In my never-ending quest to understand the secrets of the universe, I have discovered a pattern. The overwhelming majority of the great people of science throughout history were and are Christians.
Knowing this, I have also formed the opinion that it is time we address the issue of political agendas regarding science education. These agendas increasingly control our public universities. They also tend to exclude and censor the value of the religious faith component of the vast contributions that Christian scientists have made throughout history.
The truth is that 1.) Christian scientists and theologians are the true founders of modern science. 2.) Their discoveries fundamentally built today’s world. 3.) The overwhelming majority of prominent scientists throughout history were people of faith.
This includes the founding fathers of contemporary science: Isaac Newton, Galileo, Johannes Kepler, Nicolaus Copernicus. It also includes other more contemporary scientific heavyweights like Gregor Mendel, Michael Faraday, Bernhard Riemann, Georges Lemaître, and Lord Joseph Lister.1 We must recognize that these brilliant people were all motivated, to varying degrees, by their faith. We must appreciate their contributions in that context. Here is a link to an impressive list of Christians in science and technology. Some people are included as posted subject articles on my ECG Hall of Fame page.
According to the history of Nobel Prizes, a review of the Nobel Prizes awarded between 1901 and 2000 reveals that (65.4%) of Nobel Prize laureates have identified Christianity as their religious preference. Overall, 72.5% of all the Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, 65.3% in Physics, 62% in Medicine, and 54% in Economics were all Christians.2
Let’s spotlight just one example for now: Niels Bohr.
In 1913, Niels Bohr proposed a groundbreaking quantum theory concept for the hydrogen atom. He realized that electrons move around a nucleus but only in specific orbits. If electrons jump to a lower-energy orbit, the difference is sent out as radiation. Recognition of his work on the structure of atoms came with the Nobel Prize for physics in 1922.
Niels Bohr was a Danish physicist known for his foundational contributions to quantum theory and atomic structure. Born in 1885 in Copenhagen, Bohr’s work laid the groundwork for much of what came to be known as modern physics. Among his many achievements, Bohr is best known for his model of the atom. In his model, electrons orbit the nucleus in discrete energy levels. Beyond his scientific pursuits, Bohr was also a man of faith whose beliefs profoundly influenced his life and work.
Bohr was raised in a Lutheran household and had strong Christian values as a child. In his personal correspondence and writings, Bohr often reflected on the intersection of science and religion. He grappled with the complex relationship between the two. He believed that faith and reason could coexist harmoniously, each offering valuable insights into the nature of the universe. Many prominent scientists believed that then, and still believe this to this day.
One of the critical aspects of Bohr’s faith was his belief in the interconnectedness of all things. He saw a profound unity in the universe, where seemingly disparate elements were bound together in a cohesive whole. This perspective influenced his scientific work, as he sought to uncover the underlying principles that governed the behavior of particles at the atomic level. Bohr’s atomic model, emphasizing discrete energy levels and quantized orbits, reflected his conviction that order and structure underpinned the chaos of the subatomic realm.
Moreover, Bohr’s beliefs also shaped his views on the limitations of human knowledge. He understood that science could only partially understand the world, leaving many questions unanswered. In his mind, faith filled the gaps left by reason. Faith provided a more profound sense of meaning and purpose to existence. For Bohr, pursuing scientific knowledge was not an end. It was a means of glimpsing the grandeur of creation and marveling at the handiwork of a divine creator.
Despite his fundamental faith, Bohr was not immune to doubt or skepticism. He grappled with the inherent uncertainties of both science and religion, recognizing that certainty was an elusive goal. In his famous principle of complementarity, Bohr proposed that contradictory phenomena could coexist simultaneously, challenging the conventional notions of causality and determinism. This notion of dualities resonated with his beliefs. He saw it as a reflection of God’s mysterious nature and the enigmatic ways in which faith and reason intersect.
“We ought to remember that religion uses language in quite a different way from science. The language of religion is more closely related to the language of poetry than to the language of science. True, we are inclined to think that science deals with information about objective facts, and poetry with subjective feelings. Hence, we conclude that if religion does indeed deal with objective truths, it ought to adopt the same criteria of truth as science.”
