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Encountering Secular Science Michael Goheen Michael Goheen Trinity Western Trinity Western University University Langley, B.C., Canada Langley, B.C., Canada

Encountering Secular Science Michael Goheen Trinity Western University Langley, B.C., Canada

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Encountering Secular Science

Michael GoheenMichael Goheen

Trinity Western UniversityTrinity Western University

Langley, B.C., CanadaLangley, B.C., Canada

Starting with the Gospel

Restorative: Good news! God is Restorative: Good news! God is restoringrestoring creationcreation

Comprehensive: Good news! God is Comprehensive: Good news! God is restoring restoring allall of human life in the context of of human life in the context of allall of the creation of the creation

Story: Climax of long story of restorationStory: Climax of long story of restoration Mission: Given to church to make knownMission: Given to church to make known

The Spirit thrusts God’s people into worldwide missionHe impels young and old, men and women,To go next door and far awayInto science and art, media and marketplace, With the good news of God’s grace. . .

Following the apostles, the church is sent– Sent with the gospel of the kingdomTo tell the news that our world belongs to God. …In a world estranged from God,where millions face confusing choices,this mission is central to our being…

The rule of Jesus Christ covers the whole world.To follow this Lord is to serve him everywhere,without fitting in,as lights in the darkness,as salt in a spoiling world.

Starting Observations

Education good part of God’s creationEducation good part of God’s creation That has been corrupted by sinThat has been corrupted by sin Announcement of the kingdom includes Announcement of the kingdom includes

education within its scopeeducation within its scope Christian community sent to be good news Christian community sent to be good news

in area of educationin area of education Will involve an encounter with education Will involve an encounter with education

shaped by other idolatrous beliefsshaped by other idolatrous beliefs

Gospel will shape every part of educational enterprise including: Purpose of educationPurpose of education PedagogyPedagogy CurriculumCurriculum StructuresStructures LeadershipLeadership EvaluationEvaluation Content of subject matter in various Content of subject matter in various

disciplinesdisciplines

Importance of Ideas

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through the to it that no one takes you captive through the hollow and deceptive philosophy, which hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.principles of this world rather than on Christ.

- Colossian 2.6-8- Colossian 2.6-8

Ideas have legs

Ideas have legs in the sense that they are Ideas have legs in the sense that they are not the disembodied abstractions of some not the disembodied abstractions of some ivory-tower academic, but are real ivory-tower academic, but are real spiritual forces that go somewhere, that spiritual forces that go somewhere, that are on the march in somebody’s army, are on the march in somebody’s army, and that have a widespread effect on our and that have a widespread effect on our practical, everyday lives.practical, everyday lives.

Slaves of ideas?

The ideas of economists and political philosophers, The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed, more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed, the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt, from any believe themselves to be quite exempt, from any intellectual influences, are usually the slaves of some intellectual influences, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back. I am sure that academic scribbler of a few years back. I am sure that the power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated the power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas. compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas. (John Maynard Keynes)(John Maynard Keynes)

Power of ideas

My point is that in such seemingly My point is that in such seemingly innocent-looking words and phrases a innocent-looking words and phrases a whole idolatrous perspective on the world, a whole idolatrous perspective on the world, a whole distorted mind-set and humanistic whole distorted mind-set and humanistic thought-pattern is subliminally propagated thought-pattern is subliminally propagated in our civilization.in our civilization.

Power of secularized scholarship

‘ ‘. . . science, secularised and isolated, has . . . science, secularised and isolated, has become a satanic power, an idol which become a satanic power, an idol which dominates all of culture.’ (Herman dominates all of culture.’ (Herman Dooyeweerd)Dooyeweerd)

Idolatrous spirit of secular science

Ideas must be free from all religious Ideas must be free from all religious commitmentcommitment

Gospel religious optional extraGospel religious optional extra ‘‘Dogma-free’ scholarship an illusionDogma-free’ scholarship an illusion Deeply indebted to humanist religionDeeply indebted to humanist religion Helpful to trace historical roots of secular Helpful to trace historical roots of secular

sciencescience

Dualism of Augustine

Spiritual realm Spiritual realm HeavenHeaven

SoulSoul ChurchChurch Christian lifeChristian life

__________________________________________________________________________

Material realm Material realm EarthEarth

Body Body SocietySociety Cultural life Cultural life

Two Storeys of Thomas Aquinas

Spiritual realm Spiritual realm GRACEGRACE Supernatural Supernatural

SoulSoul ChurchChurch Christian lifeChristian life

FaithFaith RevelationRevelation TheologyTheology

____________________________________________________________________________________

Material realm Material realm NATURENATURE Natural Natural

Body Body SocietySociety Cultural life Cultural life Empirical reasonEmpirical reason Natural lawNatural law ScienceScience

