Science and worldviews Review from last week … Resource list Specific topics of interest Larry’s summary of the lesson

What is a worldview? Basic philosophy that explains: Why the world/universe is the way it is The place, purpose, and value of other people in the world My own place in the world A religion is just a worldview based on god/gods, an ideal, or on the spiritual

What is a worldview? Based on this definition of religion, what are some examples of various worldviews? What worldview do we believe in? Acts 17:24-28 Galatians 4:4-5

Implications of a worldview WORLDVIEW DIAGRAM Artifacts – What are the material possessions? Behavior – What are the actions? Confession – What is the summation of beliefs? Values – What is important? Beliefs – What is true? Center – What is here?

What is science? Study and conclusions of how and why the physical world works i.e., cause and effect Based on observation Cannot answer the question of the first cause Two categories of science Repeatable science (testable) Historical science (non-testable or hypothetical)

God and science Science is not the enemy What the Bible tells us about God’s creation Colossians 1:17 First sentence of the Nicene Creed Genesis 1:4-5 Acts 14:17 Psalm 104: 1-5 Job 38:31-33

Examples of types of science Testable science Can be tested over and over E.g., Theory of gravity, chemical reactions, human behavior Hypothetical science Tells a story based on already existing facts E.g., Theory of evolution, paleontology, origin of life Both can overlap a great deal i.e., much testable science is couched in theories based on historical sciences

The Peppered Moth Interpretation: 19th century England Smoke from factories coated trees Result: fewer white moths and more black moths survived Interpretation: Evolutionists: Proof of rapid evolution to suit an environment Creationist: Proof of a God who designed his creatures with enough genetic variation to adapt to new conditions

Not a conflict between science and religion, but rather a conflict between the center of one’s worldview

Implications of a worldview WORLDVIEW DIAGRAM Artifacts - What are the material possessions? Icythus vs. a Darwin fish on your car Behavior – What are the actions? Living for our beliefs, e.g., understanding how the world works Confession- What is the sum of beliefs? Christ crucified vs. on our own Values- What is important? God’s commands vs whatever works Beliefs – What is true? God’s word vs. man’s reason Center – What is here? God vs. ME

Challenging a worldview Why do evolutions get so upset when Christians reject evolution? Why should we as Christians sometimes be more upset than we are about the doctrine of evolution?

Why do people reject God? Romans 2:15 Two reasons 1. explaining the suffering in our fallen world 2. being held accountable for one’s actions

Suffering “That sort of thing is revolting because it passes our human understanding. But perhaps we should love what we cannot understand.” Rieux straightened up slowly. He gazed at Paneloux, summoning to his gaze all the strength and fervor he could muster against his weariness. Then he shook his head. “No, father. I’ve a very different idea of love. And until my dying day I shall refuse to love a scheme of things in which children are put to torture.” – The Plague by Albert Camus

Answering to God “We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational, needing no theological or ideological sanction.” - Humanist Manifesto II

How do we respond? Why is it hard for an atheist to maintain faith? Romans 1:20 What is the basis of a Christian’s testimony to others? 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Witnessing True conflict between evolution and creation is the conflict between worldviews In order to combat evolution, you have to start at the center: the worldview We must learn what, how, and why an evolutionist believes in order to effectively witness to him or her