Are christians objective about science?

ShieldAxe · Post by **ShieldAxe** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:12 pm

Are christians are biased when it comes to science? I believe that their reason for arguing against certain scientific findings and accepted theories is that the science threatens their faith. Their world view is in jeopardy. They want to keep their understanding of the world in tact so as to reinforce their faith. Faith is a comfort for them. It's comfortable to know god is watching over us, there's an afterlife, heaven exists, etc. This is their motivation for fighting evolution, big bang, heliocentrism or whatever.

Christians often accuse scientists of being against the bible. Is it logical that the scientific community would fabricate science that opposes the bible? Why? For research money? That makes no sense. If the earth is only 8000 years old, so be it. The research money would go toward studying that then. What's the difference to the scientist how old it is? Scientists pursue the truth.

So are christians pursuing science objectively or limiting themselves and stifling science to fit with biblical scripture?

palmera · Post by **palmera** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:29 pm

let's try this again...

palmera · Post by **palmera** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:32 pm

Are christians are biased when it comes to science?

All people are biased when it comes to both science and religion, or indeed, when it comes to anything we do. These biases depend upon the information we have to base decisions on; information which comes from our accumulated experiences.

Also, to which Christians do you refer? The thread you have presented gives a narrow view of a small variety of Christian responses to some scientific theories into which one cannot possibly hope to see all Christians, or all Christian responses and endeavors into scientific inquiry.

So are christians pursuing science objectively or limiting themselves and stifling science to fit with biblical scripture?

Pursueing science objectively is theoretically impossible. While certainly some Christians act in accordance with the extreme behavior this thread poses, one cannot paint the picture of Christianity with such a broad brush.

I believe that their reason for arguing against certain scientific findings and accepted theories is that the science threatens their faith. Their world view is in jeopardy. They want to keep their understanding of the world in tact so as to reinforce their faith. Faith is a comfort for them. It's comfortable to know god is watching over us, there's an afterlife, heaven exists, etc. This is their motivation for fighting evolution, big bang, heliocentrism or whatever.

This argument may be made for all peoples, scientists included, about a variety of different scenarios. It's human nature to try and fit the pieces of information we have together in such a way so as to cause the least amount of disturbance in our worldview. Though this trait may be expressed in some people more than others, through some avenues, like religion, more than others, we cannot assume that all Christians act in this way or that you position is an accurate representation of reality.

Further, faith is dynamic and must not be relegated solely into the realm of that which comforts. You've assumed that faith necessarily gives one answers, or is an answer in a world of questions. For some, their faith may be what drives them into further inquiry, through studying scripture, religion, history or through science. The nature of faith may also be that which motivates questions- it's dynamic, not stagnant. Often faith is misrepresented as a solution rather than as part of an ongoing relationship with the divine and as part of an ongoing dialogue with the world around us. Faith gives room to grow- so while there are those who find comfort in their beliefs about the world, who have faith that the reality of the world may be best seen through the lense of their beliefs, not all use their beleif system or faith to limit spiritual and intellectual growth.

keltzkroz · Post by **keltzkroz** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:04 pm

Are christians are biased when it comes to science?

In my opinion, some are and some are not.

QED · Post by **QED** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:41 am

palmera wrote:
Are christians are biased when it comes to science?
All people are biased when it comes to both science and religion, or indeed, when it comes to anything we do. These biases depend upon the information we have to base decisions on; information which comes from our accumulated experiences.

Unfortunately a blanket question like this is always going to get a blanket answer. I say unfortunately because it provides an opportunity for people to make the arguments look more symmetric than they really are. Religious types will point out that other people are just placing their faith in science for example. But in reality there is a massive asymmetry involved. Does a Young Earth Creationist have an equal claim to know the age of the Earth for instance? No doubt they would argue that they have an even greater claim but the reality is that a value judgment has to be made of the relative merits of each view -- and the world at large made this judgment along time ago.

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:23 am

ShieldAxe wrote:Are christians are biased when it comes to science?

keltzkroz wrote:In my opinion, some are and some are not.

Absolutely. All generalizations are false.

Edited to correct syntax

ShieldAxe · Post by **ShieldAxe** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:00 am

palmera wrote:
Are christians are biased when it comes to science?
All people are biased when it comes to both science and religion, or indeed, when it comes to anything we do. These biases depend upon the information we have to base decisions on; information which comes from our accumulated experiences.

