Another element of western culture so widespread that we no longer recognize it as distinctively Christian is the scientific enterprise itself. The common stereotype is that religion and science are at war with on another. But historians have turned that stereotype on its head.
Consider the laws of nature. Today that idea is so familiar that it strikes us as common sense. Yet historians tell us that no other culture--East or West, ancient or modern--came up with the concept of laws in nature. It appeared only in Europe during the Middle Ages, a period when Western culture was thoroughly permeated by Christian assumptions. This is why studying history matters. Afterall the bible is historical truth.
Of course, all societies have recognized cause-and-effect patterns in nature, which enabled them to construct buildings and bridges. The difference is that they regarded those patterns as merely practical rules of thumb. The intrinsic order of nature itself was thought to be inscrutable to the human mind. And when people do no think there are rational laws behind natural phenomena, they will not go looking for them--and science will never get started.
Cosmic order (they say) flows wholly from God, so science contributes to his glory.
Every atheist draws every conclusion based on an adopted Christian worldview to pursue science at all. Christians should confidently reclaim the biblical principles that made science possible in the first place--and that continue to provide its philosophical underpinnings today. Science can only proceed if the scientist adopts an essentially theological worldview.
Resource: Finding Truth, Nancy Pearcey
Consider the laws of nature. Today that idea is so familiar that it strikes us as common sense. Yet historians tell us that no other culture--East or West, ancient or modern--came up with the concept of laws in nature. It appeared only in Europe during the Middle Ages, a period when Western culture was thoroughly permeated by Christian assumptions. This is why studying history matters. Afterall the bible is historical truth.
Of course, all societies have recognized cause-and-effect patterns in nature, which enabled them to construct buildings and bridges. The difference is that they regarded those patterns as merely practical rules of thumb. The intrinsic order of nature itself was thought to be inscrutable to the human mind. And when people do no think there are rational laws behind natural phenomena, they will not go looking for them--and science will never get started.
Cosmic order (they say) flows wholly from God, so science contributes to his glory.
Every atheist draws every conclusion based on an adopted Christian worldview to pursue science at all. Christians should confidently reclaim the biblical principles that made science possible in the first place--and that continue to provide its philosophical underpinnings today. Science can only proceed if the scientist adopts an essentially theological worldview.
Resource: Finding Truth, Nancy Pearcey
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