How can I explore science and faith fairly?

Exploring science and faith fairly means taking both scientific evidence and religious questions seriously, without forcing either one to answer questions it was not designed to answer.

Jesus sometimes invited people to observe the natural world carefully:

“Consider how the wild flowers grow.”

Luke 12:27

Understand what science does

Science investigates the natural world through observation, measurement, testing and explanations that can be examined by other people.

Scientific methods normally look for natural causes. This does not by itself prove that God does or does not exist; it describes how scientific investigation is carried out.

Ask what kind of question is being considered

Science may explain how a physical process happens. Faith and philosophy may ask why anything exists, whether life has meaning or whether the universe ultimately depends upon God.

These questions can overlap, but they are not always identical. Before deciding that two explanations conflict, ask whether they are trying to explain the same thing.

Explore different Christian interpretations

Christians hold different views about the age of the universe, evolution, the opening chapters of Genesis and how God acts within creation.

Find out how Christians who accept modern cosmology and evolution understand the Bible, as well as why some Christians interpret those passages more literally.

Examine claims of conflict carefully

When someone says that science has disproved faith, or that faith has disproved a scientific theory, ask exactly what evidence and reasoning support that conclusion.

Look for work by practising scientists, philosophers and theologians from both religious and non-religious perspectives. Notice where they agree and where their assumptions differ.

You do not need to force science and faith into either agreement or conflict. Consider each question carefully, notice what the evidence supports and allow your understanding to develop over time.