Chapter 1 Modeling God’s World UNIT 1 Foundations Chapter 1 Modeling God’s World

Chapter 1A What in the World?

The World as It Is… God made the world and placed humans at the center of that world. Our world is only a few thousand years old, not billions. We are made in God’s image: we can learn and love each other equally. We are to have dominion, or power, over His creation, known as the Creation Mandate. God’s command to exercise dominion over the world by wisely using the resources He has placed here.

The World as It Is… The world has fallen into a broken condition because of human sin. We rebelled against God Hurricanes, disease, death, earthquakes are not normal events of an evolving world, they are the effects of sin. We are under God’s curse.

The World as It Is… God is working to redeem this world to Himself God’s Word gives us hope! He has promised to redeem us. Commanded us to teach all nations. We can use our knowledge of God and science to help others hear the gospel.

What is Truth? What is science? What is truth? Real science is primarily about making workable models of the observable world What is truth? The only truth is found in God’s Word!

Lost in the Dark The Story of Air France Flight 447 What happened? Page 2 What happened? 228 people missing No radio contact Where were they?

People Matter We try to find out WHY disasters happen What can science tell us? Observations Conclusions Relationships that exist in the physical world Production of life-saving medicines and energy efficient methods of transportation

People Matter What about other important questions, can science answers these? Who are we as humans Where did we come from Why are we hear Where are we headed Where do we fit in Can Science prove that there is a God, that we survive death or the difference between right and wrong

Chapter 1B Science With A View!

Assumptions and Problem Solving As Christians we need a greater authority than a map: the Word of God, the Bible. The Bible gives us presuppositions. An idea that is not proved but that we use as the basis for proving other things. The most basic presupposition is that God spoke to us in the Bible. All Humans have presuppositions, biases, and prejudices.

Evidence and Worldview Presuppositions form a worldview. An outlook from which a person interprets all of life. What is YOUR worldview?? A Christian Worldview can be summed up in three main points: God made the world and placed humans at the center of that world. The world has fallen into a broken condition because of human sin. God is working to redeem this world to Himself. With this worldview we can make proper use of science.

Science and a Secularist Worldview Many Scientists believe that science needs to be kept secular. Free from religious influence Key presupposition of secularists is a faith in scientism. The belief that the only things we can know with confidence are the things we learn through scientific study. We can only know what science tells us Science is the only thing we can trust. High view of science, low view of humans.

Science and a Secularist Worldview The physical universe is not the creation of a personal God. It always existed. The present condition is due to natural processes that have gone on forever. Humans are not in the image of God, they are complex chemical beings. We exist to satisfy our desires, just like animals. Love, joy, peace are not gifts from God, just chemical reactions in the brain.

Science and a Secularist Worldview We are not under God’s curse. Suffering and death are part of the ongoing natural processes that have produced us. Chemical bonds eventually dissolve and the elements are absorbed into other systems like plants and animals. Science can not distinguish between good and evil.

Science and a Secularist Worldview No true redemption. Extend our lives by decades Save us from death? Why spend so much money on “chemical beings”? Why not let the forces have their way?

Scripture and Scientific Study The Bible needs to take its place in the study of science. Many believe this will cause science to become pseudoscience, false science. The Bible establishes science. Records creation Explains the difficulties of nature Shows us our place in this world.

Science and Modeling Science is about modeling phenomenon, a model is: Anything that is a simplified depiction of a far more complex object or concept. Physical models: miniature representations of full-sized objects. Nonphysical models: a conceptual model like particle theory. Allows a person to organize what he has observed or knows into an understandable idea.

Science and Modeling Digital Numerical models: computer programs. Mathematical models Models are never entirely complete or accurate, the goal is workability. The usefulness of something for a particular purpose. Workability is the most important property of a scientific model.

What Science is NOT Science is NOT a source of settled truth. No scientific concept is exempt from the possibility of being changed because of a new discovery. Science is NOT a progression toward the correct view of the world. Every major model for observing the world in the past has been replace by different models; we are no closer to the “true” view of the world.