From dualism to secularism

““. . . in connection with the history of his . . . in connection with the history of his influence the fact cannot be overlooked that influence the fact cannot be overlooked that the Christian mediaeval synthesis presented the Christian mediaeval synthesis presented by Thomas is one of extreme tension, and in by Thomas is one of extreme tension, and in the dynamic of historical development had the dynamic of historical development had effects which were to prove self-destructive: effects which were to prove self-destructive: there was to be an unprecedented and all-there was to be an unprecedented and all-embracing embracing movement of secularization and movement of secularization and emancipationemancipation ‘at the lower level.’”‘at the lower level.’” (K (Küng)üng)

Secularism in succeeding centuries

While scholastic theologians granted a While scholastic theologians granted a limited degree of autonomy to the realm of limited degree of autonomy to the realm of our natural life (and natural reason), the our natural life (and natural reason), the Renaissance humanists so greatly expanded Renaissance humanists so greatly expanded the autonomy of nature that there was no the autonomy of nature that there was no longer any need for the realm of grace. If longer any need for the realm of grace. If God and Christianity were already basically God and Christianity were already basically irrelevant to most of life, why not make irrelevant to most of life, why not make their irrelevance complete? (Walsh and their irrelevance complete? (Walsh and Middleton)Middleton)

Methodological Reason

DescartesMathematical Method

BaconEmpirical Method

NewtonScientific

Method

“Nature and nature’s laws lay hid in night; Godsaid ‘Let Newton be!’ and all was light.” -Alexander Pope

Triumph of humanist vision

Conflict with the churchConflict with the church

He sets the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved (Ps. 104:5).

O sun, stand still... so the sun stood still (Josh. 10:12f.).

The earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises (Eccl. 1:4f.).

People give ear to an upstart astrologer who strove to show that the earth revolves, not the heavens or the firmament, the sun and the moon. Whosoever wishes to appear clever must devise some new system which of all systems, of course, is the best. This fool wishes to reverse the entire science of astronomy; but Sacred Scripture tells us that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and not the earth.

-Martin Luther

The Copernican theory undoubtedly contained a challenge for the Catholic theology. But instead of accepting the challenge and reflecting on faith in a new perspective, the Church opted for an easy conservatism, keeping the enemy at bay by means of its anathemas. This failure to accept the challenge of a new world picture was a great loss to the Church and to Christianity.

-Max Wildiers

Triumph of humanist vision

Conflict with the churchConflict with the church

Triumph of humanist vision

Conversion ofEurope

Success in Newtonian Paradigm ofPhysics

Religious Wars

‘Science unites’

‘Gospel divides’

Historical results

Creation separated from presence of GodCreation separated from presence of God Natural laws built into creationNatural laws built into creation Can be discerned by autonomous reasonCan be discerned by autonomous reason Controlled to harness laws for social usesControlled to harness laws for social uses Technology and rational organisation of Technology and rational organisation of

societysociety

Creation according to Scripture

Secular world devoid of God’s presence

Deistic world devoid of God’s presence

Descartes method

MethodI ndividualknower

Subjectivefactors

Object tobe known

MethodologicalReason

Three uses of word ‘law’

Word God speaks to give creation orderWord God speaks to give creation order Lawful regularity we experience in creationLawful regularity we experience in creation Attempt at scientific, analytical formulation Attempt at scientific, analytical formulation

of these regularitiesof these regularities

E. D. Fackerell E. D. Fackerell

Fact-Value Dichotomy

TruthClaims

OpinionsValuesPrivateBelieve

TruthFactsPublicKnow

Neutral Reason?

Subjective factors affecting knowledge:

Social-Tradition-Community-Language-Culture-History-Faith

Personal-Feelings-Imagination-Subconscious-Gender-Class-Race

Two Idolatrous Positions

Rational Objectivism: Academic Rational Objectivism: Academic theory is religiously neutral theory is religiously neutral (modernity)(modernity)

Radical Relativism: Knowledge of Radical Relativism: Knowledge of reality is product of our beliefs reality is product of our beliefs only (postmodenity)only (postmodenity)

Testing our times by the Spirit’s sure word

But rebel cries sound through our world.But rebel cries sound through our world.Some, crushed by failure or hardened by Some, crushed by failure or hardened by pain, give up on life and hope and God;pain, give up on life and hope and God;Others, shaken but still hoping for human Others, shaken but still hoping for human triumph, work feverishly to realise their triumph, work feverishly to realise their dreams.dreams.As believers in God we join this struggle of As believers in God we join this struggle of the spiritsthe spiritsTesting our times by the Spirit’s sure wordTesting our times by the Spirit’s sure word

Testing our times

Rational Objectivism: Academic theory is religiously Rational Objectivism: Academic theory is religiously neutral (modernity)neutral (modernity)