Also, to which Christians do you refer?

The ones who oppose widely & scientifically accepted facts.

palmera wrote: The thread you have presented gives a narrow view of a small variety of Christian responses to some scientific theories into which one cannot possibly hope to see all Christians, or all Christian responses and endeavors into scientific inquiry.

Not all but nearly all. Most any christian opposing evolution for instance is doing it because of their scriptural belief not because of the objective scientific study and research.

palmera wrote:
So are christians pursuing science objectively or limiting themselves and stifling science to fit with biblical scripture?
Pursueing science objectively is theoretically impossible. While certainly some Christians act in accordance with the extreme behavior this thread poses, one cannot paint the picture of Christianity with such a broad brush.

I believe that their reason for arguing against certain scientific findings and accepted theories is that the science threatens their faith. Their world view is in jeopardy. They want to keep their understanding of the world in tact so as to reinforce their faith. Faith is a comfort for them. It's comfortable to know god is watching over us, there's an afterlife, heaven exists, etc. This is their motivation for fighting evolution, big bang, heliocentrism or whatever.
This argument may be made for all peoples, scientists included, about a variety of different scenarios. It's human nature to try and fit the pieces of information we have together in such a way so as to cause the least amount of disturbance in our worldview. Though this trait may be expressed in some people more than others, through some avenues, like religion, more than others, we cannot assume that all Christians act in this way or that you position is an accurate representation of reality.

if this were true science would remain stagnant.

palmera wrote: Further, faith is dynamic and must not be relegated solely into the realm of that which comforts. You've assumed that faith necessarily gives one answers, or is an answer in a world of questions.

Yes

palmera wrote: The nature of faith may also be that which motivates questions- it's dynamic, not stagnant.

This is out of the ordinary and rare i believe. Faith leading people to science? Doubt it. Faith discourages questioning and promotes acceptance of established acient biblical writings

palmera · Post by **palmera** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 9:30 am

palmera wrote:
The nature of faith may also be that which motivates questions- it's dynamic, not stagnant.
This is out of the ordinary and rare i believe. Faith leading people to science? Doubt it. Faith discourages questioning and promotes acceptance of established acient biblical writings.

I think you may be confusing church doctrine as part of an institution with faith. The indoctrination of a person may hinder their ability to dig deeper, to ask questions, but faith is a different matter entirely. One is not indoctrinated by faith, faith is not a passive acceptance, but an active engagement.

if this were true science would remain stagnant.

Why do you think so?

QED · Post by **QED** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 10:27 am

palmera wrote:The nature of faith may also be that which motivates questions- it's dynamic, not stagnant. Often faith is misrepresented as a solution rather than as part of an ongoing relationship with the divine and as part of an ongoing dialogue with the world around us

What questions does faith motivate? Surely faith is all about acceptance of something presented to you that you cannot independently verify for yourself? We have to take it on faith that certain passages of the bible are true accounts of communications between man and God. We can't get God to repeat these words to us so we have to take the word of other men who claim to have had this conversation.

You say that faith is not a passive acceptance, but an active engagement, but that implies that you would be in the business of gathering your own evidence and drawing your own conclusions. In this case you are unlikely to be privy to anything so exceptional as to warrant a conclusion that a divine element was playing a role -- not when the every-day phenomena we all perceive has such a comprehensive practical account. If there's anything mystical that you've encountered that contradicts this, I'd be curious to know what it was.

ShieldAxe · Post by **ShieldAxe** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:01 pm

palmera wrote:
palmera wrote:
The nature of faith may also be that which motivates questions- it's dynamic, not stagnant.
This is out of the ordinary and rare i believe. Faith leading people to science? Doubt it. Faith discourages questioning and promotes acceptance of established acient biblical writings.
I think you may be confusing church doctrine as part of an institution with faith. The indoctrination of a person may hinder their ability to dig deeper, to ask questions, but faith is a different matter entirely. One is not indoctrinated by faith, faith is not a passive acceptance, but an active engagement.

QED posted a nice response to this which i agree with. You appear to be redefining faith.

palmera wrote:

if this were true science would remain stagnant.
Why do you think so?

If scientists limited themselves to current worldview, how would progress be made?