The Scope of Explanation

The Internal Combustion Engine

One thing that struck me from the talk by Prof. John Lennox at the University of South Carolina the other week was the scope of God and science to explain things. He gave the example of explaining an automobile engine in terms of the laws of internal combustion verses explaining an automobile engine in terms of Henry Ford. Science explains how things work and function. But the laws of internal combustion would not be able to explain why things came to be or even the purpose behind the engine.

Lennox pointed out the point of tension for most people lies in their worldview. He noted the current winner of the Nobel Prize in physics is an atheist while the year prior’s award in physics went to a Christian. Both were really smart people. One believes there is a God. One does not. The issue is not with science. The issue is with worldview.

Henry Ford

In the illustration of the car above, a scientific view of the engine does not negate explaining a car in terms of Henry Ford. In fact, they compliment each other. I am an unashamed Christian. My worldview is that Almighty God created everything out of nothing. His creating us means that we have phenomenal purpose. But it is in reference to Him. Science gives a much different explanation, but not one that negates God. They compliment explaining different facets of creation. And that is my worldview.

I am fully convinced you can be a Christian without putting your brain on the shelf. The 2012 Nobel Prize winner in physics proves that, as do many other scientists. But Lennox encouraged dialogue and friendship with those of other world views. I’d love to get the conversation started.

God of the Gaps

I had the privilege to lunch with Professor John Lennox. He shared a view of God called "God of the gaps" that helps identify a problem in our current conversation about God. And this blog post will help me sort out the ideas in my head about this. 

Greek mythology had different gods to explain different unexplainable events like thunder, storms, and good weather. Gaps in knowledge were attributed to God. Why does such and such happen? God is mysterious is able to do that particular such and such. Basically, God could be credited with everything unknowable about the universe. As experimentation and science has made much of these unknowable things knowable, the gaps have closed. 

Stephen Hawkins said you have to either choose God or science. If your concept of God is the God behind the gaps, then you do, in fact, have to choose between God and science. However, the view of God behind the gaps is nothing close to the Christian view of God.

Jeremiah says not to boast in wisdom, strength, or riches but to boast in the God who can be known. There are things that can be known about God. He created everything out of nothing. He is behind the times and flow of history. He is in the process of redeeming the bad choices made by mankind and is doing this through Jesus. 

Newton, who discovered Calculus, and Copernicus, who made famous the sun being at the center of our solar system, both had vibrant relationships with God and were fascinated by the God behind it all. 

The God of the gaps God is a very small picture of God. The God of the Bible champions the Almighty God of all creation, both seen and unseen. Science then becomes a discovery of His handiwork. Here are some pics of God's handiwork:

Our universe:

Our galaxy:

Our world:

Our body: