The Art of Science

Back on April 12th ("K" day) I wrote about the value of knowledge.  Whereas a Facebook friend had claimed that Christians are told that knowledge is evil, I believe I demonstrated that God's intention was to protect the first two people specifically from the knowledge of evil.  Knowledge is just one of the basic building blocks of a life well lived.  As atoms are to matter, knowledge is to science.

Science is nothing more than knowledge codified.  Science is the art of observing and verifying a set of facts, then working to discover their relationship in the real world.  A good theory is then formulated to try to make sense what is known.  Besides explaining how proven facts (only those which are testable and repeatable) relate to each other, such a working hypothesis should also make predictions.

Classically, scientific theories have been evaluated by the quality and essence of the predictions that might follow.  One good set of understood facts should forecast another.  If such predictions are rare or vague or proven incorrect, the original theory must be either modified or discarded.

Of what true value is a theory that relies on improvable assumptions, has untestable conclusions, and makes incorrect predictions?  Such a theory is only maintained and supported for other than scientific reasons.  I submit that the theory of evolution was envisioned and propagated mainly by those interested in finding any explanation for our origins, other than an "ex nihilo" creation by the God of the Bible.  True scientists, willing to follow a solid trail of certainty instead of an ever changing flow of assumptions, do not end with a theory that is really only a collection of beliefs; a religion, as it were.

So many of the world's most famous scientists, those who researched and studied and discovered marvelous and highly applicable truths, believed in God.  In fact, in many cases, these men and women started with the conviction that all was created by a God of design and order.  This premise meant that they might find and follow a rational train of thought either forwards or backwards to unveil new insights into either primary causes or potential effects.

From Copernicus to Newton to Einstein, the belief in a creator God helped, and did not hinder the exciting, careful and deliberate discovery of the deeper mysteries.     

In this proverb (25:2) God equates ancient kings to present day scientists.  Not in the sense that we should allow our scientists to be our lordly tyrants, but because unveiling God's deep mysteries is a majestic privilege.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;

to search out a matter is the glory of kings. 

  



http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/sciencefaith.html


By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 25th on Proverbs 25:1-5

January 25;  Proverbs 25  Verses 1-5


[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments are offered below the verses from Proverbs.]

Christians looking for a simple way to review the Bible regularly, have long been convenienced by the fact that the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, the same number as most of our months.  Each chapter includes multiple bite-sized verses (uhm, proverbs) and can be read through simply in one sitting, one appropriately numbered chapter per day through the month.  A person might read through the Proverbs a chapter a day during any month, but why mess with your head (reading an extra chapter on one, two, or three days!) like that when there are 7 months every year perfectly suited for the endeavor?

My idea here is to reprint about 1/7 of the verses from each day's chapter throughout this year, every time a 31 day month pops up, and then offer a few comments from The Barking Owl.  So in January, we will get through the first few verses of every chapter and then in March, the next group, and so on, until December comes around and we can finally get to the last set of verses in each chapter and complete the book's reading.  If you are smarter than I am (is there any doubt?), you will read the whole chapter every day, every 31 day month, and then you will have read the whole book 7 times this year!  By then you are guaranteed to at least be wiser than The Barking Owl , though no one will ever match the wisdom of Solomon!


[All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied from www.Biblegateway.com]

Proverbs 25   


1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:


2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
   to search out a matter is the glory of kings.


2) I have always especially appreciated this proverb.  In days of old, it was only kings who could really get to investigate something, because analysis and experiment and study, are expensive enterprises!  Thomas Jefferson, as the third US President, seemed to take advantage of his role as the kingly equivalent.  He was always trying to push for advances in science and in geographical understanding.  He's the one who sent Lewis and Clarke on their quest for a navigable route to the Pacific.  No one followed their exploits as diligently as Jefferson did.


But now it is the humble science student, or even an intrepid internet explorer who can relish in the art of discovery!  God has indeed "concealed a matter" by not bothering to explain very much at all of the hows and the whys of nature, but has left it for us to unravel many mysteries of His creation.  And we do enjoy every new revelation of the complexities he "concealed".


3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
   so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.


3) Supporters and proponents of a particular office holder seem to be the ones most disturbed and confused by their candidate once he sits behind that desk.  We scratch our heads and wonder, "Why did he do THAT?"  Oh well.  Apparently, it is nothing new.


4 Remove the dross from the silver,
   and a silversmith can produce a vessel;


4) Nothing, and no one, is good enough, without some major refining.  (No, not one.)


5 remove wicked officials from the king's presence,
   and his throne will be established through righteousness. 


5) It is the first burden of the President, to select a capable and honorable cabinet.  Hopefully,           he can remove the "dross" and get on with the good work before his term is up!