The Science of Life and The Science of Life and the God of Lifethe God of Life

Chapter 1Chapter 1

God and ScienceGod and Science• People are looking to science to People are looking to science to

answer all the questions.answer all the questions.– Disease CuresDisease Cures– CloningCloning– Stem Cell ResearchStem Cell Research– Bible teaches that things are getting Bible teaches that things are getting

worse and the God is the source of all worse and the God is the source of all that is good. But…some people claim that is good. But…some people claim that science advancements are that science advancements are improving man’s existence and this will improving man’s existence and this will continue to get better.continue to get better.

– How do you know what to believe????How do you know what to believe????

ScienceScience

• Basic Definition: A body of facts that Basic Definition: A body of facts that man has gathered by observing the man has gathered by observing the physical universe.physical universe.– Facts – something that is trueFacts – something that is true

• Problem: How do we know what is Problem: How do we know what is true?true?

TruthTruth

• What Everybody BelievesWhat Everybody Believes– Grammar RulesGrammar Rules– SpellingSpelling– Procedures to followProcedures to follow

• Hippocrates – believed in “Doctrine of Hippocrates – believed in “Doctrine of Humors” – living things are composed of Humors” – living things are composed of four fluids (humors). Fluids must be four fluids (humors). Fluids must be correctly proportioned for health.correctly proportioned for health.

• People accepted this for centuries.People accepted this for centuries.

Truth (Con’t)Truth (Con’t)

• A Hunch That WorksA Hunch That Works– Mathematics – arriving at the right Mathematics – arriving at the right

answer by a wrong path….OK or not OK?answer by a wrong path….OK or not OK?– Doctrine of Signatures – Remedies were Doctrine of Signatures – Remedies were

prescribed by the belief that God prescribed by the belief that God provided the “signature” cure. provided the “signature” cure. •Yellow lichen used to cure Jaundice.Yellow lichen used to cure Jaundice.•Liverwort used to cure liver diseases.Liverwort used to cure liver diseases.

– If it did cure the disease it was a If it did cure the disease it was a coincidence.coincidence.

Truth (Con’t)Truth (Con’t)

• Repeated ObservationsRepeated Observations– Something becomes true solely because Something becomes true solely because

it can be repeated.it can be repeated.•The boy who cried wolf.The boy who cried wolf.

•A magician “levitates” a person repeatedly…A magician “levitates” a person repeatedly…does that mean that the Law of Gravity is does that mean that the Law of Gravity is wrong?wrong?

Truth (Con’t)Truth (Con’t)

• That Which Is LogicalThat Which Is Logical– Some people believe that if it makes Some people believe that if it makes

sense it must be true.sense it must be true.– Logical ReasoningLogical Reasoning

• Inductive Reasoning – begins with a number Inductive Reasoning – begins with a number of observed facts and uses them to derive a of observed facts and uses them to derive a general conclusion. Boys vs. Girls eating.general conclusion. Boys vs. Girls eating.

•Deductive Reasoning – begins with general Deductive Reasoning – begins with general principles assumed to be true and draws principles assumed to be true and draws conclusions about specificsconclusions about specifics

Truth (Con’t)Truth (Con’t)

• That Which Is Accepted by FaithThat Which Is Accepted by Faith– Faith is what a person believesFaith is what a person believes– Everyone has their own beliefsEveryone has their own beliefs– Problem: No AbsolutesProblem: No Absolutes– If a person does not believe in hell…that If a person does not believe in hell…that

hell no longer exist?hell no longer exist?

Truth (Con’t)Truth (Con’t)

• The Word of GodThe Word of God– John 14:6 John 14:6 – A person must accept the truth of the A person must accept the truth of the

Bible by faith….however the physical Bible by faith….however the physical world around us testifies to the power of world around us testifies to the power of GodGod

God’s Truth and ScienceGod’s Truth and Science

• Revealed truth: those truths God has Revealed truth: those truths God has recorded in Scripturerecorded in Scripture

• Unrevealed truth: those truths, the Unrevealed truth: those truths, the natural laws, that God established natural laws, that God established but did not reveal in Scripturebut did not reveal in Scripture

