CHRISTIANS: Is the SCIENTIFIC METHOD the core of the science curriculum? If not, what is?

Question

scientific method
n. The principles and empirical processes of discovery and demonstration considered characteristic of or necessary for scientific investigation, generally involving the observation of phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis concerning the phenomena, experimentation to demonstrate the truth or falseness of the hypothesis, and a conclusion that validates or modifies the hypothesis.

(From the American Heritage Dictionary)

Answer 1

Religion is the opposite of the scientific method. With religion, you start with your answer and then look for evidence to back you up. You are unable to change your ideas, even when presented with conflicting arguments. With the scientific method, you start with a question, search for clues and evidence, and then form a hypothesis. If someone gives you evidence to disprove you, you then change your hypothesis.

Answer 2

The process described in that definition is exactly the process that I used when I first started believing. I have always been in church, but as all teenagers do, I began to question everything around me and everything I had been taught thus far. So, I started reading the Bible and other literature on other religions and studying what I thought I believed. I started coming up with my own ideas about Jesus and about the other religions. My hypothesis was that if the Bible is correct and all I have to do is ask and have the faith of a mustard seed, then I will receive. I prayed about some of my questions and problems and actually got answers. Things in my life started working out for the better for me after praying for guidance. Therefore the conclusion of my research validated my hypothesis. So the scienific method is the basis of many processes, not just the core of the science curriculum.

Answer 3

I have no issues with the scientific method. It is a good way to get facts and information. But it is a poor way to get "truth", which is the area in which religion operates.

As part of the scientific method, care has to be taken to include all the factors involved. Consider, for example, using the scientific method to determine where light comes from.

BUT - a quick check of history books tells me that people have often worshipped the sun as a "god". Therefore, since religion can have no place in science, I must use the scientific method to find out where light comes from, but I can not include the sun in any of my observations, experiments, or conclusions. I can not conclude that light comes from the sun because that would be religion.

Given time, I'm sure I could come up with a "theory of light" that works without the sun. But would you trust such a conculsion? I wouldn't.

For Christians (and other theist who know that God exist), trying to explain the universe without including him in the equation will never give the right answer. You may be able to come up with a theory or an explaination, but it will never be right. It misses one of the biggest pieces of the picture. It is as crazy as trying to explain light without the sun. And the conclusion that "God created the universe" is just as logical as the conculsion "the sun creates light".

Science may be able to give us more detail on HOW God created, or how the sun makes light. But in the end, the answer "God did it" is still the right one.

Answer 4

I am a Christian and I believe in teh scientific method. The problem is when you start with a hypothesis that is already closed minded. For instance, since I assume you are talking about either creationism or proof that God exists, as I Christian, I can go into those arguments with an open mind to the outcome. Athiests go into the arguments trying to "prove" their own notions.

Point and case: They say stuff like, "We have proof dinosaurs roamed the earth. The Bible doesn't mention dinosaurs. Therefore, the Bible is wrong." Problem being, "Dinosaur" was invented in the 1800's, the Bible was written before the 1st century. I believe dinos roamed the Earth (otherwise, where'd the bones come from). However, I disagree that they were here 65 million years ago.

Answer 5

Yes I believe it is. The problem is that many so called scientists don't strictly follow the scientific method or interpret data the same way. I suspect your question is primarily in regard to the Intelligent Design vs. Evolution debate, and I would submit that ID is based upon sound scientific method. If you seriously spend the time investigating what Christian scientists (not the Church with the same name) are saying, I think you will find their approach to science to be faithful to the scientific method. I would encourage you to check out http://www.sciohio.org/.

Answer 6

I'm a Christian.

I believe the Scientific Method *is*, in fact, the core of the science curriculum: as it should be.

I'm not sure where you're going with this, but I've never had a problem reconciling science and religion. I've always thought that "...when science finally peers over the crest of the mountain, it will find that religion has been sitting there all along." (Peter O'Toole as Dr. Harry Wolper, "Creator", 1985)

Answer 7

Why cant Athiests and Christians knock it off for a minute? You cant know difinitively who is right, and we likely never will. In the grand scheme of things you know nothing. If you look at the world from your tiny view, it seems you are right. The wider your angle the more possibilities emerge. You can have a belief, and hold to that. Choose to beleive in god, or to not as you will, but dont fall into the trap of thinking your opinion makes you better.

Answer 8

Science is the systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.

The core of science is that it is the study of the PHYSICAL or MATERIAL world.

Religion, of course, is he study of the SPIRITUAL world and is not based on observation or experimentation, but rather "faith."

Simple.

Answer 9

I am not Christian but I do not hold science as the infallible source of all knowledge either. Sure, this is the theory behind scientific thought, before you factor in ego of the scientists, what grant they are seeking, who supplies that grant, and personal prejudice of the scientists.

Answer 10

Why are you asking christians this question? They get all their science, history, biology, sociology, math, cooking and physics from the bible.