Can you have faith and still believe in science?
Personal Response by Bethany
Yes! You can have faith and still believe in science. The scriptures clearly and repeatedly verify that God is the Creator of the earth, the heavens, and all things that are in them. They also attest that the elements of which the earth consists of are eternal. As a current biology major I am constantly tying science and religion together as I continually study the science of life and its spiritual connection with religion. As I increase my studies, my faith also increases as I see the hand of God in every aspect of life.
Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stated that, “the essence of the gospel is the doctrine of trying…and that, of course, is the essence of science, also: the doctrine of trying, testing, and proving. That’s the kind of procedure that makes science what it is.” The point is that the gospel teaches us to experiment with the words of the Savior and to do as a scientist would do to find the truth.
Time and time again I have witnessed miracles both in my personal life and the lives of others around me that I never would have imagined possible. How is it that some things that are scientifically incapable of happening, in fact do happen? It reminds me of the Apostle Peter who, as written in Matthew 14, saw Christ walking upon the water and asked Christ if he might meet him on the sea. Peter did walk on the water, defying science, but his faith faltered as the waves came upon him. Jesus stretched forth his hand, caught him, and said, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” There have been times that I was certain that my faith had failed both me and others, but though people can fail, the Lord does not. Too many scientists strive only to find the answers to scientific questions and ignoring the spiritual; they accept nothing that cannot be proven by methods or that cannot be seen or felt or proven through experience. Science itself is filled with God.
President Ezra Taft Benson, 13th President of the LDS Church, stated that, “Religion and science have sometimes appeared in conflict. Yet, the conflict can only be apparent, not real, for science seeks truth, and true religion is truth. There can never be conflict between revealed religion and true science. Truth is truth, whether labeled science or religion. All truth is consistent. There is no conflict-only in the interpretation of fact.” In that case, perhaps science and religion aren’t opposites, but merely different ways of looking at things.
I know and see how comfortably science and religion fit together. Although I do not know all the answers as no one does, I do know that through patience and humility all questions can be resolved whether in this life or the next.
Tags: Faith, God, Mormon Beliefs, Science
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