• Fallacy: any statement not a part of Fallacy: any statement not a part of revealed or unrevealed truthrevealed or unrevealed truth

Statement CategoriesStatement Categories

• Revealed truth: that which is Revealed truth: that which is revealed in Scripture, whether or not revealed in Scripture, whether or not man has scientifically proved it. If it man has scientifically proved it. If it is in the Bible, it is already true is in the Bible, it is already true without requiring proofwithout requiring proof

• Theory: that which is thought to be Theory: that which is thought to be true, is not revealed truth but may true, is not revealed truth but may be a part of unrevealed truthbe a part of unrevealed truth

Statement Categories Statement Categories (Con’t)(Con’t)• Fallacy: that which contradicts God’s Fallacy: that which contradicts God’s

revealed truth, no matter how scientific, how revealed truth, no matter how scientific, how commonly believed, or how apparently commonly believed, or how apparently workable or logical it may seem; or that workable or logical it may seem; or that which is contradicted by scientific evidencewhich is contradicted by scientific evidence

• Truth by definition: that which is true Truth by definition: that which is true because man has defined it, as in because man has defined it, as in mathematics, grammar, spelling, and the mathematics, grammar, spelling, and the meanings of words.meanings of words.

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

• A logical procedure for choosing an A logical procedure for choosing an answer to a question.answer to a question.– i.e. i.e.

•Choosing a ripe fruit.Choosing a ripe fruit.

•Choosing a correct path.Choosing a correct path.

•Choosing clothing.Choosing clothing.

•Should I wear a coat?Should I wear a coat?

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

• Problem – identifies or observes; researchProblem – identifies or observes; research• Hypothesis – an educated guess at the Hypothesis – an educated guess at the

solution to the problemsolution to the problem• Experiment - observe and record dataExperiment - observe and record data• Analyze – classify and organize the dataAnalyze – classify and organize the data• Conclusion – choose an answerConclusion – choose an answer• Verify – repeat the experiment and obtain Verify – repeat the experiment and obtain

identical resultsidentical results

Scientific Method Scientific Method InformationInformation

• Experiment vs. SurveyExperiment vs. Survey• Data – pieces of informationData – pieces of information• Experiment – controlling all the conditions Experiment – controlling all the conditions

of two or more identical groups then of two or more identical groups then altering only one factor within one groupaltering only one factor within one group– Independent Variable – the experimental variableIndependent Variable – the experimental variable– Experimental Group – one exposed to in. variableExperimental Group – one exposed to in. variable– Dependent Variable – factor that results from or Dependent Variable – factor that results from or

is dependent on the Independent Variableis dependent on the Independent Variable

The Limits of ScienceThe Limits of Science

• Scientific investigations must deal with Scientific investigations must deal with physical phenomena because experiments or physical phenomena because experiments or surveys must have observable, measurable surveys must have observable, measurable data to support a conclusion.data to support a conclusion.

• The beginning of life, the future, and spiritual The beginning of life, the future, and spiritual concepts such as heaven, angels, man’s soul, concepts such as heaven, angels, man’s soul, and hell cannot be observed or measured; and hell cannot be observed or measured; they are beyond the domain of science.they are beyond the domain of science.

• All that can be known about these things is All that can be known about these things is revealed in Scripture. These are a matter of revealed in Scripture. These are a matter of faith.faith.

The Limits of ScienceThe Limits of Science

• Science must deal with observable, Science must deal with observable, measurable phenomena.measurable phenomena.

• Science can only describe, not explain.Science can only describe, not explain.• No experiment can be completely controlled.No experiment can be completely controlled.• Observations may be faulty.Observations may be faulty.• Man’s beliefs affect his judgment.Man’s beliefs affect his judgment.• Science must deal with repeatable results.Science must deal with repeatable results.• Science cannot deal with values or morals.Science cannot deal with values or morals.• Science cannot prove a universal statement.Science cannot prove a universal statement.• Science cannot establish truth.Science cannot establish truth.

Science and the BibleScience and the Bible

• The Word of God and true science The Word of God and true science NEVER contradict each other!!!NEVER contradict each other!!!