“But I myself find the division of the world into an objective and subjective side much too arbitrary. The fact that religions through the ages have spoken in images, parables, and paradoxes means simply that there are no other ways of grasping the reality to which they refer. But that does not mean that it is not a genuine reality. And splitting this reality into an objective and a subjective side won’t get us very far”. – Niels Bohr
There is no question that Niels Bohr’s faith significantly shaped his worldview and influenced his scientific endeavors. His belief in the unity of all things, the limitations of human knowledge, and the coexistence of faith and reason informed his groundbreaking work in quantum theory and atomic structure.
Bohr sought to uncover the deeper truths that underpin the universe and reconcile the mysteries of existence with the certainties of faith. As we continue to explore the frontiers of science and theology, Bohr’s legacy reminds us of the enduring power of faith to illuminate the unknown and inspire us to greater heights of understanding.3
“Stop telling God what to do with his dice.
The meaning of life consists in the fact
that it makes no sense to say that life has no meaning.”
“Every great and deep difficulty bears in itself its own solution.
It forces us to change our thinking in order to find it.” -Niels Bohr
Faith has long played a role in scientific education. Many scientists throughout history relied on their religious beliefs to guide their work. Other examples other than Niels Bohr include Isaac Newton. He is often considered one of the greatest scientists of all time and was a devout Christian. He believed that his work in physics was a way to understand God’s mind. Similarly, Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, was a Catholic monk. He saw his experiments with pea plants as a way to uncover the mysteries of God’s creation. There are many examples.
In recent years, however, there has been a growing trend towards excluding religious faith from science curricula. This trend is driven by several factors, including the desire for secular education, the desire to promote diversity and inclusivity, and concerns about the separation of church and state.
Many now argue that faith has no place in the study of science, as science is based on empirical evidence and rational thinking. However, there are dangers associated with completely removing religious faith from scientific education. It is essential to recognize the value that religion brings to the academic environment.
Today, many scientists continue to see their work as a way to explore the natural world’s wonders and gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the universe. For many, this sense of wonder and awe is rooted in religious faith. It provides a framework for understanding the world and our place within it. By removing faith from the scientific education of our young students, we risk losing this sense of wonder and disconnecting students from the more profound questions and meanings that science alone cannot address. Not yet at least.
Excluding faith from scientific curricula risks losing a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to education. Based on history, we understand that science and religion are two different ways of understanding the world. However, they are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The evidence shows that by integrating faith into scientific education, students can better understand the world and explore scientific discoveries’ philosophical and ethical implications.
Finding a balance between faith and reason in scientific education is essential to address these dangers. Ultimately, by acknowledging the value of faith in scientific education, we create a more inclusive and diverse learning environment. An environment that empowers students to think critically and creatively about the world around them. Despite this fact, there is a trend in the other direction.
The trend of removing faith from science has broader consequences for the field of science as a whole. By excluding faith-based arguments from scientific discourse, academic institutions are inadvertently promoting a narrow and reductionist view of science. A view that fails to account for the complexities and nuances of the natural world. This leads to a lack of interdisciplinary collaboration, a lack of diversity in scientific research, and a lack of innovation and creativity in scientific inquiry.
Furthermore, by excluding faith from science, academic institutions discourage students and scholars from exploring scientific research’s ethical and moral dimensions. Without a religious or spiritual foundation to guide their work, scientists may be more likely to prioritize scientific progress over ethical considerations, leading to ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest in scientific research.4
In my never-ending quest to understand the many mysteries of the universe, I have learned much. The subject fascinates me. Probably the most important thing is that the history of scientific discovery is the key to guiding critical thinking about understanding our universe as a whole today. The history of scientific discovery includes a common theme: The most prominent scientists over the course of history believed that everything in the universe is connected in some way, and that connection includes divine creation.
Stephen J. Silva – 11/3/1024: Extraterrestrial Communication Group
References:
- Faith and Physics tm. All Rights Reserved
- Wikipedia: List of Christians in science and technology
- Niels Bohr – A Danish Physicist and Pioneer of Atomic Theory. https://multimathcalculator.com/top-scientists-and-inventors/niels-bohr
- Smith, H. (2002). Why Religion Matters: The Fate of the Human Spirit in an Age of Disbelief. HarperOne.