In this blog, l like to show the non-scientific world of anti-God crowd does not even realise the Bible laid the foundation for science. Take a look at Isaiah 41.21-23 and 43.9-10 and be amazed at God’s omniscience.
But first, what is it about science? Whenever someone says, “Trust the science”, what does it mean. Simply put, it is a way of seeking truth based on evidence and logical reasoning. One takes a certain position after having evidentiary discovery, not from speculation or faith.
Europe emerged out of the Dark Ages led by learned men schooled by an education system provided by early Christian churches. In other words, Science evolved out of Faith. Men learnt a new way to discern the world by inductive reasoning and evidence. At its basic core, this led to the Protestant Reformation, the doctrine of sola scriptura. Men do not need churches or the clergy, we can read and interpret the Bible ourselves. Sola scriptura led to schism in the Roman Catholic Church and sprouted a thousand denominations. On a higher level, it led to the Age of Relativism prevalent today where everybody perceives their own truth. As absolutes are abandoned, Truth then becomes subjective.
Francis Bacon (1561–1626) is generally accepted as the father of empiricism, a theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience. Empiricism emphasizes the formation of ideas based on evidence rather than innate ideas or traditions. Bacon proposed inductive reasoning and observation as a way to gain scientific knowledge. Although it is a move away from dogma, Bacon’s scientific experimentation was primed for the objective of fulfilling scripture.
From Bacon and many other thinkers after him, the idea has evolved to present day Scientific Method as an approach to inquiry on science or other matters.
Make an observation - Ask a question.
You observe or thought of, something. Start asking questions - what, how, when, why, who.
Research
Check up on related matters, past experiences or observations, learn from past mistakes of others, etc.
Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation.
With the knowledge gained from research, form hypothesis or guesses as to probable answers to questions raised. Hypothesis should be testable.
Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
Prediction is a speculation on the outcome of the test.
Test the prediction.
Conduct fair experiments or tests to confirm actual results to predicted outcomes. Experiments or tests can be done several times to make sure that the first results weren't just accidental. Such repeat tests can be done with a change in a variable or factor one at a time.
Analyse the data
Does the result support the hypothesis. If yes, write report. If not, do iteration, repeat.
Now let’s take a look at Isaiah 41.21-23. Here the Lord is showing how to determine the truth whether the idols are the Gods of Israel.
“Present your case,” says the Lord.
“Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.
“Tell us, you idols,
what is going to happen.
Tell us what the former things were,
so that we may consider them
and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,
Tell us what the future holds,
so we may know that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,
so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
See how uncanny these verses relate to the Scientific Method:
Present your case (form a scientific theory)
Set forth your arguments (make a hypothesis based on evidence, some versions translate as "show us your proof")
what is going to happen (make predictions or guess outcomes of tests)
Tell us what the former things were (historical data, past observations)
so that we may consider them (do studies, analyse, tests, experiments, do validations)
and know their final outcome (whether results support hypothesis)
In verse 43.9-10 the Bible further confirmed empiricism is based on experiences, ie observations.
Let all the nations be gathered together,
And let the people be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
And show us former things?
Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified;
Or let them hear and say, “It is truth.”
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord,
“And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.”
Tell us what the former things were (historical data, past observations)
so that we may consider them (do studies, analyse, tests, experiments, do validations)
and know their final outcome (whether results support hypothesis)
In verse 43.9-10 the Bible further confirmed empiricism is based on experiences, ie observations.
Let all the nations be gathered together,
And let the people be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
And show us former things?
Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified;
Or let them hear and say, “It is truth.”
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord,
“And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.”
…. show us former things : In the world of science, truth is not ferreted out by reason alone. It has to be supported by evidence. The Lord can show what he has done for the people of Israel : taken them out of captivity in Egypt, led them to the Promised Land, took them out of Babylon. All these past experiences, and more, are evidential proof of the truth, that He is the real God of Israel.
The non-scientific world of Bible deniers do not realise that more than 2,000 years before Francis Bacon, the Bible had laid the foundation for science. One can certainly speculate that as a devout Anglican, Bacon’s book Novum Organum which proposed the Baconian Method, was in fact inspired by the Bible.
A parting shout out :
Plato said:
“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”
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