“When Science Comes to Church”

I think that this article makes some good points:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/march-web-only/when-science-comes-to-church.html?start=1

One of my personal hopes is to have the Interpreter Foundation sponsor another conference on science and religion (we’ve already sponsored two), but this time with the focus on science as a religious experience.  (Ideally, of course, we would have one or more co-sponsors, as well.)

I would like to hear from practicing scientists and mathematicians on the feelings of awe, wonder, astonishment, beauty, and etc., that they have had while doing their work.  Such things have been mentioned to me privately, and in books and articles that I’ve read.  I’ve even encountered mathematicians and scientists who’ve regarded scientific research as, in a very real sense, a mode of worship.

I wouldn’t be seeking particular theological conclusions nor, necessarily, arguments for God on the basis of science — although such expressions would be welcomed, according to the predilections of those speaking.

I’m more interested in the utterly basic religious sensations of cosmic order, splendor, and so forth that such scientists feel or have felt.

For them, plainly, science and religion aren’t at war.  They’re complementary.  Supplementary.

I think the general public needs to hear such statements.

I mentioned something like this here before, and I had offers of help from at least three readers.  One, I know, is a graduate student in mathematics.  Another is a librarian.  The third is a physicist in New Mexico.  If they’re reading this, I would appreciate it if they could drop me another note.  I want to start, at least, with seriously fleshing this idea out.

Posted from Honolulu, Hawaii