Happy Resurrection Day everyone! In these special days, we not only celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but also the Jewish festival of Passover. Both celebrations are important to their respective religions and remind us of the importance of faith and hope. But today, I also want to talk about the compatibility between science and Christian and Jewish faith, and its relationship with space exploration.
Faith, science, and history
In recent years, space exploration has advanced by leaps and bounds, as have historical data evidencing the life of Jesus and the pilgrimage of the Jews from Egypt to the promised land. We have sent spacecraft to distant planets, built space stations in orbit, and are working hard to send humans to Mars. But for some, this raises questions about how this relates to faith.
In the Bible, there are many passages that talk about the creation of God and the universe. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And throughout the Bible, there is talk of the wonders of God’s creation, from the stars in the sky to the creatures on the earth. But it is also important to remember that the Bible is not a science book. It does not tell us how the universe was created or how the physics behind space travel works.
Are faith and science incompatible?
It is true that some may see space travel as a way to challenge God’s creation. But we can also see it as a way to explore and appreciate even more the magnificence of His creation. As Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
Furthermore, science and faith do not have to be mutually exclusive. Through science, we can learn more about the universe and how it works, and at the same time, we can strengthen our faith and appreciation for God’s creation. As Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”
Regarding the compatibility between Christian faith and space travel, some might argue that the resurrection of Jesus was a terrestrial event and has no relation to space exploration. But I believe we can see the resurrection of Jesus as proof of God’s omnipotence and omnipresence. If God can bring Jesus back to life after three days in a tomb, can He not also guide and protect us on our space journeys?
Additionally, while I won’t make this a dogma, we know that the gospels recount that Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world, ascended to heaven, and said that one day He will return with all His power, and every eye will see Him. That third heaven defined for centuries by theologians could easily be space. It could easily be a mothership broadcasted over the internet. This means that the Bible neither confirms nor denies anything at the end. Everything is debatable, just like science.
The Bible knew things before science said them
Although science and faith can sometimes seem at odds, they can actually coexist and complement each other. In the Bible, there are many examples of how science and faith can work together to help us better understand the world around us.
For example, in Job 26:7, it talks about the earth floating in space: “He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.” This passage talks about gravity and how the earth is suspended in space. It is interesting to see how this scientific concept is mentioned in the Bible long before modern science could explain it.
Another interesting example is the way in which the process of creation is described in Genesis. Genesis 1 describes how God created the universe and the earth in six days. Although this account does not strictly adhere to the scientific theory of the Big Bang and evolution, we can still see how the process of creation described in Genesis can coincide with scientific theory. For example, the creation of the universe and the separation of light and darkness on the first day could relate to the Big Bang and the formation of light in the early universe.
Faith and Health
In addition, many passages in the Bible speak about the human body and health. For instance, Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” This passage suggests that a positive attitude and joy can be beneficial for health. And in Leviticus 11, dietary laws are described which include the prohibition of eating pork. Today, we know that this prohibition has a scientific basis, as pork is more susceptible to bacteria than other meats. It is more controllable today, but in the past it was likely not safe for consumption. Another issue is the frequent mention of hand washing, something that doctors did not do in the 1800s and which contributed to high infant mortality rates.
In summary, science and faith are not mutually exclusive but can work together to help us better understand the world and our place in it. The Bible provides us with many examples of how science and faith can coexist and complement each other. After all, the most important thing is to have an open mind and be willing to learn and grow in both areas. Happy Resurrection Day and a blessed Easter!