Key concept
Science and the Bible are not in conflict. Most founding fathers of modern science were men of faith.

It is a popular notion that science and the Bible are at odds with one another. The rumor of warfare between the Bible and science can be traced to Thomas Huxley, a late nineteenth century apologist for evolution who became known as Darwin’s “bull dog” and helped mightily to overthrow the cultural dominance of Christianity. But Huxley and a long line of successors who have touted Huxley’s mischievous misconception about faith and reason are at odds with the facts of history.

The truth is that science and Christianity had a great relationship from 1500 to the late 1800s. The early pioneers of modern science had no difficulty in believing in God as their Creator and Savior. They believed in a God who had limitless power and was the source of all intelligence. The works of his hands were worthy to be studied, and to do so was to glorify Him. Indeed, Psalm 111:2 tells us that “The works of the Lord are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them” (NKJV). God affirms the character of creation in Genesis 1 by calling it “good” five times during the week of creation. Finally, when creation is complete, he pronounces his final judgment: it is “very good.”

Francis Bacon, who is often regarded as the father of the scientific method, said “Natural Philosophy [the study of nature] is, after God’s Word, the surest medicine for superstition and also the most approved nourishment of Faith. And so she is rightly given to Religion as a most faithful handmaiden….”

Early scientists knew that by doing exhaustive research in a particular area of science they would be fulfilling the great Cultural Mandate, taking dominion of God’s creation as commanded in Genesis 1:28. This is demonstrated by a few examples from great men of science who also embraced belief in God. Henry Morris, in Men of Science: Men of God, lists over 40 great scientists who were professing Christians that believed in the divine authority of God. Among them are:

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), an astronomer famous for his exhaustive work on planetary motion.

“I give you thanks, Creator God, that you have given me this joy in thy creation, and I rejoice in the works of your hands. See I have now completed the work to which I was called. In it I have used all the talents you have lent to my spirit” (Pearcy and Thaxton, The Soul of Science, Crossway Books, Wheaton, Ill., 1994, p23)

Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662), Great philosopher and mathematician who is considered the father of the science of hydrostatics. He developed the principles of the barometer.

Pascal’s famous wager demonstrates his commitment to Christianity. His wager illustrates that Christian faith is a “win-win” proposition. If one is Christian and when he dies there is no God, “he has lost nothing.” But if one dies and there is a God, heaven, and hell, he has gained everything while “his skeptical friend has lost everything in hell.”(Henry Morris, Men of Science: Men of God, Master Books, El Cajon, Calif., p. 15)

Robert Boyle (1627-1691), He is considered the father of physical chemistry with his monumental work on the mechanistic principles of gasses from which his famous Boyle’s Law was generated. His experimental approach to gasses laid the foundation for atomic theory. Boyle was a devout Christian who had an interest in missions and apologetics.

He was famous for his lectures in which he promoted the creation as God’s finely tuned clock and states “where all things are so skillfully contrived, that the engine being once set a-moving, all things proceed according to the artificer’s first design”(Pearcy and Thaxton, The Soul of Science, Crossway Books, Wheaton, Ill., 1994, p. 87)

John Ray (1627-1705) A botanist who introduced the first definition of species as being from reproduction. His definition, that parents produce offspring with the same kind of characteristics is close to the modern definition.

He was motivated by Genesis 1: “seed producing plants after their own kind.” He wrote “The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation.” that make a great impact and “argued that living things are so complex and so marvelously designed that they must be the creation of supremely intelligent Creator.” (Pearcy and Thaxton, The Soul of Science, Crossway Books, Wheaton, Ill., 1994, p. 102)

Isaac Newton (1642-1727) Known as one of the greatest scientists of all time, Newton developed the law of universal gravitation, the laws of motion, and calculus into a branch of mathematics. He produced a particle theory to explain how light is emitted and built the first reflecting telescope. Newton understood that the creation was created by God and his basic motivation was to promote a belief in God the Creator. Newton contributed greatly to the foundations of science and believed that God was the ultimate cause.

“We account the Scriptures of God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever.” (Henry Morris, Men of Science: Men of God, Master Books, El Cajon,CA. p. 26)

Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) He discovered biological taxonomy, which is a classification system still used today. He classified living organisms using species as the basic unit, based on the biblical idea that organisms do not change with time. He was a committed creationist who believed that God’s creation was good and stable. Linnaeus was on the right path, although he confused “species” with “kind.” He wrote essays on natural theology in support of the idea that man can glorify God by studying His works of creation.