Science and Faith

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Pierre Teilhard de Chardrin, Blaise Pascal and many other prominent Catholic scientists have tried to synthesise and show that Christian Religion was quiet compatible with Modern Science. The synthesis of science and Christian values is one of the reasons why they have been many great Christian scientists, who have achieved much. They in a way embraced the prophetic message of Pope Leo XII that “Divine Revelation itself requires that, in calling back the people to the paths of faith and salvation, advantage should be taken of human sciences.”[7] Religion however directs and illuminates reason. Brunetiere concurs in a radical way that science has failed utterly to throw light upon man’s origin and destiny.[8] Faith stimulates reason. From the stand point of Faith, Science is a manifestation of God’s wisdom, a stepping stone to God. Hence faith directs science and keeps it from error. Churchmen however should come to term with the fact that the Bible is not a scientific book. Science without religion has in a way no meaning or end, since the natural always point to the supernatural. In a way the purported conflict between the two is merely religious men who refuse to leave their prescientific mind and scientific men who try to interfere so much with faith. Both these disciplines should update themselves and be relevant to the “signs of time”.

Conclusively in the words of the Divine book “the human mind plans the way but the Lord directs the steps” (Prov. 16:9). So Religion must always guide Science, and Science must always defend and give sense to Religious beliefs. The existence of the other without the other is truly absurd and lame.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Makumba M. M., Introduction to Philosophy, Paulines Publication Africa, Nairobi 2005.

Morin D., How to Understand God, SCM Press Ltd, London 1990.

Walshe T. J., The Principle of Christian Apologetics, Longmans, Green and Co., London 1919.

Stanford P., “You Make Your Own Heaven” in The Tablet, Volume 270, April 2016.

JOHN PAUL II, Encyclical Fidei et Ratio, 1, Rome 1998.

LEO XII, Encyclical Aeterni Patris,3, Rome 1879.

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