[rahonavis]

Hi all,

I don't think there is any doubt that a person can be both a Christian and a scientist, as many Christian scientists do exist. Whether or not they are correct in believing science and Christianity to be reconcilable is another matter.

I personally don't believe that they are; I think the Christian scientist has to make too many concessions in his / her beliefs due to the contradictions of science in the Bible.

I've never liked to just believe in something because I want it to be true. And the fact is, there is no more evidence for God as our creator than there is in a giant flying blancmange having spewed forth the Universe. [:0]

[Solvay_1927]

In reply to the original question ... yes, I don't see why not.

Rev. John Polkinghorne is a good example of a "top scientist" who is also a devout Christian.
(The main reference page for him is:  http://www.starcourse.org/jcp )

One interesting site I found recently which is fairly relevant to this thread is:
http://www.counterbalance.net/cqinterv/intro-frame.html

I think it's very good - lots of video feeds of very famous scientists, etc.  I recommend you to try out some of the links (video feeds and discussion scripts) on the right hand side of the page.

P.S. In case you're wondering ... no, I'm not a christian, I'm an agnostic.  I'd like to be an atheist, but I just don't have enough faith to be one.  (I'm too prepared to suspend judgement / keep an open mind to come down on either side of the fence.)

P.P.S.  Does anyone have any clue as to what Socratus is on about? (Or as to what he's ON? I gotta try some of it, whatever it is.)

[neilep]

What happens if a christian scientist discovers there's no God ?

[ukmicky]

quote:What happens if a christian scientist discovers there's no God ?

a good christian scientist will take the only path open to him, the road to the fame and fortune.

Michael

[tweener]

quote:Originally posted by neilep

What happens if a christian scientist discovers there's no God ?

Good question Neil!

It cannot happen!  There is no way to prove the absence of anything.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.

[Titanscape]

Dear Neil, could you show this one the past thread on the subject, from about two yeras ago.

Titanscape

[Soul Surfer]

I don't believe in a God as an outside influece affecting the universe but I do believe in religion as a mental process of deferring to authority to avoid megolomania and accept C of E as a perfectly acceptable local variety and am therefore a regular churchgoer.

Science is to do with observation measurement theory and modelling.  Religion is to do with symbolism, metaphor and human interaction  They are just not the same thing and are not incompatible unless you insist on a dogma based on the literal interpretation of metaphors that are millenia old and come from totally different environments.

Try to understand the metaphor and symbolism of religion in its true context and accept it as ways of chosing the best ways for societies to live and work together to create the co-operation that leads to Today's complex society and you will realise that although it has its faults without religion we would still be hunter gatherer communities scratching a living and fighing the adjacent communities to death to keep our living space.

Learn, create, test and tell
evolution rules in all things
God says so!

[neilep]

quote:Originally posted by tweener

quote:Originally posted by neilep

What happens if a christian scientist discovers there's no God ?

Good question Neil!

It cannot happen!  There is no way to prove the absence of anything.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.

JOHN JOHN !! *waves hello*

What a fantastic point !!

Men are the same as women, just inside out !

[neilep]

quote:Originally posted by Titanscape

Dear Neil, could you show this one the past thread on the subject, from about two yeras ago.

Titanscape

Bren...I'll have a look for you but can't promise I'll be able to find it...the search facility is *polite words* temperamental !!

Thanks Bren.

Men are the same as women, just inside out !

[Titanscape]

God in science is good remembering how many scientists in history believed. For something cannot come from nowhere, but God always was, He is YHWH meaning I Am That I Am. He is above time, the very source of the 4th dimension and all the others. Probably more than 4.

God is a great sourcing concept, above time and it's source and maintainer. In time as well like the universe with all the dimensions are in His hands...

First hand christians have told me my secret thoughts. A great source of comfort and hope, love and social justice and state justice.

Titanscape

[Titanscape]

Here is another similar thread:
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=618
Neilep, the other one must be archived.

Titanscape

[neilep]

BREN...That's funny !!..I just found the exact same thread !!..well done !! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=618

[neilep]

...what about this one BREN... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1846

[Hadrian]

rong place sorry!

[VAlibrarian]

I read from some of you that it is not possible to be both a scientist and a Christian. I would venture that there is no absolute contradiction between the two belief systems.
Consider: is it possible for a scientist to prove that God does not exist? Of course not. You can't prove a negative. Therefore it is pointless for Christians to agonize over evolution as if it were a proof of God's nonexistence. On the contrary, some would argue that evolution in it's complexity and beauty is an awesome argument for God- a much better argument than that silly bit in the Bible about the seven days.

I have the pleasure to be an atheist, myself. But it would be as silly for me to try to convert all the Christians on this planet to atheism as it would be for them to attempt my conversion to Christianity. Neither thing will ever happen. Isn't this issue at heart a matter of civility, of putting down the stone instead of throwing it? I will not argue for the destruction of any religion when it is intended to serve love. When I hear Pat Robertson talk, however, I shake my head in disappointment. Let scientists do their work, and do not tell them that you know science better than they do. Let Christians follow Christ, even when they take odd detours. Progress will come through discourse rather than denial.

chris wiegard

[Acoustic Samurai]

quote:My view is that science will explain everything, tomorrow. Religion is what people use when then need something explained today.

My thoughts exactly.

[nexus]

Oh, where to start? You can be a scientist and believe. Simply because, well, they exist. Yes there is proof! Evidence for the exitence of beings that are both scientists and believers of supernatural phenomena.

Now, I think a good scientist should be a good skeptic. So to answer the first question in the original post: no. Religions have been saying they have been right all along, they haven't, history proves that. There is no evidence for the existence of anything not of this natural world.

And besides all the logic that I can envoke. Have anybody actually read parts of these religious books? Come on, it just doesn't make sense. Contradictions galore and values that no right minded person would hold; you can't pick and choose which parts you think prove your point with the changing of the wind.

Besides all the above, science deals with the natural world, religion mostly the supernatural, they are different but related subjects. And if the supernatural can ever be proven it immediately thus becomes the realm of the natural (but don't count on it).

[eric l]

For some reason or other these questions about science and religion also appearunder the topic "quantum physics quotes" in the "famous scientists, doctors and inventors" branch.  An I have to reply in the same way :  I see no conflict between science and religion because science deals with causes and religion deals with reasons.  
The cause of my being around is something my parents did 9 months before I was born.  But that does not say anything about the reason or pupose of my being around.
Some people keep saying that "things happen for a reason", but I prefer to say that "things happen for a cause".  If we manage to do soemthing about this cause, we may be able to prevent some bad thing from happening.  
But because a scientist has learned tot doubt, he will be aware that his answer to religious (or philosophical) questions is only one of the possible answers, he will be less inclined to force his opinion in such matters upon others.

[Theory of Mind]

quote:Originally posted by noden1

can a belief system in a christian god be reconciled with science.in other words is it possible to be a scientist and a christian.

Hi,
1>It's possible if the scientist only researches the natural world.
2>It's impossible if the scientist researches Mind.

I can't write scientific articles in English well. Does anybody help me?