But scientists explain the origin of the universe through a concept known as the Big Bang Theory. This theory proposes that the universe began as an infinitely small, hot, and dense point over 13.7 billion years ago. It expanded rapidly and continued stretching. Over time, it cooled down, and matter formed stars, planets, galaxies and everything we see today.

Scientists also propose that humans originated from apelike ancestors and evolved over a period of approximately 6 million years to become the humans we are today. We share common ancestors with large apes such as chimpanzees and gorillas, and these ancestors lived about 8 million years ago.

Science also counters the Biblical description of how the world will end. It proposes that, four billion years from now, the Earth's surface will experience a runaway greenhouse effect—a condition where greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane trap more of the sun's energy to build up extreme heat. This heat becomes so intense that it will melt the Earth and destroy everything on it, including humans.

What then do these differences in views mean? Is science against Christianity? Is science an enemy of Christianity? Let us find out.

As much as scientific views conflict with Biblical views on the various areas we have mentioned—and many more, there are still many aspects where both agree:

• Both science and Christianity agree                that the universe has a beginning

  (irrespective of how they believe it began)

  

• They both agree that the universe is           orderly and understandable. Science         states that the universe operates               according to consistent laws—gravity,       physics and others. The Bible teaches     that God is a God of order (1 Cor               14:33), implying that God placed the         world in order the way it is.

Thus, Christianity and science do not disagree on everything. 

The major relationship between them both is that they try to solve the same problem; which is to answer the questions that many people are asking— questions like:

• How did the world begin?

• How was human being formed?

• Why do I exist?

• Is there life after death?

• What happens to us when we die?

The only difference is that they take different approaches in answering these questions. Scientific approach involves steps such as observation, hypothesis, experimentation, repetition and theory making. 

In other words, science tries to answer these questions through the means of trial and error—by asking a question, putting up a hypothesis to answer the question, conducting an experiment to prove the hypothesis, repeating the experiment to ensure accuracy, and coming up with a theory only if the experiment supports the hypothesis. If the experiment comes out negative, the process starts afresh. 

Christianity on its own tries to answer the same questions based on a belief in a superior spiritual being in charge of the universe. No experiment is needed, no proof—only a belief in God. That is, science is totally physical, while Christianity is beyond physical. It is metaphysical. 

The reason science needs proof is because it is the knowledge of man. Undeniably, science has totally transformed our world. It has given us efficient healthcare through the discovery of breakthrough medicines. 

It has enhanced transportation with the invention of cars, trains and ships. Science gave us the internet, phones for communication, computers, electricity and much more. In fact, a world without science would be a world in darkness.

But despite all these accomplishments, it is still human knowledge; it is still subject to errors. Therefore, when you see science coming up with theories that contradict the Bible, it does not imply threat or enmity to Christianity but an exposure of its flaws.

God is perfect, His words are perfect and He does not do trial and error. If scientific explanations agree in their entirety with that of the Bible, that means scientists are as perfect and wise as God. God Himself revealed to Moses His creation of the universe and Moses wrote it down in the book of Genesis. There is no science that can match such a divine revelation.

So, is science an enemy of Christianity? Not at all. Science is not an enemy to Christianity and neither is Christianity an enemy to science. We all need both and they can coexist. 

As Christians, we should wholly embrace science—but be mindful of those aspects that contradict the Bible. God made the universe and everything in it and every contradictory explanation is nothing but false.