"Under HIS control, all the different parts of the body fit together, and
the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided.
So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and
builds itself up through love." (Ephesians 4:16,GNV)

"Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everyone."
    (Romans 12:18,GNV)

Essay #1

          SCIENCE AND CHRISTIANITY :: THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE
          -------------------------------------------------
    Invited essay (mod.)published in Hindu-Christian Studies Bull.,
      v.10,p.36-40,1997,  editor, Prof. K. Klostermaier, Chair,
         Department of Religion, University of Manitoba.
 

Historical Perspective
----------------------

The Judeo-Christian Scriptures have been considered by literalists as true
in every aspect, including references to the sciences. Scripture states
that earth has four corners suggesting that the earth is flat. The sun
rises in the morning suggesting that the sun goes around the earth, and
earth with mankind is at the centre of the universe. The six days in the
Genesis account along with the geneological chronologies were used by
Irish Bishop James Ussher(1581-1652) to calculate earth's origin was in
4004 B.C. The Genesis account relates that the origin of mankind, and all
the plants and animals, is by creation, a 'coming into existence out of
nothing instantaneously'.

Over time, scientists determined that earth is a sphere; Copernicus and
Galileo determined the earth and the other planets of our universe circle
the sun; the first geologists came to the conclusion earth is very old;
and Charles Darwin in his ORIGINS 1859 concluded all organisms, with
inference for mankind, are a product of biological evolution. Tension
between conservative Christians and scientists heightened to the detriment
of both Christianity and science, which has persisted to the present day.

The Conflict Attitude
---------------------

The conflict attitude has been fostered by books and articles with titles
such as 'History of the Conflict between Religion and Science' by William
Draper, 1874; 'A History of the Warfare of Science and Theology in
Christendom' by Andrew D. White, 1896; and a series of essays entitled
'The Fundamentals' published between 1911-1915 with such wishful thinking
titles as 'The Passing of Evolution' by G.F. Wright, clergyman and
self-taught geology professor. The philosopher/clergyman Alfred North
Whitehead wrote in his 'Science and the Modern World', 1926, p.126, "The
<conflict> between science and religion is what comes to our minds when we
think about this subject". The seeming antagonism remains common place
with present day essayists, with such statements as "And organized
religion is under assault -- from science --" (Presbyterian RECORD,
Sept.1996,p.38) and "in many respects, science and religion have always
seemed opposed --" (American Scientist, Nov.-Dec.,1996,p.532). In all
examples, the 'conflict' is between science and Christianity.

Science and religion, the two most influential philosophies of all human
knowledge, are compatible for most other religions. Albert Einstein, a
Jew, said "Science without religion is lame, and religion without science
is blind". Maurice Bucaille, in his 'The Bible, The Qur'an, and Science",
1987,p.121, wrote "The association between the Qur'an and science is <a
priori> a surprise, especially since it is going to be one of harmony,
and not of discord". About the Baha'i Faith, Brian Aull (J.Baha'i
Studies,v.1,#2,p.1,1988) wrote that a fundamental teaching of the Baha'i
Faith is that science and religion are harmonius and complementary. Common
sense dictates that as the teaching of the major religions - Hinduism,
Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Baha'i, etc., - with science is compatible, the
same must hold true for Christianity.

