Faith or Science?

Q: I grew up in the country 70 years ago. The complicated “science stuff” we have today didn’t exist, but the simple remedies worked. People in other countries have remedies that have lasted centuries without science. Why do you guys believe in science instead of faith?

A: Thank you for sharing your perspective. We appreciate the experience you must have gained over the years and a unique and valuable outlook on life and health. Many simple remedies have stood the test of time; traditional treatments, folk remedies passed on for generations, often have deep roots in practical experience and careful observation. Some of these remedies can be incredibly effective, and they’re an important part of our health heritage.

Yet the notion that one must choose between faith and science is a false dichotomy. In fact, faith and science can be viewed as complementary ways of understanding God’s creation. Rightly conducted and interpreted, modern science does not replace faith or inspired counsel, but works alongside them. True science is really just a systematic way of learning and understanding the world around us, including why some of those old remedies work so well. It helps us refine and improve on what we already know. So rather than being a “faith killer,” it can serve as a “faith enhancer.”

May we suggest you consider true science as a tool, like a good pair of reading glasses? It doesn’t change the book you’re reading, but it can help you see the details more clearly. In the same way, true science helps us understand and sometimes improve upon traditional remedies. The Bible encourages the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the natural world. Proverbs 25:2 states, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings” (NIV). This verse suggests that God intends for humans to explore and discover the intricacies of His creation. 

First Thessalonians 5:21 advises to “test all things; hold fast what is good.” Science provides a method to test claims and dispel superstitions that may contradict biblical truth. Our modern scientific understanding of health and disease has dispelled many harmful superstitions about illness and healing. Faith itself is based on evidence, and science is an evidence generator. We can thank God for giving us the wherewithal to learn.

Many early scientists, such as Johannes Kepler and Isaac Newton, were motivated by their faith to study the natural world, seeing it as a way to understand God’s handiwork better. Francis Bacon, considered one of the fathers of the scientific method, proposed the concept of “two books”—the book of Scripture (the Bible) and the book of nature. He argued that both were authored by God and therefore could not contradict each other when properly understood. But both faith and science require intellectual humility, acknowledging that our understanding is limited and always incomplete. We hope you can embrace true science as a gift from God and incorporate this into your view of His marvelous grace.