Science and Worldview

Listen to professor John Lennox challenge the notion, promoted by figures like Stephen Hawking and Richard Dawkins, that science has proven God to be a delusion. He points out that Nobel Prize-winning physicists include both atheists (e.g., Peter Higgs) and theists (e.g., Bill Phillips), proving that belief in God is not a matter of scientific capability but of personal worldview.

The Relationship Between Science and Faith

Contrary to popular belief, science and faith are not inherently in conflict. Many prominent scientists throughout history, including Galileo, Kepler, and Newton, were devout believers. The rise of modern science in the 16th and 17th centuries was influenced by the expectation of order in nature, rooted in belief in a divine lawgiver.

The Limits of Science

Science is powerful in explaining “what” and “how” things happen but is limited in addressing “why” questions, such as the purpose of life or the origins of existence. Nobel Laureate Sir Peter Medawar acknowledged that science cannot answer ultimate philosophical or existential questions.

The Problem with Scientism

John Lennox criticises “scientism,” the belief that science is the only valid way to discover truth. He argues that rational thought exists beyond science, in disciplines such as history, philosophy, and literature. Furthermore, the claim that “science is the only way to truth” is self-contradictory because it is itself a philosophical statement, not a scientific one.

The “God of the Gaps” Misconception

The idea that God is only used to explain what science has not yet understood is flawed. Unlike the ancient Greek gods, who were invoked to explain natural phenomena, the biblical God is believed to be the creator of all things—both what is known and unknown. Isaac Newton, for example, saw his discoveries as further evidence of God’s design, not as reasons to dismiss Him.

Understanding Enhances Admiration

The more one understands a subject, the more one admires the genius behind it. Just as knowledge of art enhances appreciation for Rembrandt, and knowledge of engineering deepens admiration for Rolls and Royce, scientific understanding led Newton to a greater appreciation of God’s genius.

The Limits of Scientific Explanation

Science explains phenomena through laws, but laws are merely descriptions, not explanations. The law of gravity, for example, describes gravitational behaviour but does not explain what gravity actually is. Modern science is often mistaken for providing ultimate explanations when it only offers mathematical descriptions of reality.

Richard Dawkins and the Question of God’s Existence

Dawkins argues that asking “who created God?” invalidates belief in God. However, this assumes God was created, which contradicts the biblical view of God as eternal. The same logic could be turned against atheism—if the universe created life, who created the universe? Dawkins provides no answer.

Faith: Not Blind, but Evidence-Based

Faith is often misunderstood as belief without evidence. In reality, faith in Christianity is based on historical and rational evidence. Even science requires faith—faith in the intelligibility of the universe and in human cognitive abilities.

Faith in Science vs. Faith in Atheism

Science and belief in God are compatible, but science and atheism are in conflict. Darwin himself doubted whether a mind shaped by unguided evolution could be trusted. Atheist philosopher Thomas Nagel acknowledges that evolutionary naturalism undermines confidence in human reasoning, including the scientific method.

Conclusion: God and Science Are Compatible

The history and philosophy of science suggest that belief in God and scientific inquiry go hand in hand. Atheism, by contrast, struggles to justify trust in human reason, making it an unstable foundation for science.