The conservative Christians reject Darwin's theory because the Genesis
account specifies that the origin of mankind was by creation, and not
evolution. Definition of terms and their consistent use is essential, a
characteristic of science. Conservative Christians define the terms
creation and evolution, and then use them interchangeably. My definition
for evolution is 'change with continuity' (see below), a material process,
such as a lump of clay is made or formed into a pot. Contemplation of our
world and universe brings the realization that virtually everything is
changing, has changed, and will continue to change. Darwin's <biological>
evolution describes the change as manifest by organisms within our world,
present and past, where everything is changing. Creation is 'something
coming into existence out of nothing', a metaphysical concept, and
consistent with Scriptural teaching. The origin of the universe, named the
'Big Bang' by the cosmologists, was a creation, and considered aptly
described by the opening statement of Genesis - 'In the beginning, GOD
created --'. The subsequent accumulation of the solid materials into
stars, planets, moons, meteorites, etc., was a process of evolution by
agglomeration.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EVOLUTION - defined as CHANGE WITH CONTNUITY - pervades all science - the
evolution of stars; the evolution of chemical elements; the evolution of
rocks; the evolution of oceans; the evolution of global temperatures;
etc., and the evolution of organisms, the plants and the animals, by the
process of speciation - basic Darwinism - which should be specifically
identified as BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION. Thus evolution pervades the world
and universe; and in addition the evolution of knowledge, the
evolution of the meaning of words, including the word evolution; and the
evolution of religion. In a different perspective, what entities are not
changing, have not changed, and will not change? Change or evolution is
the uniform condition. A couple of exceptions are  change and
evolution themselves!! Change and evolution are permanent!! [96-12-25]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That science should be compatible with Christianity can be interpreted in
the New Testament. In 1 Cor.12:12-26, the adherents of Christianity - the
church - are compared to a single body without division. This 'body' is
then compared to the human body made of eyes, ears, feet, etc., and every
part is essential. This same analogy can be applied to any 'body' such as
an automobile, which if any part is removed, the 'body' is deficient and
disabled. Furthermore, the analogy can be applied to the 'body of human
knowledge' and any attempt to remove or discredit one part, has an
influence on the whole. To discredit the scientific determination for the
age of the earth has an influence on the whole body of scientific
knowledge. Common sense dictates that this conflict must be based on
misunderstanding and a lack of perception. (Read again introductory
statement - Ephesians 4:16)

Modern Science in the Judeo-Christian Scriptures
------------------------------------------------
[Scripture verses from the New American Standard Bible, 1973]

Modern science is separated into major divisions of astronomy, biology,
chemistry, geoscience, physics, all linked by mathematics. In addition are
the applied sciences of engineering, dentistry, and medicine. Science
knowledge forms a continuous spectrum without any clear breaks. Some
boundaries have developed into specialized fields such as astrophysics,
biochemistry, geophysics, geochemistry, physical chemistry, etc.
Investigations in interdisciplinary sectors have yielded major
discoveries. These in turn can be linked with other fields in arts,
humanities, languages, philosophy, and, logically, religion, and its
subdivisions. The dominating influence of science on society, both
beneficial and detrimental, is manifest by mentioning some of the
discoveries and products - lasers, silicon chips, DNA molecule, PCB,
radioactive elements, rocket propulsion, computers, artificial
intelligence, cloning, teflon, vaccines, etc., etc., ETC. Although the
conflict is identified as 'religion with science or visa versa', not all
science is in conflict, only important theories in biology and geoscience.
Amongst professional scientists from astronomers to zoologists, Darwin's
evolution is considered THE MOST IMPORTANT THEORY of all science. But the
contention is identified as 'science', and thereby has a detrimental
influence on all science. One trivial, but influencing fact, is that in
the King James version of the Bible, 1 Tim.6:20 mentions 'science falsely
so-called'. When the King James version was prepared in the early 1600's,
the word 'science', meant all knowledge, whereas today the word applies
primarily to the physical and natural sciences. But that occurrence of
'science' in the KJV has an influence on how a conservative views science.
In the NASB and other versions, the word is translated as 'knowledge'.

Several authours have written about the numerous modern scientific
theories and hypotheses which can be recognized in Scripture, even
concepts which have been discovered in the last half century. Such
statements can be deemed prophetic because the authours, writing over 2000
years ago, lacked any scientific knowledge, instruction, and training.

1. Astronomy - Jeremiah 33:22 - 'As the host of heaven cannot be counted'.
Observations made farther and farther into space, merely reveals more and
more galaxies and stars.