• God created the world…man observes God created the world…man observes the world and makes statements. the world and makes statements. When the statement is true it lines up When the statement is true it lines up with the Bible…when the statement is with the Bible…when the statement is false it may contradict the Bible.false it may contradict the Bible.

• Evolution vs. CreationEvolution vs. Creation• ElectricityElectricity

The Proper Place of ScienceThe Proper Place of Science

• Bias – a strong opinion or belief that Bias – a strong opinion or belief that could affect a person’s judgment.could affect a person’s judgment.

• Workability – the ability to use Workability – the ability to use information gained from scientific information gained from scientific method in other circumstances to method in other circumstances to predict outcomes.predict outcomes.– Michigan is the best college football Michigan is the best college football

teamteam– Everyone should have a dog!Everyone should have a dog!

Biology and the Study of Biology and the Study of LifeLife

• Bio – life; logos – study of (literally - word)Bio – life; logos – study of (literally - word)

• Living Condition – must contain:Living Condition – must contain:– Exhibit movement – internal or externalExhibit movement – internal or external– Achieve growth – growth by assimilation – the Achieve growth – growth by assimilation – the

assembling of the component parts that make assembling of the component parts that make up their living materialup their living material

– Reproduces – must be capable of reproduction Reproduces – must be capable of reproduction – making of another similar organism – making of another similar organism

• Comes from similar preexisting life – Comes from similar preexisting life – biogenesis is now widely accepted biogenesis is now widely accepted therefore no need for spontaneous therefore no need for spontaneous generation.generation.– Variations are acceptable – weight, color,Variations are acceptable – weight, color,

• Has similar chemical makeup – all Has similar chemical makeup – all things are made up of the same basic things are made up of the same basic chemical elements in similar chemical elements in similar compounds.compounds.

• Is composed of cells – every living Is composed of cells – every living thing is made of either a single cell or thing is made of either a single cell or many cells – units of protoplasm (the many cells – units of protoplasm (the living material of an organism)living material of an organism)

• Exhibits irritability – the capacity of an Exhibits irritability – the capacity of an organism to respond to stimuli.organism to respond to stimuli.

• Requires energy – all living things required a Requires energy – all living things required a constant supply of energyconstant supply of energy

• Maintains a high level or organization – being Maintains a high level or organization – being alive requires molecules to be highly organizedalive requires molecules to be highly organized

• Faces death – all things that are alive will Faces death – all things that are alive will eventually dieeventually die

• LIFE – can be defined as a highly organized LIFE – can be defined as a highly organized cellular condition that is derived from cellular condition that is derived from preexisting life; that requires energy to carry on preexisting life; that requires energy to carry on processes such as growth, movement, processes such as growth, movement, reproduction, and responses; and that faces reproduction, and responses; and that faces death.death.

• VERY important to understand as well as VERY important to understand as well as memorize!!memorize!!

MicroscopyMicroscopy• An instrument to aid the visualizing items too An instrument to aid the visualizing items too

small for the naked eye.small for the naked eye.

• Parts:Parts:– Eyepiece lens – magnifies the imageEyepiece lens – magnifies the image– Body tube – tube between eye piece and objective Body tube – tube between eye piece and objective

lenslens– Objective lens – magnifies and gathers lightObjective lens – magnifies and gathers light– Stage - where specimen is placedStage - where specimen is placed– Condenser – focuses lightCondenser – focuses light– Light source - lightLight source - light– Coarse and fine adjustment – focuses image by Coarse and fine adjustment – focuses image by

moving stage up or downmoving stage up or down

MicroscopeMicroscope• An instrument to aid the An instrument to aid the

visualizing items too small visualizing items too small for the naked eye.for the naked eye.

• Parts:Parts:– Eyepiece lens – magnifies the Eyepiece lens – magnifies the

imageimage– Body tube – tube between eye Body tube – tube between eye

piece and objective lenspiece and objective lens– Objective lens – magnifies and Objective lens – magnifies and

gathers lightgathers light– Stage - where specimen is Stage - where specimen is

placedplaced– Condenser – focuses lightCondenser – focuses light– Light source - lightLight source - light– Coarse and fine adjustment – Coarse and fine adjustment –

focuses image by moving focuses image by moving stage up or downstage up or down