• Question: Do you think you can believe in God and still be a scientist?

    Asked by Kit Kat to Ed, Kerrianne, Nina, Oli, yoyehudi on 6 Nov 2017.
    • Photo: Oli Wilson

      Oli Wilson answered on 6 Nov 2017:

      Hey Katie, thanks for the great question. My answer would be that you absolutely can believe in God and be a scientist – I do! Science is the study of the natural – all your answers have to come from within the natural world, whereas almost every religion would call God ‘supernatural’ – that literally means ‘above or beyond nature’. It means you can’t say ‘God did it’ when you’re looking at a science problem (your answers have to be from within nature), but also means that science can’t really say that God doesn’t exist (because he’s outside the thing (nature) you’re looking at). I know some people would disagree with me on that, but I’ve never really had a problem with reconciling my faith and my work as a scientist. If anything, understanding the science of the natural world has helped me appreciate God’s creation more. 🙂

    • Photo: Ed Bracey

      Ed Bracey answered on 6 Nov 2017:

      Hi Katie, good question!

      I think it’s possible, but I don’t think they fit together very well.

      It’s like keeping two ideas that don’t fit together in your head, it takes a lot of energy to keep them apart.

      I certainly don’t think it’s possible to believe in most of what’s written in the main religious texts and still be a scientist. There are a lot of things in most religions that don’t add up if you keep asking questions. And the main point of science is to keep asking questions!

      Also, as scientists, we’re interested in evidence, in things that can be proved. If there’s no evidence for something, I find it very hard to believe. Because if you can believe in something without evidence, then why stop at God? One could believe in anything!

    • Photo: Kerrianne Harrington

      Kerrianne Harrington answered on 6 Nov 2017:

      Definitely! Personally, I am atheist, but lots of my friends are religious. Some people look at science and can’t help but see God in the order and balance of everything.

      I don’t think they conflict any more than personal bias and thinking of anybody can influence their work.

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