New podcast episode: David Lahti | Nature, Culture & Evolution

[Randy]

@Randy

Is there any way in which your theology affects your scientific work, your understanding of evolution?
It has a metaphysical effect on me. Whereas I think if I had a worldview where I was, “just the facts, man,” and I tried to keep everything limited by the scientific worldview, I would be hard pressed to have the same sort of respect, or the same sort of deep meaning of those kinds of discoveries, that I do when I believe as I do, that the universe has a purpose, and that everything in it does.

I thought this was good. In the podcast with Sean McDowell, the question arose of how the Bible and faith can affect our interpretation of science. I think that properly placed, we can put our wonder and reference here, provided we are willing to consider alternatives to that interpretation, too.

@Jay313

His critique around the 30-min mark that evolutionary creationists are much more willing to bend theology to science than vice versa is mystifying. How does one “bend science” to fit theology? This strikes me as a category error of the highest magnitude. Theology and morality can set limits on scientific inquiry – such as banning certain types of experiments on human subjects – but theology cannot and should not be used to re-interpret the results of scientific inquiry. That’s like saying, “I don’t like your facts. Go get some new ones that fit my religious beliefs.”

Holding uncertain claims in tension is fine, but what fits that description? The origin of life? Common descent? The age of the earth? Global flood? Only one of those things is uncertain. Teaching people otherwise is setting them up for failure.