The Science and Christianity Showcase

I am pleased to present the Science and Christianity Showcase. Contrary to the usual experience of scientists around the globe, this first time experiment has yielded excellent results. Putting this together has been one of my best experiences as a blogger, and it's a privilege to be able to highlight these posts. Some of the contributors are scientists and some are Christians interested in the issue of science and the Christian faith. All links will open in the same new window. So here we go...

The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Reality

Charles LeHardy of Another Think says quantum theory seems to require us to step beyond the material to the metaphysical. It suggests a need for consciousness, for mind,for something that is more than just a collection of synapses in a glob of gray-matter. It seems to demand something transcendent, like God. He discusses this and takes a step beyond in Quantum Weirdness and the Mind of God.

Is there such a thing as "the laws of nature"? John Dekker of the aptly named John Dekker's Journal discusses the character and necessity of a Christian perspective of science, as opposed to a merely theistic one in Towards a Christian View of Science.

Alan Grey of Grey Thoughts says science and Christianity have both made logical errors. He discusses the need to properly understand both science and christianity and how they try and describe reality in Science, Christianity, and Reality.

Rusty Lopez of New Covenant has a twist on Greg Koukl's article, Can Science Tell Us Anything Important? He argues that Christianity has the ability to more fully explain the reality of our existence than science does in Can Religion Tell Us Anything Important?

Mark Olson of Pseudo-Polymath dives into Cosmology (and to some extent String Theory). He discusses The Anthropic Principle, which states that when considering what kind of theories, mechanisms for creation, or values for the measurable physical constants you might think of selecting, the universe you end up with has to end up looking like ours (able to support life and us humans in it) because ... well, it did.

Working with the Right Blueprint



I was intending to put my own contribution last, but it fits better here - and science is about fitting things. In Science and Christianity: Technology as a Gift I respond to the perception that Christians should be adversarial toward science. I look at some biblical examples of science and technology, some current day science such as RNA-mediated gene silencing, and discuss the purpose and the pitfalls of scientific endeavours.

How do we come up with the right blueprint? Martin LaBar of Sun and Shield muses about some Old Testament history (and a little prophecy) that may shed light on how we should consider technology in Technology, Some Biblical Basics.

Compatibility - Is It Possible?



Former atheist Dr. Jim Small of Dr. Jim's Weblog thinks Christianity made modern science possible, not that they are sworn enemies, and briefly argues that point in Science and Christianity.

Can scientists and Christians get along? Ron Stewart of northern 'burbs blog says scientists and Christians can indeed get
along. He discusses the need to recognize, as Christians, that science is not in itself hostile to faith - and scientists need to recognize that Christians can be rational too, in Science and the Christian.

What was that all about with Galileo and the church? John Schroeder of Blogotional says the battle is not between science and Christianity, but between God and men and scientists and Christians in Science and Christianity. He uses historical and current examples.

Is the issue facing us one of scientific knowledge versus Christian belief? What has it got to do with Pale Blue Dot? Jeff of Mr. Dawn Treader discusses the self-refuting nature of scientism, and why knowledge of God counts as knowledge and not mere belief in "Clueless and Proud"?.

Science and the Fall



Science helps us to technically understand certain conditions. Do those conditions limit a person from being able to know God? Jeremy Pierce of Parableman looks at some consequences of the fall that really hit home, including some reflections on the spiritual significance of conditions one might describe as nature having gone wrong. He considers infertility, autism and related neurological disorders, and sexual abnormalities such as homosexuality and intersexuality in All Creation Groans.

Ethical Questions



Xenotransplants - are they weird or wonderful? Pig cells and organs in humans? Hannah of Dogwood Blue puts forward some thoughts regarding a possible methodology Christians could use to think through the ethics of new treatments such as xenotransplants in Regarding Xenotransplants.

Ok - consider the knowledge shared! Hope you enjoy the first Science and Christianity Showcase.