Science and belief

Can you believe in God and be a scientist? That's what JG asks Billy Graham...

QUESTION: I’m graduating from college shortly, and am planning to become a high school science teacher. But most of my professors don’t have any use for religion, and they say you can’t believe in both science and God. Can I be a Christian and still be a scientist? — J.G.

Yes, it is possible to be a scientist and a believer in God. But I feel that you can't do so while being a consistent scientist. Many scientists (though, the minority) still believe in God. But why is that? The answer is that they don't subject religion to the same scrutiny or standards as they do with their scientific work.

When it comes to doing science, you rely on data, tests, results, and evidence. Yet when a scientist is religious, they don't rely on those same standards in regard to religion. They compartmentalize, and treat their belief differently than everything else. This is because of emotional and personal reasons, most often. But without this setting religion aside to be treated by it's own standard, there is no path for a religious scientist because religious consistently fails all tests and through the centuries has yet to generate one ounce of proof in it's favor.

ANSWER: Yes, you most certainly can, and I hope you will, because God could use you to help others realize just how great He is, and how important it is to see all of life through the eyes of faith.

Frankly, it’s always been something of a mystery to me why some scientists reject God – and even urge others to do so. But if you look back over the history of science, you’ll discover that some of the world’s greatest scientists have also been devout believers.

I don't think the lack of faith among most scientists is surprising at all. Yes, scientists through the years have been believers, and some are believers today. But the trend is that as time passes, belief among scientists has dwindled. This is because we keep finding out more about the world. We find new evidence. We understands things better. The more and more we tighten our grasp on our understanding of the world and cosmos, the smaller God becomes. As we replace things attributed to God with well founded and evidenced scientific explanations, God shrinks. He becomes no more than an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance.

Why did they believe – and why do many scientists still believe today? One reason is because they became convinced it was illogical to think that this world – with all of its wonder and intricate design – could have happened by chance. Instead, every detail is stamped with the mark of its Creator – God. As the Bible says, “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made” (Romans 1:20).

 In the past, many believed because of their time. They didn't have the advantage of knowing what we know today. There are other believers now, that may only believe because we have not made the next great discovery that would have shattered their belief. And then there are those that simply treat their belief unscientifically. For if they did, the evidence needed to erode their faith is already known.

Oh, and there is nothing illogical about feeling this world is 100% natural, since all the evidence points that way, and the world we see is exactly the one we'd expect given what science has revealed to us.

But most of all they became believers because of Jesus Christ. God has not left us in darkness; He came down from heaven and became a man – Jesus Christ. Think of it: God revealed Himself to us by becoming a man! Put your faith and hope in Christ, and then ask Him to help you begin to see the world through His eyes. In Christ, the Bible says, “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

And what of the scientists who believe in a religion other that Christianity? Make no mistakes, they exist as well. Here's a final thought... Only 33% of scientists believe in God. Meanwhile, at the National Academy of Sciences, only 5.5% (biologists) or 7.5% (physicists and astronomers) believe in God. These numbers are much lower than that of the general public. So if scientists believe much less, and the best and the brightest scientists barely believe at all, I feel that the trend should put justifying belief in a spot of bother.


-Brain Hulk

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