Christianity and Science, are they oppossed to each other?

Question

If it weren't for the writings of Theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas, modern science would not exist. It was the reasoning process in the Queen of Sciences - Theology- that led to modern scientific reasoning.
But one of the promoters of the false idea that somehow Christianity and Science are opposed to each other is High School Science classes. The idea that evolution is opposed to Genesis. The problem becomes perinent because you need to ask yourself, why are High School science courses all teaching one Evolutionary Theory? Oh, I'm sorry did I say "Theory." In Science Class it's said to be a "Fact." Without going into why or how there can be a Christian interpretation of evolution, my question centers on the idea, why are students forced to learn evolution in every Public High school? What's the government's agenda in this? Why continue to promote it on the High School level when it can be taught in college? Its a catalyst to promote secular humanism in the schools.

Thereby driving a wedge between Christianity and Science in order to promote a society that moves away from faith.
Isn't it amazing what they do with your property taxes for schools?

Answer 1

Not if you're a Christian Scientist . . . :-)

Now THERE are some strange ducks!

Answer 2

A lot of things in your statement question need to be defined. First whom do you refer to when you say christianity? Is it the idea of christianism or the interpretation of which? Also, we have to define who are we referring to when we say Christians? Are these just people who considers christ as their savior and choose to follow him? Many things need to be placed first in solid ground before we start tot think and ponder regarding the question you just raised. Rather, let me suggest that we make the question like this: Is the bible contradicting with science? This would be more appropriate since this limits the question to two concrete entities concerning the argument. The big bang is not a fact for empiricism is needed for something to be considered a fact. the big bang has not be observed, so in effect it remains to be a "theory"-- In short it is just a pigment of someone's imagination. Read the issue of US news about religion and science this moth. It's a good article. Things in this planet are too mathematical and equational ( law of constants) for them to be just a mere product of an accident(referring to the Big bang) an no person in the right state of mind would ever think that. The universe is in balance mathematically; the precise placement of the sun in the center of the solar system holds the gravitational pull keeping planets in order. This is so intricate and complex that a single mis placement could result in chaos. Only a creator could have been a proponent of such balance. The identity of the creator though, is another topic to discuss. But a thing is fore sure there is a creator from whom all things have come, and science supports this because the fundamental principle of science is that nothing can come from nothing. And God is not a thing, because a thing or a matter is defined as something that occupies space and time.

Answer 3

Gravity is taught because it is an observed fact. Evolution is taught because it is observed fact. You can dispute this as much as you like but you will be wrong. I am not arguing with you on this point, I am telling you. If your pastor or priest or whatever he calls himself tells you something different, he is a liar. Whatever theory of evolution happens to be in fashion, the observed facts remain.

Now define Christianity. Macedonian Orthodox? Roman Catholic? Ethiopian Coptic? Reformed Lutheran? Anglican? Methodist? Baptist? Each of these are likely to have a different take on evolution and evolutionary theory. Some of those churches might not have much argument with it. What offends Baptists will probably not matter to Anglicans or Methodists.

Teaching of observed facts and theory which attempts to explain them should have no effect on theology and a particular narrow and stupid interpretation of Genesis. If it does, so much the worse for theology and a particular narrow and stupid interpretation of Genesis.

Did you know that among first world countries, those where secular humanism is strongest have the lowest rates of homicide? The most religious have the highest homicide rates - and the highest rates of teenage venereal disease?

http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/pdf/2005-11.pdf

Answer 4

I don't mind them using my property taxes to this end. I'm fine with secular humanism anyway.

And I don't think Christianity and Science necessarily oppose eachother. Only fundamentalists and those that "hearken unto them" believe that.

As far as being forced, why is it so wrong to teach teenagers about the theory of evolution when we have extensive evidence for it, but it's okay to teach children that there is a god of any particular religion when there is NO EVIDENCE AT ALL? Calling the teaching of evolutionary theory as opposed to creation theory a fallacy is a hypocritical fallacy itself.

