The Very Limited Scope of Science
Just what is science? What can it do for us? What can we do for it?
At the most basic level, “science” is just a word. Seven letters that represent the latin word, “scientia” meaning, “knowledge”. Words are symbols for concepts. They help us communicate concepts. Things which help us share our thoughts, ideas, wishes, emotions, etc. with others. So, if “science” is a word or symbol that represents the concept of “knowledge”, then it is a fairly useful one. Especially if you see “knowledge” as a harvest of “responsible study” and a possible basis for “understanding”. In a practical sense, you could substitute the word, “knowledge” for “science” and maintain the original meaning. But, “science” has been transformed into something very different over the years. Today it is a symbol for an elite intellectual subculture. To become a member of what I call the, “scientific establishment” you generally need an “advanced degree” from a respected graduate school and be employed in your particular field of study.
So, “science” has become something quite different in modern times. In seeking to redefine itself, “science” has left much of it’s emphasis on “knowledge” behind. Nowadays the focus is more on, “methods” and “expertise”. If you have some knowledge that you want to share, you must back it up with objective proofs such as experimental tests. But, if you are deemed an “expert” you can bypass that step and just assert yourself and your ideas pretty much however you like, well within reason anyway.
So “science” has become a rather well defined “box” of “controllable and testable” theories about stuff. Which means that only a small minute portion of reality may become better understood using it. Anything that is “uncontrollable and untestable” is considered “unscientific”. This means that science has become completely stuck on itself, a control freak that wants the rest of the world to submit to its way of seeing the universe and everything in it.
All that to say that there are many mysteries in the universe and to life that aren’t subject to human manipulation and analysis. The occurrence of “coincidence”, a song bird sings happily to cheer you up on a really bad day, snow covering a forest somehow warms the heart, you “bump” into an old friend you haven’t seen in years at a remote place neither of you have been before an earthquake occurs the moment a gentle carpenter dies while nailed to a cross by jealous clerics, a sea parts as a shepherd raises his staff. Once in a while we are reminded of greater realities that exist, those that the self-absorbed “scientific establishment” chooses to ignore.
If you really want to understand yourself and the world around you, go to the Source. I’ve found that as I trust my Creator and learn from His book, the Bible, I’ve gained something that completely eludes “science”. That is the meaning and purpose of my life as well as life in general, and the universe we live in. This Source came to earth as Jesus of Nazareth two thousand years ago to release mankind from its prison of pride and hatred and ignorance.
Without a strong foundation in the Bible and a confidence in its teachings, there is no real context for any “scientific” pursuit whatsoever. The Bible makes it clear that, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. What is “wisdom” but “knowledge” in context of reality. I had to read through the Bible 3 times while carefully considering it’s teaching and sharing with the Creator my questions and need for help in understanding it before a pretty clear picture of what “faith in Christ” really means. There are so many ‘man made’ Jesus’ out there that have little or no resemblance to the real Jesus and it’s so important to distinguish them from the real McCoy.
Science that ignores the Source is a waste of time. Science that acknowledges and embraces the true Source can be a valuable tool for mankind. Even as grossly limited as it is. As a Christian, I realize the “expertise” is a myth. There is only one “Expert” and if we don’t learn from Him, we can never know beans!
Wayne Hollyoak