Science & Faith

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” — Psalm 19:1–2

The relationship between science and the Christian faith is not one of warfare but of deep harmony. The God who inspired Scripture is the same God who created the natural world and endowed humanity with the capacity to explore it. Far from being enemies, science and faith are complementary ways of knowing — twin windows into the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Creator.

This conviction has deep roots in Christian history. The medieval tradition spoke of “two books” — the Book of Scripture and the Book of Nature — both authored by God and both revealing His character. The early pioneers of modern science — Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Faraday, Maxwell — were motivated by the belief that a rational God had created an orderly universe that the human mind, made in His image, could investigate and understand.

Two Books, One Author

The “two books” metaphor affirms a crucial principle: since all truth is God’s truth, genuine science and genuine theology cannot ultimately conflict. When apparent tensions arise, they call for humility, further investigation, and careful interpretation — not the abandonment of either faith or reason. As Augustine counseled, Christians should not make rash claims about the natural world that contradict well-established knowledge, lest they bring the gospel into disrepute.

The Biblical Foundation

Scripture itself invites the study of creation:

• Proverbs 25:2 — “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”
• Romans 1:19–20 — God’s invisible attributes are “clearly perceived” in the things He has made.
• Psalm 111:2 — “Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.”

The Hebrew word chakam (חָכָם) — “wise, skillful” — encompasses not only spiritual wisdom but practical knowledge of the created order. Solomon studied botany and zoology (1 Kings 4:33). The Psalms meditate on the stars, the seas, and the intricacies of human life in the womb (Psalm 139:13–16).

In This Section

• Creation & Evolution — The biblical affirmation that God created all things, and the major Christian positions on how and when
• Miracles & Natural Law — God’s sovereignty over nature and the reality of His mighty acts in history
• Faith & Reason — Why Christian faith is not blind but a reasoned trust grounded in evidence and revelation