Besides, don't religious kids get enough of it at home? And there is no reason that you couldn't work out a compromise with the school and have them substitute other lessons for credit in the stead of the evolutionary theory part of your children's science class.

Sorry, your argument doesn't stand.

Answer 5

Only by Fundamentalist Christians and Atheists.

Most Christians do not take the stories of creation in the Bible literally. Catholics believe the book of Genesis tells religious truth and not necessarily historical fact.

One of the religious truths is that God created everything and declared all was good.

Catholics can believe in the theories of the big bang or evolution or both or neither.

On August 12, 1950 Pope Pius XII said in his encyclical Humani generis:

The Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter - for the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God.

Here is the complete encyclical: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html

The Church supports science in the discovery of God's creation. At this time, the theories of the big bang and evolution are the most logical scientific explanations. However tomorrow someone may come up with better ideas.

As long as we believe that God started the whole thing, both the Bible and responsible modern science can live in harmony.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

What you suggest may be true, however, I find high school science still struggling to keep up with the 20th century (I wrote that right, I do not mean 21st century).

Not long ago I found the statement "All living things are composed of cells" written on a high school blackboard. Yet, it has been about 40 years since a plant was discovered that is not composed of cells.

Though I don't like the dictatorial way that high schools teach, I don't generally worry about it. It's collages that are the big problem, with their Atheistic agendas.

Answer 7

flawed fallacious thinking . Aquinas is not responsible for science .Science only needs the moral guides of honorable
ethical reason the rest is superstitious excess baggage .
As sentient beings our science has surpassed much of the misinformation that was possibly needed in barbaric times for it's psychological relevance but as Lance Armstrong can testify you go better without keeping the training wheels .
If you open your mind and continue to study I'm sure the rest will eventually become obvious to you .
Goodness requires years of learning and understanding is not found in just a few moments on line.Evolution stands on it's own merits firstly as science all the while it is subject to moral/ethical guidance in it's application .If Christ were not ever known all the important precepts of honor were present anyway. Morality is for men not gods. Einstein certainly didn't confer with Aquinas in his scientific endeavors nor is it neccessary for your air conditioning heating company to provide you with these modern comforts that science has wrought.

Answer 8

the scientific method, which is empirical and relies on observation and repeatable expermental results, was probably developed by pythagoras during his work on the monochord. it was then developed to a high level of sophistication by the classical and hellenic greek societies. the greeks were all pagans.

when the christian church rose to power after the council of nicaea in the fourth century ad scientific books were destroyed in huge numbers, and scientists ridiculed (and sometimes persecuted, as kepler, galileo and giordano bruno all were).

thomas aquinas never used any scientific method. he worked by introspection alone (he sat in a corner and waited for god to talk inside his head).

fortunately the great arabic civilisations of the near east kept the greek ideas alive, and when these greek ideas once again became available to western scholars the modern world could begin (the re-arrival of greek ideas in western europe - via the arabs - is called the renaissance).

philosophers who used empirical (scientific) methods were persecuted by the church, as they had always been. roger bacon - a near contemporary of aquinas - was forbidden from publishing for many years, and later in his life was also placed under long-term house arrest.

all religions have always opposed science to the best of their ability, though as the world has become more enlightened their ability to hinder its progress has faded.

Answer 9

Christianity and science are not opposed to each other, they should work together. Science is not meant to replace God nor try to disprove God. Science is meant to help understand God and the greatness of His magnificent creation.
Isaac Newton the father of modern science would be upset with what certain people are trying to make science to be.
"Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done."

Answer 10

Is it a fact that Christians are against science? Or is that just another one of your theories?

Christians are not against science..never have been, never will be. We are all for studying science. We are not, however, for the idea that some big bang started everything in existance.

What started the big bang, by the way? Did it just create itself?

Answer 11

Well, it's the best explanation we've got for the basis of all biology. What do you propose we do? Shove Genesis down their throats instead? We teach it in schools for a reason. There's no religious bias to it.