The Church Must Not Ignore the Evidence

Today's video features Kathryn Applegate. Please note the views expressed here are those of the author, not necessarily of The BioLogos Foundation. You can read more about what BioLogos believes here.

In this video conversation, Kathryn Applegate, biologist and BioLogos program director of website development, discusses the implications for the church if we ignore scientific developments.

Applegate notes that even ten years ago, before the Human Genome Project and before some of the recent fossil discoveries, there were still a lot of open questions about biological evolution. But Applegate states that this is no longer the case, and that we can no longer deny the scientific evidence.

Applegate reminds us that if we continue to ignore evolution –– and not just evolution, but science more broadly –– many may leave the church, unable to reconcile a rigorous belief in science with orthodox Christian belief.

Thus the need to open the dialogue between science and religion isn’t just about evolution, it is about science writ large. Science has implications for many bioethical issues that pastors will need to confront in their congregations. The church needs to foster an open inquiry into scientific truth, because all truth is God’s truth.

Science is useful—it brings us technology and a deeper understanding of creation. Applegate believes that BioLogos is doing is “a good service for the community” as more educational materials are needed—especially for churches—that articulate the various positions and scientific theories in a way that is accessible to the layperson.

Commentary written by the BioLogos editorial team.