2. Genetics - Gen.31:10 - 'the male goats which were mating, were striped,
speckled, and mottled'.
The selective breeding of plants and animals to enhance desirable features
for economic benefit is now a major industry. The recent cloning of a
sheep raises the possibility of cloning people, which causes concern.

3. Gravimetry - Isaiah 40:6d - 'And weighed the mountains in a balance'.
A gravimeter is an extremely sensitive balance which can measure local
variation in gravitational attraction. Taking measurements near a mountain
can be used to calculate the weight of the mountain.

4. Paleomagnetism - Psalm 136:6 - 'To HIM who spread out the earth above
the waters'.
The theory of 'Continental drift' proposed by Alfred Wegner in 1915, was
based on the similar configuration of shorelines on each side of the
Atlantic Ocean. Discovery about 1959 of the earth's magnetic field
reversal was a key element in proposing the mechanism called sea floor
spreading. Subsequent research revealed that the earth's crust consists of
several plates all of which are moving laterally, and named plate
tectonics..

5. Seismology - Psalm 60:2 - "Thou hast made the land quake, Thou hast
split it open'.
Numerous references to earthquakes can be found in Scripture. During an
earthquake, great cracks can occur and blocks of the land can move
laterally and vertically. (see #6)

6. Structural geology - Zechariah 14:4b - 'The Mount of Olives will be
split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half
the mountain will move to the north and the other half to the south'.
This describes the geological mechanism to form a graben, or depressed
valley by gravity faulting.

Some earth features suggested in Scripture have been proven wrong by
scientific determination. If Scripture suggests one understanding, and
modern science indicates another, then accept the determination of science
as probably correct.

1. Isaiah 11:12d - 'From the four corners of the earth'.
This suggests that the earth is flat. Space probes have proven the earth
is a sphere.

Job 26:10 - 'HE has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters at the
boundary of light and darkness'.
A light shining perpendicularly to a circle drawn on the circumference
of a sphere produces a light and dark side. The spherical earth has day
and night.

2. Psalm 104:22 - 'When the sun rises. -- '. This and other verses are the
basis for the geocentric model of the universe. Copernicus and Galileo
established the heliocentric model. Galileo was tried for heresy by the
Roman Catholic Church, which recently admitted the error.

Two major scientific determinations have been the principal basis for the
science/Christianity conflict - the age of the earth, and Darwin's
biological evolution. New understandings are now available to rationalize
these two.

1. The Age of the Earth (See Essay #3)
-----------------------

In the early 1800's, when self-taught geologists - James Hutton, Rev. Adam
Sedgwick, Roderick Murchison, William Logan, James Hall and others - began
geological mapping in England, Wales, Canada, and the United States, and
were measuring rock successions thousands of feet in thickness,
the conclusion was reached that earth must be old. The Noachian flood with
a duration of 371 days was insufficient to explain logically these great
thicknesses. Distinctive index fossils, occurring in consistent sequences
within and between continents, established a framework for determining
relative ages of the rock successions. The old rocks were under the young
rocks, and the succession of distinctive index fossils was the key for
the relative ages. The absolute age of earth was first determined by
radiometric methods in the early 1900's. The present oldest known rocks
are just over four billion years. Determinations made by astronomers on
stars and rocks of the moon indicate the earth is probably about 4.7
billion years old.

The analyses for a great age of the earth from Scripture are 1. The gap
theory, and 2. The day/age theory. The first is based on the assumption of
a great length of unrecorded history occurring between the first and
second verses of Genesis 1. The day/age theory assumes that the days of
Genesis are periods of great but unspecified length, and not 24 hours. 2
Peter 3:8 - 'that with the LORD one day is as a thousand years --'. That
number could be 10,000 years, or a million years, or even a billion years!
Assuming that the days of Genesis are a billion years can allow the
interpretation that earth is old, the same conclusion as derived from the
scientific evidence. On this understanding, then the argument about the
age of the earth from the scientific and Scripture evidence is
rationalized. However any attempt to equate the sequence according to
Genesis and according to geoscience research should be avoided. Both
merely indicate EARTH IS OLD.

