Mathematics, physics, and engineering are the key foundational sciences. However, unlike religion, science is the intellectual and practical systemic study describing the structure and natural world based on facts. Contrastingly, Christianity stems from the belief in God, the universe’s creation, and life’s existence. However, the complementary view of both subjects indicates partial similarity and engages mathematicians in Christianity and vice versa. From a Christian perspective, order is a key concept in mathematics that reveals how God’s order in a creation inspired man to create with an order. Although the philosophical foundations of Christianity and mathematics are mutually incompatible, Christianity influences mathematics.
First, inventors of mathematics identified beauty in numbers and organized them in order to develop mathematics. Christianity displays God to have qualities of order due to the fashion and timeline of creation. God identified the beauty of the universe and made creations through an order. Similarly, mathematics was invented through observation and by categorizing numbers. Mathematical concepts originated from God by numbering the days of creation. The mathematical concepts discovered, such as the geometrical theorem, are never proven incorrect since facts in mathematics are based on inherent belief (Dockery 394). Both theology and mathematics aspire to a sort of grace and apply order to make creations
Moreover proven mathematics becomes useful from its initial discovery and maintains internal consistency. Indifferent from mathematics, in Christianity, God’s creation has remained consistently useful since creation. Since all universal things were created through God, and God, mathematics was created by God and given to us for a specific purpose. Both science and religion have to be integrated for a complete understanding of reality and the universe.
Christianity has historically provided the necessary foundation for the birth of modern science. Science did not develop as a result of naturalistic presuppositions, but because of the lawful order in nature, humans were created with God’s resemblance, so they needed to investigate. Furthermore, the trinity concept used to explain the relationship between God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is similar to some mathematical relationships such as the Pythagoras theory. The scientific explanation that the earth is a circle demonstrates God’s sovereignty. The cause of the plenary motion of the earth can be mathematically explained due to its shape (Dockery 383). Christianity supports science in the modern day through scholarship charities to science students. Also churches establish schools and universities that support the development of modern science and scientific research. Therefore, God’s freedom in theology allows the development of science.
Galileo Galilei’s explanation of the relationship between theology and science intrigued me. Galileo argued that truth could be sought through both science and religion. The conflict between the two is due to misinterpretation in one area or another (Dockery 386). As highlighted by Galileo, some scientific facts and interpretations are drawn from the bible. For instance, the gravitation model in science can be associated with Job 26:7, which quotes, “He stretcheth out the north over empty space, and hangeth the earth upon nothing” (The Holy Bible n.p). Since some scientific concepts can be denoted from the Holy Scripture while others conflict, I support Galileo’s insights that the conflicts between science and Christianity occur due to misinterpretation. However, towards the end of the chapter, mutual criticism and long-held ideas between the Christians and scientists is identified to challenge integration of both theological and scientific truths. Christians and scientists assume their respective doctrines are obvious and hence unlikely to support opposing doctrines (Dockery 400). Divisive interpretations between Christianity and science challenge the interconnectivity of both fields.
Works Cited
Dockery, David S. Faith and Learning: A Handbook for Christian Higher Education. B & H Academic, 2012.
The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments; Translated out of the Original Tongues and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. American Bible Society, (1986).