Writing Part 1 of the “Religion and science” column was really difficult. Finding the appropriate words for Part 2 is brutal. How do you write a column that perhaps challenges the impact religion has had on the understanding and acceptance of science without alienating a lot of people, including friends? I guess we are about to find out.
I can only address this topic from the perspective of the Christian faith, and even within that there are various views, denominations and variations. There has been a long history of conflict between religion and science that still carries baggage. There are many grand European cathedrals that amaze us to this day. Many of these facilities housed libraries that contained much of the world’s knowledge. This knowledge, hidden away in the churches, was not available to the public. Consistent with the adage that knowledge is power, such a structure made the church a powerful organization from a cultural and societal standpoint. I do not intend this to be an attack on the church, but a statement of reality in those dark ages. When the Age of Enlightenment began and knowledge of the arts, literature, science, etc. became more widespread, the power of the church (at least from a cultural perspective, not a theological one) began to slip. As science and scientists became more prominent outside of the church, disagreement was bound to happen.
During the black plague, there wasn’t much knowledge about the systems that were at play in allowing the plague to cause widespread death to a huge percentage of the population in Europe. There were many spiritual explanations for what was occurring but limited knowledge as to the infective organism, the role rats and fleas played in the cycle of the disease and for approaches to minimize its impact. We all need to remember that the black plague lasted hundreds of years. When educated and intelligent people began to uncover some of the underlying factors associated with the plague, such as rats and fleas, individuals were threatened with expulsion by the church for their views. So even in the Dark Ages, scientists were often attacked for their efforts.
While conflict with faith and religion goes back throughout recorded history, a lot of writers will indicate that the “battle” over evolution is still at the core of this matter. In recent years, an abundance of new information, including the human genomics project (which was led by a scientist who is a Christian), has stirred the pot and provided a lot of convincing evidence for the processes that have been in play over the eons. Despite the findings of the last 30 years, many people of faith refuse to listen to evidence that might confront their deeply held beliefs, and this elevates the negative feelings toward science and scientists. Then the negativity spills over into topics such as vaccines, pandemics, climate change and more.
Studies have documented that the greatest concentration of current science deniers lies with white evangelicals (which is a broad grouping). A study by the Barna group found that Gen Z (roughly 13-28-year-olds) sees the church as antagonistic to science, and that is one of the reasons they walk away. As a result, we see some faith-based groups attempting to demonize scientists with statements about motives and ethics and claims that the funding sources influence their results. These attacks ultimately have the unintended impact of eroding the integrity of religious organizations, especially in the eyes of younger people. Keep in mind that in some surveys, the percentage of scientists who claim to be religious equals that of the public.
In my career, I have drilled deep into evolutionary biology to better understand the many outstanding studies of recent years. It didn’t take long before I had to come to a mindset that allowed me to embrace solid scientific findings and yet grow in my faith. As I moved through this process, I eventually allowed my understanding of science to enrich my faith. Humility — moral and intellectual — is a big part of this. It does not require you to give up your convictions or compromise your faith.
This is not a tidy, easy-to-resolve issue that can be summed up in a few paragraphs. I am not attempting to question anyone’s faith or scriptural interpretations, but rather I am being transparent about my journey given the science world I live in. It pulls on deeply held beliefs and emotions. I hope this article has been viewed positively. While there are still many issues I cannot resolve regarding science and my faith, I am confident that the scriptures in the Bible are inerrant and infallible. What I do realize is that my interpretation of these scriptures is not inerrant or infallible; neither is science. I am on a path to get better.
Rick Brandenburg, Ph.D., is a turfgrass entomology professor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, a post he’s held since 1985. The 28-year GCSAA member is also a frequent presenter for GCSAA, both in webinars and at the annual GCSAA Conference and Trade Show.