Faith and Science Foundations

Unit

Shop Strong Foundations (1-3)

Lay the groundwork for engaging hard questions as you interact with people from different backgrounds and worldviews.

Title:

Faith and Science Foundations

Corequisite science:

Nature of science

Number of modules:

Teaching time:

2:00-3:30 hours

Format:

Digital download

Language:

English

Before You Read

Dear reader,

We’ll get right to it: Young people today are departing the faith in historic numbers as the church is either unwilling or unable to address their questions on science and faith. BioLogos is hosting those tough conversations. Not with anger, but with grace. Not with a simplistic position to earn credibility on the left or the right, but a message that is informed, faithful, and hopeful.

Although voices on both sides are loud and extreme, we are breaking through. But as a nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of donors like you to continue this challenging work. Your tax deductible gift today will help us continue to counter the polarizing narratives of today with a message that is informed, hopeful, and faithful.

What is BioLogos?

Prepare your students to engage tough questions.

Your students are constantly bombarded with conflicting messages and competing narratives in the ever-growing marketplace of ideas. How can you prepare them to navigate all this noise and the questions that inevitably result from exposure to a diverse world?

Essential Questions

How do we faithfully engage tough questions?
How does humility help us to learn new things about God?
What factors shape how people respond to questions that can be addressed by both science and faith?
How does God reveal himself in both Scripture and nature?
How do Christianity and science interact?
How do we stay grounded in truth as we ask questions?

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Learning Outcomes

What will students know or be able to do after this unit?

Discuss how Christlike humility equips Christians to learn from God and others.
Prepare and conduct an interview on select science and faith questions.
Articulate how various factors like experience and worldview shape others’ thinking on difficult science and faith questions.
Categorize specific examples of revelation as general revelation or special revelation.
Explain how the two books metaphor provides complementary knowledge.
Identify claims based on the conflict thesis and evaluate whether conflict or dialogue more accurately describes the historical and contemporary relationship between science and faith.

Modules Included in this Unit

1.1 Meet: Astronomer Deborah Haarsma

Dr. Haarsma shares about her research on black holes and the importance of gracious dialogue in talking to others about faith and science.

1.2 Grow: Humility

In this brief devotional, students reflect on the kind of humility God calls Christians to display when interacting with others and how Christlike humility prepares us to pursue truth when we face hard questions.

1.3 Experience: The Intersection of Science and Faith

Students interview others to discover how a person’s expertise, experience, convictions, and values shape thinking when it comes to questions about science and faith.

1.4 Engage: God’s Two Books

Students learn about the difference between special revelation and general revelation and about the “two books” metaphor, the idea that God reveals himself through both Scripture and nature.

1.5 Engage: Unraveling the Conflict Thesis

Students critique the conflict thesis and hear Christian scientists articulate how science and Christian faith can complement each other.

1.6 Integrate: Pursuing Truth with Boldness and Humility

Students reflect on the alleged “slippery slope” of pursuing scientific knowledge and how this pursuit could potentially affect their faith. Students are encouraged to think about orthodoxy: How can we avoid extremes? How can we avoid becoming so rigid in our beliefs that we refuse to think about questions that threaten our views? And for that matter, how do we keep from becoming so undiscerning that we accept all claims about the truth as equally valid?

Integrate is a creative, inspiring, and deeply faithful teaching program, bringing together the Christ-following mind with the scientific mind to more deeply understand how to think Christianly about God and creation. I strongly commend it to schools and home educators alike.