And the final audio is here, with the text below:
Good morning,
Over the last couple days I have been considering famous scientists and examining how their discoveries influenced their life and faith. I want to finish this series by looking at a contemporary scientist, the American Francis Collins, who led the international project to sequence the human genome and has recently been appointed by President Obama to one of the most powerful scientific posts in the US, head of the multi-billion dollar national institute for health.
Along with being a stellar scientist Francis Collins is an out spoken Christian and author of a book called "The Language of God" where he argues that science is one of the ways that God speaks to man. He is also founder of the "BioLogos" foundation who's mission is to 'promote the search for truth in both the natural and spiritual realms, seeking harmony between these different perspectives.'
About a year ago I met Francis Collins at a conference and was struck by his enthusiasm and his drive to both understand and better use the discoveries of science. When I asked him what his motivation was for being so energetic and enthusiastic he answered that it was specifically his Christian faith, and that he saw science as an opportunity to worship God.
Francis Collins is one of 40% of American scientists who believe in God, and who find that the more they discover about the natural world the more they are forced to ask why the natural world is the way it is. Like Galileo and Newton before him, Collins does not see a conflict between science and faith, rather his motivation for being a scientist is his faith in God. Far from the stereotype of an atheist scientist, Collins is therefore proof that science is both compatible with, and a source of encouragement for, people who put their faith in God.
Friday 27 November 2009
Day 3 of 4 BBC radio solent science and faith
The audio is here, and the text was:
Good morning,
In this “Darwin anniversary” week I am looking at four famous scientists and asking how their discoveries influenced their life and faith. Today I want to consider Darwin himself.
Although originally trained as a clergyman, it is well known that Darwin's theory of evolution, through natural selection, led him to doubt whether God existed. However, far from being an atheist, Darwin's writings reveal the struggles of a brilliant and thoughtful man trying to understand his place in the world. His insights into biology produced in him a deep humility as he realised how insignificant any individual is when viewed in the grand scheme of natural history.
Darwin's uncertainty is often viewed as a weakness, especially from the perspective of our 21st century knowledge driven society where everyone is a professional or expert in some area. Indeed Darwin's uncertainty is often used as an example of what happens when you try to mix different ways of understanding the world - "if only Darwin had stuck to science he would not have been so confused" some argue.
But this attitude seems to miss an important point. Darwin brilliantly formulated an answer to the question of origins, however in exploring this answer he discovered a whole range of new questions that went beyond just Biology. Questions of morality, purpose and meaning can certainly be illuminated by science, however science can never give the full picture. Darwin's theory was a great stride forward for human knowledge, however he recognised that an understanding of how we came about cannot really answer questions about why we are here. Although theories such as evolution are great for explaining the how questions, we need to look elsewhere for understanding the why questions.
Good morning,
In this “Darwin anniversary” week I am looking at four famous scientists and asking how their discoveries influenced their life and faith. Today I want to consider Darwin himself.
Although originally trained as a clergyman, it is well known that Darwin's theory of evolution, through natural selection, led him to doubt whether God existed. However, far from being an atheist, Darwin's writings reveal the struggles of a brilliant and thoughtful man trying to understand his place in the world. His insights into biology produced in him a deep humility as he realised how insignificant any individual is when viewed in the grand scheme of natural history.
Darwin's uncertainty is often viewed as a weakness, especially from the perspective of our 21st century knowledge driven society where everyone is a professional or expert in some area. Indeed Darwin's uncertainty is often used as an example of what happens when you try to mix different ways of understanding the world - "if only Darwin had stuck to science he would not have been so confused" some argue.
But this attitude seems to miss an important point. Darwin brilliantly formulated an answer to the question of origins, however in exploring this answer he discovered a whole range of new questions that went beyond just Biology. Questions of morality, purpose and meaning can certainly be illuminated by science, however science can never give the full picture. Darwin's theory was a great stride forward for human knowledge, however he recognised that an understanding of how we came about cannot really answer questions about why we are here. Although theories such as evolution are great for explaining the how questions, we need to look elsewhere for understanding the why questions.
Day 2 of 4 BBC radio solent science and faith
The day 2 audio can be heard here. The text is:
Good morning,
In this “Darwin anniversary” week I am looking at four famous scientists and asking how their discoveries influenced their life and faith.
In a Royal Society survey in 2005 Sir Isaac Newton was voted the most influential scientist ever to have lived. In 1687 he published a book referred to as the "Principia" which provided the mathematical foundation for classical mechanics through his description of the laws of gravity and motion. As if this was not enough he went on to show how white light could be split into the many colours of the rainbow, co-developed the branch of mathematics called calculus, oversaw the royal mint, was president of the Royal Society, and also a member of Parliament.
