Am I anti-science? Do I think the Christian faith and science cannot coexist? Do I think all scientists are evil?

I’m getting these questions from readers of the Anomaly trilogy because the antagonist is a scientist (though, if you’ve read Luminary, you know there are good-guy scientists as well). The short answer to those questions is “no.” I have a great deal of respect for science and scientists.

I do, however, have a problem with naturalism. And I respectfully, but wholeheartedly, disagree with people whose worldview is based on naturalism, whose science is based on naturalism.

Merriam-Webster defines naturalism as “a theory denying that an event or object has a supernatural significance; specifically : the doctrine that scientific laws are adequate to account for all phenomena.”

The current basis for much scientific thought is firmly based in naturalism. These scientists start with the theory that the universe was created at random, from matter that exploded or melted or was carried in on some other type of matter (where did the initial matter come from?? No one seems to have an answer for that). And from there, life developed very slowly over billions of years with no help whatsoever from any kind of Intelligent Designer. All scientific study, all research, all hypotheses with this idea as its basis is classified as “theory” (see the definition above).

But that is not how those ideas are presented. They are presented as fact. And anyone who suggests they aren’t fact is ridiculed by many within the “scientific” community.

I believe the basis for ALL truth is the Bible. So I believe the origin of all life is revealed in Genesis 1 – I believe that God – who is eternal – created this universe and all others. Some may think that is crazy, that it is just “faith” and faith has no business in scientific discussion. But I would argue that naturalism is also faith-based.  Naturalists are believing in an origin they cannot prove, just as they argue we are doing.

The “bad guys” in my books aren’t bad because they are scientists. They are bad because they take naturalism to its logical conclusion – life evolves, the fittest survive, the weak are destroyed, and mankind becomes better as a result. They are simply trying to make the world better. It makes perfect sense, if you really believe what naturalism argues.

But I don’t.

I believe we are all created in the image of a loving, powerful, infinite God. We are surviving not by chance but by divine Choice. I believe the fittest are called to help the weak, not destroy them. I believe Christians must take a stand for the Designer, that we must not allow ourselves to be silenced or marginalized. I believe science is good thing, but naturalism is not. And I believe we need to make sure the former is not confused for the latter.