“In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence.”
This is a quote from one of the most influential Scientists of all time. But before we uncover who said this, let’s look at the question at hand. Is Science at odds with the Scriptures? It is commonly believed that Science disproves God and the creation events, and that Scientists are Atheistic in their approach because of a lack of evidence to support belief in God. But is this true?
Today’s Science is built on the foundation of the giants in Science such as Sir Isaac Newton who by the way expressed the quote mentioned above. Sometimes it is easy to think that we know everything, and easier to forget that without these people who were in the forefront of discovery, we would not be where we are in the world in regards to Science today. Even though we think that Science and the Bible are on polar opposites, most of the fathers of Science didn’t think so. Most of these Scientists looked at the Bible and God as validation to what they observe around them. Let’s look at 10 of these Scientists who had a firm belief in God, and what they had to say about Science and Faith.
1. Sir Isaac Newton was a prominent scientist during the Scientific Revolution. He was a Physicist, and as we all know discovered gravity and the Newton’s Laws. Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Latin for Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), often referred to as simply the Principia, is a work in three books by Isaac Newton,where he states the Newton’s laws of motion, forming the foundation of classical mechanics; Newton’s law of universal gravitation; and a derivation of Kepler’s laws of planetary motion. The Principia is considered one of the most important works in the history of science. In it, he states the following:
“But though these bodies may indeed persevere in their orbits by the mere laws of gravity, yet they could by no means have at first derived the regular position of the orbits themselves from those laws…. This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being. And if the fixed stars are the centres of other like systems, these, being formed by the like wise counsel, must be all subject to the dominion of One; especially since the light of the fixed stars is of the same nature with the light of the sun, and from every system light passes into all the other systems: and lest the systems of the fixed stars should, by their gravity, fall on each other mutually, he hath placed those systems at immense distances one from another. – Principia – Book III – Page 504
“In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence.”
2. A prominent astronomer of the Scientific Revolution, Johannes Kepler discovered Kepler’s laws of planetary motion. He had this to say about God, quoting Psalms 19:1
“I had the intention of becoming a theologian…but now I see how God is, by my endeavors, also glorified in astronomy, for ‘the heavens declare the glory of God.’
3. Francis Bacon is credited with establishing the inductive method of experimental science via what is called the scientific method today. He said…
“A little science estranges a man from God; a lot of science brings him back.”
“God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.”
4. Galileo Galilei the well known Italian astronomer, physicist, engineer, philosopher, and mathematician who played a major role in the scientific revolution during the Renaissance had this to say about God..
“The laws of nature are written by the hand of God in the language of mathematics.”
5. Blaise Pascal was a thinker well known for Pascal’s law, Pascal’s theorem, and Pascal’s Wager. The Unit for pressure “Pa” (Pascals) is named in his honour. He said this about God…
“If I believe in God and life after death and you do not, and if there is no God, we both lose when we die. However, if there is a God, you still lose and I gain everything.”
6. Michael Faraday is known for his contributions in establishing electromagnetic theory and his work in chemistry such as establishing electrolysis. He said this about God. The unit of Capacitance is named in his honour: the farad.
“The book of nature which we have to read is written by the finger of God.”
7. Louis Pasteur was a French biologist, microbiologist and chemist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization. The process of pasteurization is named in his honor.
“The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. Science brings men nearer to God.”
8. James Prescott Joule studied the nature of heat, and discovered its relationship to mechanical work. This led to the law of conservation of energy, which led to the development of the first law of thermodynamics. The unit of energy, the joule, is named after James Joule. He said…
“It is evident that an acquaintance with natural laws means no less than an acquaintance with the mind of God therein expressed.”
9. Lord Kelvin did important work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Absolute temperatures are stated in units of kelvin in his honour.
“If you study science deep enough and long enough, it will force you to believe in God.”
10. Guglielmo Marconi was an Italian inventor and electrical engineer known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission and for his development of Marconi’s law and a radio telegraph system. He shared the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics. He said…
“I am proud to be a Christian. I believe not only as a Christian, but as a scientist as well. A wireless device can deliver a message through the wilderness. In prayer the human spirit can send invisible waves to eternity, waves that achieve their goal in front of God.”
While there are so many others who have expressed similar views, the above is more than enough proof that Science does not drive people away from God, but rather towards Him. The sad situation is most of us living in the 21st Century believe that we are technologically advanced, so much so, that we believe we are more intelligent than the Scientists who took the most influential steps in history. All of them saw what they discovered to be proof of God. Science did not disprove God for these people. It merely solidified their belief in a Creator bigger than themselves.
But what about Charles Darwin? Was he an Atheist? this is what he had to say about himself.
“In my most extreme fluctuations I have never been an atheist in the sense of denying the existence of a God.— I think that generally (& more and more so as I grow older) but not always, that an agnostic would be the most correct description of my state of mind.” – Charles Darwin
Even Albert Einstein refused to be called an Atheist!
“The fanatical atheists…are like slaves who are still feeling the weight of their chains which they have thrown off after hard struggle. They are creatures who—in their grudge against the traditional ‘opium of the people’—cannot hear the music of the spheres.” – Albert Einstein
Most of these influential scientists discarded Atheism, and held strong to a belief in a higher power. Maybe Science isn’t against the Scriptures after all. In fact, Science leads us to the belief in a Creator.
Bible things in Bible ways 