Can a Science Person Also be a Person of Faith?
Some Christians dismiss all of mainstream science as a diabolical conspiracy, and some mainstream scientists dismiss the Bible as a collection of outdated stories and superstitions left over from a more primitive age. There is, however, a third group that, in spite of the challenges, finds it more satisfying to live in that tension-filled zone between the timeless truths of the Bible and the constantly-shifting landscape of scientific discovery and has the audacity to believe they can find God in both. The book of Genesis is particularly (perhaps uniquely) challenging to those who live in this zone because of the subjects it covers and the way it covers them. Petroleum engineers and geologists encounter fossil fuels every day, and astronomers see images from the distant past every time they look into their telescopes. Christians who work in scientific fields, however, often find little understanding from friends whose views on science and scientists are more often shaped by creationist speakers than by working professionals. In Genesis and the Thoughtful Christian, author Tim Wise invites readers on a trip through time, an exploration of the complex issues scientists and Bible scholars face as they navigate through the often marvelous, sometimes troubling, and always fascinating worlds of faith and scientific discovery.
Author’s Comments: Few authors are able to write successfully for both the fiction and nonfiction markets, and perhaps I am foolish to think I might turn out to be the exception. To the untrained observer, science fiction, fantasy, and Christian philosophy might seem like totally different markets, but C.S. Lewis and I would disagree. Creative imagination and intellectual curiosity often go hand-in-hand, and it’s not particularly uncommon for religious skepticism to be a part of that mix. Some of us have stayed with the church while we’ve worked through our faith-and-doubt issues and others have chosen to leave religion behind. The reasons we choose to leave or stay are seldom entirely intellectual nor are they completely emotional/experiential, and I’m not about to assume I have the wisdom to address all of them at once. For those readers who think no one listens or understands, however, I can assure you that you’re not alone in your questions, and I don’t think you’re weird for asking them. Not in our community, at least.
