Does Science Make Belief in God Obsolete - Essay Example

Does Science Make Belief in God Obsolete? Michael Shermer s that it depends on where the emphasis lies. Belief in God is not made obsolete by science but rather the existence of God is. For example, a 1997 survey showed that around 40% of scientist believed in God (Templeton). According to Shermer, there are many people who believe in God, ghosts, angels, astrology and super natural entities and yet they also believe in science and its reasoning. The notion of science does not necessarily eradicate the beliefs of people.

However, Shermer suggests that if we were to push science further and apply its methodology to actually proving the existence of God, then His existence does move towards the obsolete. Since God is described as omnipotent and omniscient in most religions, then using science, He won’t be physically detected, measured, and studied. Shermer states that because of this, if we were to encounter such a being then it would be hard to distinguish it from an Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (ETI). Just like we have advanced in science and medicine, over the span of only half a century, then an ETI a few thousand centuries ahead of us would be able to create whole ecosystems and even universes (Templeton).

According to Shermer, this is no different than what people might call God. If science were to discover a great being, then it would also be natural and limited by the laws of nature, not something omnipotent. That is why Shermer states that the belief of God can continue with science but the existence of God becomes obsolete. I think Shermer is right in saying that belief can coexist with science. However his views are a bit limiting towards God. Since God is viewed as omnipotent and omniscient then He can’t possibly be measured, detected, and contained, and just because science can’t calculate Him doesn’t mean that His existence becomes obsolete.

Just like religions and beliefs, science also has its limitations and contradictions. For example, we can’t truly measure emotions like love and sorrow. However, just because they can’t be measured, doesn’t mean that only their belief is fine and their existence obsolete. Kenneth R. Miller does not believe that science makes God obsolete. According to Miller, science gives us more ways to appreciate and realize the vastness of God and His creation. God doesn’t have to be something that is in darkness and shadows.

Why can’t He be the driving force of evolution, biology, and science? Miller states that God is real and instead of limiting Him to the remote regions of our understanding, He can very well be found in the light of knowledge and reasoning of science. Everyday new discoveries are being made, galaxies formed, and evolution taking place. This is not to be viewed as threatening the existence of God; in fact, Miller believes that the very dynamics and evolutionary potential observed in science enforce the belief in God and His work.

According to Miller, people who reject God outright, make the mistake of placing him within the natural world, where He can’t be found. Instead He is the reason of the existence of this science and world and doesn’t have to be a “part of existence itself” (Templeton). Also, just like contradictions and limitations present in science, religions also face the same problems of logical failings. However, this incompleteness does not mean that God has to be rejected or abandoned, just like one does not abandon science because of its limitations.

I think Miller is absolutely right in stating that the knowledge and light science represents only propels the belief in God instead of making it obsolete. Realizing and understanding the realities of nature and its laws does not diminish or weaken the belief in the existence of a higher power. Science provides us with an illuminating and far sighted lens through which we can view the world and its system at work. This gives us an enlightened window from where we can behold the intricate science and sublimity of God.

ReferencesTempleton, John. Does Science Make Belief in God Obsolete? John Templeton Foundation: Supporting Science ~ Investing in the Big Questions. Retrieved from http://www.templeton.org/belief/