ResponseResponse Agree: Stable creation order all can knowAgree: Stable creation order all can know Disagree: Beliefs shape our theoriesDisagree: Beliefs shape our theories

Radical Relativism: Knowledge of reality is product of Radical Relativism: Knowledge of reality is product of our beliefs only (postmodernity)our beliefs only (postmodernity)ResponseResponse Agree: Beliefs shape our theoriesAgree: Beliefs shape our theories DisagreeDisagree

Religious beliefs most importantReligious beliefs most importantConstant order of creation that can be knownConstant order of creation that can be known

God’s Ruling Word

The Bible shows us a personalistic world, not The Bible shows us a personalistic world, not impersonal law. What we call scientific law is impersonal law. What we call scientific law is an approximate human description of just how an approximate human description of just how faithfully and consistently God acts in ruling faithfully and consistently God acts in ruling the world by speaking. There is not the world by speaking. There is not mathematical, physical, or theoretical cosmic mathematical, physical, or theoretical cosmic machinery behind what we see and know, machinery behind what we see and know, holding everything in place. Rather God rules holding everything in place. Rather God rules and rules consistently and rules consistently

- Vern Poythress- Vern Poythress

Three uses of word ‘law’

Word God speaks to give creation orderWord God speaks to give creation order Lawful regularity we experience in creationLawful regularity we experience in creation Attempt at scientific, analytical formulation Attempt at scientific, analytical formulation

of these regularitiesof these regularities

E. D. Fackerell E. D. Fackerell

A Biblical Example

John’s use of classical pagan thoughtJohn’s use of classical pagan thought

“The time has come. The kingdom of God isnear. Repent and believe the good news.”

(Mark 1:15)

“I must preach the good news of the kingdom ofGod to other towns also, because that is why Iwas sent.”

(Luke 4:43)

In the synoptic gospels the Kingdom of God is:

Central image for the JewsCentral image for the Jews

Central image for JesusCentral image for Jesus

Central image for Matthew, Mark, LukeCentral image for Matthew, Mark, Luke

“You are from below, I am from above; you are of thisworld, I am not of this world” (John 8:23).

“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one whocame from heaven--the Son of Man” (John 3:13).

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasnot overcome it” (John 1:5).

“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one whocame from heaven--the Son of Man” (John 3:13).

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that whichis born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6).

In John’s gospel...

He employs images popular in classical He employs images popular in classical culture and philosophyculture and philosophy

Heaven/earth, life/death, light/darkness, Heaven/earth, life/death, light/darkness, flesh/spiritflesh/spirit

Do we have a different gospel?

Bultmann’s answer: Yes

- S y n o p t ic s J e w i s h c a te g o r ie s H o r iz o n ta l , in t im e

R e n e w a l o f c re a t io n In k i n g d o m o f G o d

-J o h n G r e e k c a t e g o r i e s V e r t ic a l , in s p a c e S a lv a t io n o f in d iv id u a ls In h e a v e n

Do we have a different gospel?

J o h n a r t ic u la te d th e s a m e g o sp e l in fre sh la n g u a g ein a n e w c u ltu ra l c o n te x t .

T h e l a n g u a g e r e f l e c t e d a p a g a n w o r ld v ie w y e t w a st r a n s fo r m e d a n d s u b v e r t e d b y th e g o s p e l .

My answer: No

John 1:1,14

In the beginning was the logos...In the beginning was the logos...

...and the logos became sarx....and the logos became sarx.

Encounter with pagan thought

Insight: Order to worldInsight: Order to world Idolatry: Order not spiritual Idolatry: Order not spiritual

principle that permeates universe principle that permeates universe but given by Jesusbut given by Jesus

Discernment

What is insight into God’s What is insight into God’s creation?creation?

What is idolatry that twists that What is idolatry that twists that insight?insight?

Christian School Teacher?

Deepen our understanding of the Western Deepen our understanding of the Western story and its idolatrous beliefsstory and its idolatrous beliefs

Need to tackle this as an educational Need to tackle this as an educational communitycommunity

Need for spiritual weaponsNeed for spiritual weapons Roots into the gospelRoots into the gospel PrayerPrayer

Prayer

In ‘. . . our vocation to war against the spirit In ‘. . . our vocation to war against the spirit of apostasy . . .’ we cannot ‘battle this spirit of apostasy . . .’ we cannot ‘battle this spirit in our own power. The warfare to which I in our own power. The warfare to which I refer is one of faith, a struggle even with refer is one of faith, a struggle even with ourselves, in the power of the Holy Spirit, a ourselves, in the power of the Holy Spirit, a struggle which finds its dynamic in a life of struggle which finds its dynamic in a life of prayer.’ (Herman Dooyeweerd)prayer.’ (Herman Dooyeweerd)