Science and the Bible, part 2
Animals: Tradition - Philosophy - Religion Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Stephen Kaufman, M.D., Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

Science and the Bible, part 2
(date)

This week, I will explore questions about the ways in which the sciences are true, as well as science’s limitations. That scientific investigation is a powerful tool for understanding the workings of the universe is manifest by humanity’s impressive technological accomplishments. For example, the science of aerodynamics is the basis for flight, and indeed airplanes consistently take off and land as the scientific principles of aerodynamics predict.
 
One of science’s major strengths rests in that, if practiced properly, it relies on observation rather than authority. In other words, scientific claims are grounded in observable phenomena that all able-bodied humans have the power to observe rather than the pronouncements of one or more persons who claim to have special knowledge to which most people don’t have access. Throughout human history, political and religious leaders have claimed to have divine knowledge and power. Historically, unbridled authority has lent itself to injustice. There have been benign leaders, but political leaders (and their allies among religious authorities) have always been tempted to abuse their power. Recent events in Iran have been only the latest in a timeless series of such events. Those who have questioned policies that have been attributed to the divine have been accused of heresy and, usually, treated brutally. In contrast, if the scientific enterprise is working properly, anyone can dispute a scientific claim with impunity, and people will accept or reject arguments on the basis of objective observation.
 
That being said, science is a human activity, and human passions influence its practice. Human needs and desires always influence what questions are asked, how they are pursued, and how the data are interpreted. That science in practice doesn’t always live up to science in theory is a reason to be cautious and skeptical of scientific claims, but the general success of science is testimony to how science generally gets things right. Indeed, I think the historical success of science is a major reason that those with power often employ “scientists,” who have the proper scientific credentials, to do “scientific research” to obtain the conclusions that those with power seek. We certainly saw this when the tobacco industry attempted to debunk the smoking-lung cancer connection, and, as best I can tell, we see something similar today in the fossil-fuel industry’s use of scientists to debunk the conclusion held by the vast majority of scientists that humanity is contributing heavily to climate change.
 
Next week, I want to explore climate change further. Paradoxically, as the scientific evidence mounts, the percentage of people who agree that humanity is contributing to climate change continues to fall. Among those who do agree that climate change is a growing crisis, many seem to think the situation is hopeless. Indeed, the dire predictions of even a few years ago now seem to be relatively optimistic projections. Yet, relatively simple changes in lifestyle – including moving toward a plant-based diet – could have a major affect. Indeed, there is strong evidence that animal agriculture contributes far more to global warming than what the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization calculated, which was 18% of man-made greenhouse gasses.

Go on to: Science and the Bible, part 3
Return to: Reflection on the Lectionary, Table of Contents 

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