Are Religious Scientists Being Inconsistent?

[T_aquaticus]

@Jordan

As to faith, as a grad student I sure had to have a lot of faith too. I had to have faith that if I followed the “rules of science”, I’d get something reliable out. That meant I had to have faith in my data, that it was correct and that I understood it. I had to have faith in my professors, that what they were teaching was correct and useful.

These ideas seem to strain the concept of faith to the breaking point, IMHO. At least for me, I don’t trust any of my results. Doubting your methods and data is part and parcel of the process, and I don’t have confidence in my results until those doubts have been quelled by testing and controls. I don’t view the process of science as having parallels in religious faith, but this is my opinion and others are free to disagree.

At the same time, I can see how christian scientists can view the wonder of nature through the lens of their christian faith.

@Jordan

I’m not sure I could exactly list the axioms of science and Christian faith, at least explicit or intentional ones.

The Nicene Creed comes to mind. It is the only list of beliefs I know of that encapsulates the shared beliefs of christians.