(part 1 of 2): Are Religion and Science in Contradiction?
The properties of the universe that have so far been discovered by science indicate the existence of God. Science leads us to the conclusion that the universe has a Creator, and that this Creator is perfect in His power, wisdom and knowledge. It is religion that shows us the way to get to know God. It is therefore possible to say that science is a method that we can use to better see and explore the realities that religion addresses. Nonetheless, some of the scientists who have advanced in the name of science take a very different view. In their view, the scientific discoveries do not point to God’s creation.
The fact is that the atheistic understanding of religion is fairly new. Until a few centuries ago, science and religion were never considered contradictory, and science was a recognized method of proving the existence of God. The so-called atheistic understanding of science only blossomed after the materialistic and positivist philosophies swept through the world of science in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Especially after Charles Darwin established the theory of evolution in 1859, circles with a materialistic worldview began to ideologically defend this theory, which they regarded as an alternative to religion. The theory of evolution denied that the universe was created by a creator, but is said to have arisen by chance. As a result, it was claimed that religion is contrary to science. British researchers Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln said on the subject:
For Isaac Newton, a century and a half before Darwin, science was not separate from religion, but conducive to religion … But science in Darwin’s epoch became just that, different from the context in which it had previously existed, and set in absolute, rival alternative camp in meaning. As a result, religion and science no longer worked together, but contradicted each other, and humanity was increasingly forced to choose between the two. (Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, Henry Lincoln, „The Messianic Legacy,“ Gorgi Books, London: 1991, pp. 177-178.)
As we noted earlier, the so-called break between science and religion was purely ideological. Some scientists who seriously believed in materialism supported each other in proving that the universe had no creator, and they developed various theories in this context. The theory of evolution was the best known and most important of them. Certain theories have also been developed in the field of astronomy, such as “steady-state theory” or “chaos theory”. However, all of these theories that denied creation have been refuted by science itself, as we have clearly shown in other articles.
Even today, scientists who stick to these theories and insist on denying all religious things are dogmatic and bigoted people who have made their own plans not to believe in God. The famous English zoologist and evolutionist DMS Watson is committed to this dogmatism when he explains why he and his colleagues accept the theory of evolution: “If it were, it would be a parallel to the theory of evolution itself, a theory that is widely accepted, not just because it could be proven true through logical, coherent evidence, but because the only alternative to special creation is simply unimaginable. ” (DMS Watson, “Adaptation”, Nature, no. 124, p. 233)
What Watson means by „special creation“ is the creation of God. As admittedly, this scientist finds this „unacceptable“. But why is he doing this? Is it because science says so? The fact is that it doesn’t. On the contrary, science proves the truth of creation. The only reason Watson considers this fact „unacceptable“ is that he has made a commitment to deny the existence of God. All other evolutionists take the same view.
Evolutionists do not rely on science, but on materialistic philosophy, and they twist science so that it agrees with philosophy. A geneticist and pronounced evolutionist from Harvard University, Richard Lewontin, is committed to this truth:
It’s not that the methods and institutions of science somehow held us back from accepting a material explanation of this phenomenal world, quite the contrary – we’re a priori attached to material causes to create a research apparatus and a few concepts, that produce material explanations, forced, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how prodigious the uninitiated makes. In addition, materialism is absolute, so we cannot tolerate a divine foot in the door. (Richard Levontin, The Demon-Haunted World, The New York Review of Books, January, 9, 1997, p. 28)
On the other hand, as in history, there are scientists today who contradict this dogmatic, materialistic group, who confirm God’s existence and who regard science as a way of getting to know Him. Trends such as “Creationism” or “Intelligent Design” are developing in the USA, which use scientific evidence to prove that all living things were created by God.
