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The BioLogos Forum is designed to foster a serious and comprehensive discussion of Christian faith and the sciences. We believe that charitable engagement of different perspectives within the Church helps sharpen our thinking and deepen our commitment to the truth that is hidden in Christ. So while many of the articles and videos under the distinctive Forum banner come from BioLogos staff and Senior Fellows, we feature a range of voices, including those that disagree with us and with each other. Unless otherwise noted, views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of The BioLogos Foundation. You can read more about what we believe here, and join the conversation in the comments section at the end of each post.
Divine Action in the World
In this talk, Professor Plantinga addresses the fact that many contemporary thinkers—including many theologians—believe that God cannot perform miracles, providentially guide history, or interact in the lives of people, as these activities would be contrary to science. Plantinga, on the other hand, makes the case that this popular view is mistaken; excluding divine action in the world is not a central feature of natural science itself, but a philosophical or theological preference that has been added on to science (and can just as readily be removed). Plantinga concludes that it is completely logical to accept the miracles of the Bible and support contemporary science.
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Divine Action in the World, Part 1
I want to talk about a certain kind of objection to Christian belief that some people raise. They claim that central doctrines of Christianity are contrary to science, and therefore, are suspicious or incredible such that one can’t be rational in accepting them.
Divine Action in the World, Part 2
Physics tells us lots of other things, but it does not go on to say “and furthermore the whole material or physical universe is a closed system”. That would be more like a theological or philosophical add on, that would not be part of the science just as such; you won’t find that in any physics textbooks.
Divine Action in the World, Part 3
Classical science as such is perfectly consistent with special divine action including miracles, walking on water, rising from the dead, creating ex nihilo a full-grown horse, and so on. There is no science-religion conflict here at all; there is only a religion-metaphysics conflict.
Divine Action in the World, Part 4
It is a very common idea that if you believe in miracles, you are somehow not accepting science. My conclusion is that that’s not true at all, either under the old or the new picture; there isn’t any conflict between thinking God acts specially in the world and enthusiastically endorsing all of contemporary physics or whatever science you like.