2. Darwin's biological evolution
--------------------------------

The basic determination by Charles Darwin in his ORIGIN OF SPECIES, 1859,
was that the spectrum of organisms of the present and the past developed
by the process of speciation, that is one species changed or evolved into
another species. All living organisms have a single ancestor which lived
billions of years ago. Darwin did not address the origin of life (see
Essay #4). The conservative Christians reject speciation because they
argue Scripture specifies that each species was create individually. But
Genesis specifies that the beasts were MADE, not created. Furthermore,
speciation, Darwin's mechanism can be understood in Scripture.

The phrase 'after their kind' occurs ten times in Genesis 1. Gen.1:25 -
'And GOD made the beasts of the earth after their kind'. Consider one
beast designated as species D. All offspring through multiple generations
of the first made individual of species D, are species D. Restate
Gen.1:25. - 'And GOD made the <first made> individual of species D after
its kind'. Will the ancestor of the first made individual of species D, be
species D? No! Because I have specified this as the <first made>
individual of species D. The ancestor of the first made individual of
species D must be a different species - say species A. Thus an individual
of species A produced offspring, one of which was species D. That is the
process of speciation, the basic principle of Darwin's biological
evolution -- in Scripture.

One other fact which I have never seen mentioned in a multitude of
articles, essays, books, etc., on this contentious issue, is that the
Hebrew word for 'kind', pronounced 'meen', can be translated as 'species'.

The Bible, and especially the Old Testament, is a prophetic book about
religion, and also about some scientific concepts, including two concepts
long considered as contentious - the age of the earth, and Darwin's
biological evolution.

The Ultimate Positive Attitude
------------------------------

Over many years, in conversations and correspondence about this issue with
a multitude of individuals - students, laypersons, scientists, clergy,
etc. - I perceived seven attitudes between science and religion.
Subsequently I realized the issue is indigenous to Christianity. This
perception was first recorded in the November 1987 issue of GEOLOG, the
Geological Association of Canada newsletter.

1. Science without Christianity

2. Christianity without science

3. Science against Christianity

4. Christianity against science

5. No science and no Christianity

6. Science and Christianity are not in conflict

7. Science and Christianity have a positive, compatible relationship

In February 1996, I explained these relationships in a paper at the annual
conference of the New Scholars Society, Toronto. During the informal
question and discussion period, I asked the members of the audience,
individually, an original question - "What is GOD's attitude on the
relationship between science and Christianity?" Noteworthy is the fact
that every individual gave the same answer.

During December 1996 and January 1997, I sent by e-mail to hundreds of
Christians across North America the following question within an
explanatory letter.

WHAT IS GOD'S ATTITUDE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND
SCIENCE? is it ANTAGONISTIC? or UNRELATED? or COMPATIBLE? or SOME OTHER
WORD? (Please limit answer to one word.)

Almost 8% of the recipients responded, which is noteworthy considering the
original question is about a contentious and emotional issue. More
remarkable is that 78% of the respondents sent the same word as the
audience at the NSS meeting -- COMPATIBLE!! One individual first replied
'no conflict', and then changed to 'antagonistic'. But that was the only
negative response!!

My conclusion is that GOD's attitude is Christianity and science must have
a positive, compatible and complementary relationship, which presumably
would be the conclusion already held by the adherents of other religions -
Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Moslems, Baha'i, etc. A corollary must be that
every Christian MUST hold the same positive attitude. Considering the
pervasiveness and longevity of the generally held negative relationship,
what is the time frame for the positive science/Christianity relationship
to become the dominant attitude? One small recommendation toward that goal
is that Christians should cease thinking about, and making reference to,
'conflict', 'controversy', 'warfare', etc., and start thinking about the
positive, compatible and complementary relationship between science and
Christianity.
[97-02-26]