(part 2 of 2): Religious Scientists
This shows us that science and religion are not contradictory sources of information, but that science is on the contrary a method that confirms the absolute truths that religion provides. The contrast between religion and science can only apply to certain religions that contain some superstitious elements as well as divine sources. However, this is certainly not the case with Islam, which only appeals to the pure revelation of God. Islam also calls for scientific exploration and explains that exploring the universe is a method of discovering God’s creation. The following Quranan addresses this topic:
“Didn’t they look up to the sky above you, how we built and decorated it, and that it shows no cracks? And the earth – We spread it out and put solid mountains on it; and We let all the wonderful couples sprout on her as enlightenment and admonition for every servant who is converted. And from heaven we send down water that is full of blessings, bringing forth gardens and grain for harvesting and towering palm trees with tight fruit sheaths as a supply for the servants. ” (Quran 50: 6-10)
As the above verse suggests, the Quran always forces people to think, think and explore everything on the earth on which they live. This is because Islam supports religion, protects the individual from ignorance and makes him think consciously; it opens up our world of thought and helps us to recognize the obvious signs of God in the universe. The famous German physicist Max Planck said:
Anyone who has devoted himself to serious scientific work of any kind will realize that above the entrance to the gates of the Temple of Science, the words are written: You must have faith. It is a quality that a scientist cannot do without. (J. De Vries, Essential of Physical Science, Wm.B.Eerdmans Pub.Co., Grand Rapids, SD 1958, p. 15.)
All the topics that we have dealt with so far simply assume that the existence of the universe and all living things cannot be explained by chance. Many scientists who have left their mark in the world of science have confirmed and still confirm this great reality. The more people get to know the universe, the greater their admiration for this immaculate order. Every newly discovered detail undoubtedly supports creation.
At the 21st century stage, the vast majority of modern physicists accept the fact of creation. David Darling is of the opinion that in the beginning there was neither time nor space nor matter nor energy, not even a small point or a depression. A slight quick movement and an inconspicuous tremor and swaying occurred. Darling’s statement ends with the fact that if the cover of this cosmic box were opened, the tendrils of the miracle of creation would appear from behind.
Apart from that, it is already known that almost all founders of various scientific branches believed in God and His Divine Books. The greatest physicists in history Newton, Faraday, Kelvin and Maxwell are a few examples of such scientists.
During the time of Isaac Newton, the greatest physicist, scientists believed that the laws of the heavenly bodies and planets could be explained by various laws. Nonetheless, Newton believed that the creator of earth and space was the same, and therefore they can be explained by the same laws. He said:
“This beautiful system of sun, planets and comets can only come from the plan and rule of an intelligent and powerful being. This being regulates everything, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over everything and because of His rule. He is used to being called Lord God, ruler of the world. ” (“Principia”)
It is proven that thousands of scientists who have been researching in the fields of physics, mathematics and astronomy since the Middle Ages agree that the universe was created by a single creator and focus on the same point. The founder of physical astronomy, Johannes Kepler, confessed his strong belief in God in one of his books, where he wrote:
?? Since we astronomers are priests of the Supreme God in nature, it is appropriate for us to be careful not for the glory of our minds, but rather and above all for the glory of God. ” (Dan Graves, Scientists of Faith, p. 51)
The great physicist, William Thompson (Lord Kelvin), who put thermodynamics on a formal scientific basis, was also a Christian who believed in God. He had strongly disagreed with Darwin’s theory and completely rejected it. In 1903, shortly before his death, he made the unequivocal statement that: „With regard to the origin of life, science … positively confirms the creative power.“ (David Darling, Deep Time, Delacorte Press, 1989, New York. )
One of the professors of physics at Oxford University, Robert Mattheus, confirms the same fact in his book, published in 1997, explaining that DNA molecules were created by God. Mattheus says that all of these stages proceed in perfect harmony from a single cell to the living baby, then to the young child, and finally to the adolescent. All of these events can only be explained by a miracle, just like in all other stages of biology. Mattheus asks how such a perfect and complex organism can be created from such a simple, small cell and how a glorious person can be created from a cell that is smaller than the dot on the letter ‚i‘. He ultimately concludes that this is nothing short of a miracle. (Robert Matthews,
Some other scientists who admit that the universe was created by a creator and who are known for their cited properties are the following:
Robert Boyle (the father of modern chemistry)
Iona William Petty (known for his studies of statics and modern economics)
Michael Faraday (one of the greatest physicists of all time)
Gregory Mendel (the father of genetics; explained with his discoveries in the science of genetics he invalidated Darwinism)
Louis Pasteur (the greatest name in bacteriology; he declared war on Darwinism)
John Dalton (father of atomic theory)
Blaise Pascal (one of the most important mathematicians)
John Ray (the most important name in British natural history)
Nicolaus Steno (a famous stratographer who explored the strata of the earth)
Carolus Linnaeus (the father of biological classification)
Georges Cuvier (the founder of comparative anatomy)
Matthew Maury (the founder of oceanography)
Thomas Anderson (one of the pioneers in the field of organic chemistry )
Source: https://www.islamland.com/deu/articles/wissenschaftler-und-religion