Church and Scientific Discourse with Os Guinness

Featuring Os Guinness

On January 16, 2010

Before You Read ...

Dear reader,

A new poll shows that for young adults in particular, belief in God is plummeting. From research, we know a primary driver behind a loss of faith among young people is the church’s rejection of science. To put it bluntly: Young people aren’t leaving the faith because of science, they’re leaving because they’ve been told to choose between science and God. That’s why BioLogos exists—to show that science and faith can work hand-in-hand. And although the challenge is clearly daunting, our work is having an impact!

As a nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of grassroots donors like you to reach those who are being told, “It’s God or evolution!” or “It’s God or vaccines!” or “It’s God or science!” In this urgent moment, we need your help to continue to produce resources such as this.

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In this video, Os Guinness addresses the question of why it is essential for Christians to engage in scientific discourse. He points out that science is “at the very heart of the modernizing world” and as such, it is all around us.

Transcript

Because science is at the very heart of the modernizing world. Of course, the irony is that in the Scripture science is a matter of worship and praise, not controversy and argument. I’m from Oxford. You pass every day the place where you had the birthplace of modern science for the Royal Society. But Christian faith, or you might put it ethical monotheism, is the matrix without which there would have been no modern science.

It’s ridiculous that Christians, either with the Biblical view or a historical understanding, are afraid of science. This is very particularly an American problem, and I hope within the next generation we’ll overcome it because the present moment is one in which we’re pushed right back to square one. Whether it’s the American first principles or Christian first principles, only the real thing will do.

Many of the Christian movements that have grown up in the 19th century, we’ve got to see these are movements from the 19th century. They are not Biblical, not Christian, and it’s time to say no to them and move on to a very constructive Christian position. We need to have no fear. The most common refrain in Scripture, from beginning to end, “Have no fear.” Yet not only the science issue, but many political issues, are just driven by fear, and that’s sub-Christian.