 | The Reverend Amy Baumgartner is the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 525 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS. Amy was ordained at First Presbyterian Church of Wichita, Kansas in June 2008. She earned a Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary. Before attending seminary, Amy graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture and worked several years for an architectural firm in Indianapolis, Indiana. You may contact Rev. Baumgartner by email AssociatePastor@firstpresbywichita.org, or by phone at (316) 263-0248. |
Religion
2011-11-17 12:10:38
Science vs. religion
A: From my perspective, it seems that many people want there to be a conflict between science and religion. However, science and religion are a bit like comparing apples and oranges. They each seek to explain aspects of life; however, they approach that task from different angles and approaches. For instance, science involves knowing in a way that can be tested and verified. The scientific method includes creating a hypothesis and testing that hypothesis to learn about an aspect of life or being. Religion is also about knowing, but the focus is upon the knowledge (and worship) of God and the supernatural. Religion, while also seeking to explain matters of this world, also leaves room for that which one cannot see, hear, taste or touch. Science is more concrete, dealing with what can be measured and documented through the senses.
I find it particularly interesting that some of the early scientists were religious men and women who sought to understand more about how God created the world, which lead them to study God’s creation, the world. For them, the pursuit of religion led to a pursuit of science. In a similar manner, I perceive some scientists in our day and age upholding science to a degree (in hopes to “prove” religion wrong) that science itself become religion-like, a set of beliefs about the world.
As for your question of what is correct to use in each situation, it depends on the purpose of the knowledge. If you wanted to understand the mechanics of photosynthesis, I would consult a science text book. If you want to understand how early people perceived God’s activity in the creation of the world (without the need for scientific specifics), I would turn to religious texts like the Bible. It is imperative to remember that the purpose of the Bible was not a scientific textbook. It is the story of God and God’s creation and interaction with humans and creation. Both science and religion are important; both have their specific place in our world of knowing.
