Hello everyone and welcome back to Deeper Waters, where we are diving into the ocean of truth! We’re looking at the relationship between science and religion and tonight, I’d like to look at the scientific method some. There are a number of people who think the scientific method is the best method we have of finding truth.
The main steps of the method are to make a hypothesis. Then, you do an experiment in order to test that hypothesis. Then, you analyze the results that came through that experiment and you come to a conclusion. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this method. It is a great method.
It is also the best way we have of finding scientific truth. It is not as good however in other fields. History, math, logic, morality, and beauty for instance. You do not answer truth claims in those areas by using the scientific method. If you want to know if your spouse loves you or if 64 squared is 4096 or if it’s wrong to take innocent life, you don’t do the scientific method. You go to other fields of study.
This then is the rub that we have. Too many people say that the scientific method is the best source for truth and then assume that it works in every area. In “The Unity of Philosophical Experiences” Etienne Gilson warned against such a practice. The danger in each area is to take the expertise of one area and pour that over into every other area. This is what has happened sadly today when scientists are seen as authorities on religion and philosophy without having the proper credentials simply because they are scientists.
The scientific method presupposes other facts about the world before it and these are facts that cannot be ascertained by the scientific method. For instance, consider the following:
The belief that the universe is rational and can be understood by our minds cannot be demonstrated by the scientific method.
The belief that the universe will always function the way that it has or that it did in the past and does so in every area we know of cannot be demonstrated by the scientific method.
The belief that scientists should report accurately data that is received through the scientific method cannot be demonstrated by the scientific method.
The big one is that the scientific method is reliable cannot be demonstrated by the scientific method.
Does this mean the scientific method is an enemy? Not at all. Every scientist in his field should use the scientific method. The danger is to take the scientific method and think that any truth claim must be ascertained by that. This is unfortunately communicated by atheists. Many beliefs are seen as unscientific. In fact, they are. That is because they are not claims of science. However, because they are not of the type that is testable by the method, then they are dismissed a priori. In reality, our most important beliefs that we have, such as beliefs about goodness, love, morality, truth, etc. are not scientific beliefs.
Christians should not be afraid of the scientific method or scientific truth. Skeptics however should realize the method is not an end-all and cannot establish itself. Like all other methods, use it where it is proper and not where it is improper.
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