What Science is NOT Science is NOT completely objective. Scientists are not supposed to rely on their personal inclinations, their biases; this is not the case. Science is NOT always based on direct observations. Theories have been based on particles to small to be seen.

Organization of Science Scientists acquire new knowledge using a framework of theories, hypotheses, and laws. Theory An overarching model that describes the behavior or a related set of natural phenomena. (observable object, process, or property) Hypothesis A temporary, testable explanation of a phenomenon that stimulates and guides further scientific investigation. Law A simple statement, often expressed as a mathematical equation, that models or describes the relationship among natural phenomena under specified conditions. Laws describe what happens while theories explain why it happens.

Organization of Science Historical Science The study of the evidence for the origin (the past) of all things, also called origins science. Inference A process of reasoning used to suggest what may have caused past events or processes based on observations of current events and processes; conclusions drawn from indirect evidence. Largely based on presuppositions. Operational Science Examines phenomena that exist or occur in the present. At best, scientific knowledge represents our diligent attempts at a workable model of some aspect of the natural world.

Organization of Science Scientific work is divided into two major areas Theoretical science Science that extends the current scientific paradigm by discovering new facts about the natural world. The knowledge gained does not have to provide immediate practical benefits. Applied science Science that discovers new ways to use existing scientific knowledge for human benefit.

Defining Science Science from the Christian perspective: The collection of observations, inferences, and models produced through a systematic study of nature for the purpose of enabling humans to exercise good and wise dominion over God’s world; the systematic methods that produce the observations, inferences, and models. The what, how and why

Chapter 1C The Work of Physical Science

Physical Science Deals with two major divisions of the sciences: physics and chemistry. Physics – the study of matter and energy and how they interact. Mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity, optics, acoustics, nuclear physics, quantum physics, and relativity. Chemistry – the study of the structure, composition, and properties of matter and how matter acts in the presence of other matter. Biochemistry, organic, inorganic, physical, and nuclear chemistry

The Scientific Process “The Scientific Method” Methodology – a system or collection of tools, rules, and procedures used within an area of study. Scientific methodology – a collection of standards that govern how scientific work is conducted, based on the existing scientific paradigm.

Scientific Methodology Asking Scientific Questions (Step 1) Questions may arise out of the blue or from these: An unexpected observation A prediction made by a theory Numerical or physical patterns observed in data A desire to extend human knowledge A need to solve a technological problem A desire to improve the human condition

Scientific Methodology Suggesting a Hypothesis (Step 2) When a question occurs it is a natural tendency to suggest an explanation from one’s one experience or try to find an answer. Hypothesis forms a starting point for further study and investigation. guides a scientist is a temporary, testable explanation that is not final and subject to change. (Review)

Scientific Methodology Testing the Hypothesis – Data Collection (Step 3) Data – information collected through observation Qualitative Data – observations that cannot be numerically measured, usually consisting of verbal descriptions of an observation Quantitative Data – information obtained by measuring, usually expressed in numbers

Scientific Methodology There are different ways to collect data depending on personal preference and type of matter. Data Mining Collections Surveys When opportunity presents itself Trial and error (rarely) Controlled experiment (most familiar)

Scientific Methodology Evaluating the Hypothesis (Step 4) One test is not enough, scientists need to repeat in order to have valid results. Experimental replication – repeating an experiment to validate its results An honest scientist will be objective even if the results do not support the original hypothesis.

Scientific Methodology Reporting Conclusions (Step 5) Write a formal report to submit to a professional journal. First must be submitted to peer review The analysis of a scientific paper by other qualified scientists for comment and correction to ensure that the paper meets the high standards necessary for scientific work.

What Scientists Do Operational Science (dominion) Historical science Science that develops answers to natural world questions by directly testing and observing present day phenomena Examples: computer model of a thunderstorm, understanding the molecular structure of a cell, developing a nuclear fusion reactor, etc. Historical science Completely dependent on ones presuppositions Evolutionism verses creationism Educate the next generation Provide expert opinions