Is it possible to be a Christian and a Scientist?

Question

The skeptics say that Christianity and science are incompatible. Are they?

For those of you who remain skeptical I suggest that you consider the following;

The following scientists were avowed creationists and are recognized as scientists that have made great discoveries and have contributed much in the arena of science.

Physics: Newton, Faraday, Maxwell, Kelving

Chemistry: Boyle, Dalton, Ramsay

Biology: Ray, Linnaeus, Mendel, Pasteur, Virchow, Agassiz

Geology: Steno, Woodward, Brewster, Buckland, Cuvier

Astronomy: Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Herschel, Maunder

Mathematics: Pascal, Leibnitz, Euler

Answer 1

Science and Christianity are most definately compatible. Just check out the www.icr.org web site. This is an accredited university in San Diego that is staffed by many top scientists who are all Christians. They are doing marvelous research in all science fields and disproving many "facts". This is just one of many research facilities staffed by highly trained Christian scientists. You can also do a search on "creation" and find many other web sites.

Answer 2

Depends what you mean.

If you mean "can you be a scientist and believe in God?" then the answer is yes. Science can tell us nothing about the supernatural.

If you mean "can you be a scientist and a fundamentalist Christian, who believes in the literal truth of the bible?" then the answer is no (or at least, "mostly no"). There is no accepted scientific evidence for a 6,000 year-old universe, for a global Noachian flood, or any of those other stories from the Bible, so in order to be a scientist and a fundamentalist Christian, you have to ignore those ideas. Either you must work in a field where such ideas have minimal impact, and you can still use the Scientific Method, or you must re-think your ideas.

Answer 3

Charles Darwin trained for the ministry. Gregor Mendel became an abbott. Jaroslav Pelikan, S. J., presented a paper at the Darwin Cenennial. A lot of scientific research is conducted at Christian colleges. Yep, it's quite possible. Just remember the limitations of each field and, to misquote a line, "Render unto Christianity that which is Christianity's and render unto Science that which is Science's."

Answer 4

Of course it's possible. Study the early history of science. Most early work was done by Christian clergy wanting to give God glory by understanding the marvels of His creation. Without the prevailing Christian notion that God is a God of order, the idea of cause and effect would have taken much longer to take hold. Without that, science is pointless. A scientist is also better equipped, and more willing, to discern which parts of the Bible were not written as science, and should not be interpreted as such.

Answer 5

I've seen it happen. A lot of people who enjoy science -and- want to keep their religion choose to believe in their god because it cannot be proven nor dis-proven.

If you choose to be the type of Christian who takes their bible literally, and believes the moon emits light, the Earth is the center of the universe, and things were spontaneously created 6000 years ago, then you'll probably find it VERY difficult to be a scientist.

In order to make it work, you have to be willing to accept the possibility that what you believe may not be scientifically correct, and that your bible was written by men who tried to explain -past- events the only way they knew how.

Answer 6

Well i have heard of the God of the Gap lately ..That's were science cant explain it so God must have done it..Its my belief that in Science there is more that is not known than is known...Soooo I guess i have a pretty Good Gap God after all..So yes i am a Faithful Believer and I suppose i am Somewhat of a science guy...Line your skeptics we'll talk...From the E...

Answer 7

Losers. Of course they're not. Science is the study and education fo the world that God created, and everything that's in/on/around it. Scientists devote their profession to learning about the universe and inventing new things to make human life easier and to discover more stuff.
I repeat: whoever said that are losers, dooshbags, idiots, mentally slow, or whatever else you can think to call them.

Answer 8

Sure, a lot of people do that. But you have to be able to be the kind of scientist who can compartmentalize - you'll have this one little area of your life you don't bother applying science to. Because if you do, you won't be religious for long.

Answer 9

I am skeptical of those skeptics.