However, along with these great achievements, Newton spent more time studying and writing about religion than any other topic. He recognised, through his mathematical and scientific studies, that the world was a rational place governed by the predictable laws of nature. But this made him want to ask why? Why is it possible that humans are able to understand the world? Why does mathematics even work?
His conclusion was that a great creator lies behind the universe, however far from being the fickle god of superstition this was a craftsman God who designed along rational and universal principles. "Gravity", he wrote, "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."
As a great scientist Newton recognised the importance of science, but also recognised that we need more than just science to understand the world around us. By contemplating the complexities of science and the grandeur of nature, Newton was drawn to a deeper belief in the creator of this magnificent world.
Good morning,
In this “Darwin anniversary” week I am looking at four famous scientists and asking how their discoveries influenced their life and faith.
In a Royal Society survey in 2005 Sir Isaac Newton was voted the most influential scientist ever to have lived. In 1687 he published a book referred to as the "Principia" which provided the mathematical foundation for classical mechanics through his description of the laws of gravity and motion. As if this was not enough he went on to show how white light could be split into the many colours of the rainbow, co-developed the branch of mathematics called calculus, oversaw the royal mint, was president of the Royal Society, and also a member of Parliament.
However, along with these great achievements, Newton spent more time studying and writing about religion than any other topic. He recognised, through his mathematical and scientific studies, that the world was a rational place governed by the predictable laws of nature. But this made him want to ask why? Why is it possible that humans are able to understand the world? Why does mathematics even work?
His conclusion was that a great creator lies behind the universe, however far from being the fickle god of superstition this was a craftsman God who designed along rational and universal principles. "Gravity", he wrote, "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."
As a great scientist Newton recognised the importance of science, but also recognised that we need more than just science to understand the world around us. By contemplating the complexities of science and the grandeur of nature, Newton was drawn to a deeper belief in the creator of this magnificent world.
More daily thoughts on BBC radio solent
As this week is the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's Origins, BBC radio solent asked me to give four thoughts relating science and faith. I chose to look at four famous scientists and ask how their science impacted their faith.
The day1 audio can be listened to here and the text is below:
Good morning,
In this “Darwin anniversary” week I plan to look at four famous scientists and ask how their discoveries influenced their life and faith.
First off is Galileo Galilei, the 17th century physicist and astronomer famous for being one of the first to point a telescope at the stars, and also for discovering the principles of gravity by supposedly dropping objects off the top of the leaning tower of Pisa. However, perhaps even more memorable than his scientific discoveries, was Galileo's trial before the Roman inquisition, the guilty verdict and his subsequent sentencing to a lifetime of house arrest. This was because he taught that the earth orbited the Sun, contradicting the churches teaching that the earth was the stationary centre of the universe.
Some say that the way Galileo was treated is typical of what happens when “evidence based” science meets “faith based” religion. Indeed some contemporary authors argue that religion is an old fashioned way of looking at the world, and scientists like Galileo are the heroes responsible for bringing about a new, less superstitious scientific age. However this was not how Galileo himself understood the matter.
In a long letter explaining how he understood the relationship between science and faith, Galileo argued that it was a serious mistake to view the bible as if it were a scientific textbook because it was written not to teach physics or biology, but rather to convey truths about people and their relationship with God. He wrote "The bible shows the way to go to heaven, not the way the heaven's go."
400 years later we would do well remembering these words of Galileo. Although science shows us how the world around us works, it is, and cannot, ever be an excuse for not living a life of faith.
The day1 audio can be listened to here and the text is below:
Good morning,
In this “Darwin anniversary” week I plan to look at four famous scientists and ask how their discoveries influenced their life and faith.
First off is Galileo Galilei, the 17th century physicist and astronomer famous for being one of the first to point a telescope at the stars, and also for discovering the principles of gravity by supposedly dropping objects off the top of the leaning tower of Pisa. However, perhaps even more memorable than his scientific discoveries, was Galileo's trial before the Roman inquisition, the guilty verdict and his subsequent sentencing to a lifetime of house arrest. This was because he taught that the earth orbited the Sun, contradicting the churches teaching that the earth was the stationary centre of the universe.
Some say that the way Galileo was treated is typical of what happens when “evidence based” science meets “faith based” religion. Indeed some contemporary authors argue that religion is an old fashioned way of looking at the world, and scientists like Galileo are the heroes responsible for bringing about a new, less superstitious scientific age. However this was not how Galileo himself understood the matter.
In a long letter explaining how he understood the relationship between science and faith, Galileo argued that it was a serious mistake to view the bible as if it were a scientific textbook because it was written not to teach physics or biology, but rather to convey truths about people and their relationship with God. He wrote "The bible shows the way to go to heaven, not the way the heaven's go."
400 years later we would do well remembering these words of Galileo. Although science shows us how the world around us works, it is, and cannot, ever be an excuse for not living a life of faith.
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