Christianity and Science I: Friend or Foe?
[Part 1 of 4 on a Christian’s view of science.]“Science says…”
How many times have you read that phrase in a headline, seen it scroll across a news ticker, or heard it in conversation? In our world, “science says” has almost become a substitute for “truth says.” Science carries authority. And for good reason: modern science has cured diseases, extended lifespans, and unlocked mysteries of the universe. Yet, because science is so respected, many people assume that Christianity and science must be locked in a fight for authority. You can be a Christian or a scientist—but not both.
That assumption is wrong. More than that, it is historically uninformed and spiritually harmful. As Christians, we confess that “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). Science does not silence this testimony. Done rightly, it amplifies it.
This first article in our series will show how Christianity and science are not enemies but allies. In fact, the very foundations of science rest upon Christian convictions about God, creation, and humanity.
The Myth of Conflict
When people assume faith and science are in conflict, they are usually drawing on a cultural myth rather than history. In the Enlightenment era (17th–18th centuries), human reason was elevated as the ultimate standard of truth. Faith, by contrast, was reduced to a private opinion or superstition. This cultural shift created the so-called “warfare model” between science and Christianity, popularized in the 19th century and dramatized in media ever since. Think of sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory, where the devout scientist mocks religion as unscientific, or documentaries where faith is portrayed as a roadblock to discovery.
But historically that’s not how science developed. Far from being enemies, faith fostered science and walked hand-in-hand for centuries.
The Christian Roots of Science
Modern science was born in a deeply Christian environment. The great universities of Europe—Oxford, Cambridge, Paris—were established by Christians who believed truth is unified under God. Theology was considered the “queen of the sciences,” providing the framework within which mathematics, astronomy, and medicine could be studied.
Why? Because Christianity provides certain convictions that makes science possible:
The universe is orderly.
If the world were chaotic, governed by unpredictable chance, studying it would be pointless. But Christians believed the world was created by a wise and rational God. They expected to find patterns and laws because they trusted the Creator who spoke the universe into being with order and purpose.The human mind is reliable.
Christians confessed that humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Our minds are not random products of chaos but gifts from a intelligent Creator. This gave early scientists confidence that they could discover real truth about the world.Creation is good and worth studying.
Unlike philosophies that viewed matter as corrupt or unimportant, Christianity affirmed the goodness of creation (Genesis 1:31). Exploring the world was not a waste of time but an act of praise to the Creator.
This theological soil gave rise to the scientific revolution. Figures like Johannes Kepler, who discovered the laws of planetary motion, explicitly described his work as “thinking God’s thoughts after him.” Isaac Newton, considered one of the greatest scientists in history, wrote far more about theology than physics. Louis Pasteur, the father of microbiology, grounded his work in his belief that creation reflected divine craftsmanship. James Clerk Maxwell, who laid the foundations for modern physics, insisted on carving Psalm 111:2 above the entrance of his laboratory: “The works of the Lord are great, sought out by all of them that have pleasure therein.”
Christianity didn’t hold science back, it provided the environment where it could flourish.
Why the Conflict Narrative Persists
If this is true, why do so many still assume science and faith are opposed? In part, because some Christians have dismissed scientific inquiry out of fear, while some scientists have dismissed faith out of arrogance. Both missteps fuel the narrative of conflict.
But the deeper reason is philosophical. Over time, a cultural belief called scientism (which we’ll address in the next article) has taken hold. Scientism claims that science is the only or best way to know anything. This belief leaves no room for theology or morality as knowledge. Faith is relegated to opinion, while “science says” gets the final word.
The result? Many assume you must choose: believe in God or use your brain. Thankfully, that’s a false assumption.
A Christian Lens: Two Books
Christians understand that God reveals Himself through two “books”: the book of nature and the book of Scripture. Nature declares God’s power and majesty (Romans 1:20; Psalm 19), but only Scripture reveals His saving love in Jesus Christ.
This distinction brings clarity. Science, as the study of God’s creation, is valuable—it can observe, explore, and explain aspects of the natural world. But science cannot answer life’s deepest questions: the meaning of life, the purpose of suffering, or the way of salvation. Those answers belong to God’s Word.
Both “books” are true, yet only Scripture proclaims the Gospel—that Christ died for sinners and rose again to give them justification. Without Scripture, people are left to interpret nature on their own, offering only human explanations with no final answers to “Why?” or “What’s it all for?”
Christians, however, read both books together—viewing creation and life itself through the light of God’s grace revealed in his Word.
The Joy of Vocation
So what does this mean for Christians interested in science? It means that studying the created world is not a threat to faith but a Christian vocation. Vocation means the specific calling or work God gives each person through which they serve him and their neighbor in ordinary, everyday life. Vocation includes far more than church work or paid jobs—it also includes roles like being a parent, teacher, friend, or citizen. God has given humanity the task of caring for his creation (Genesis 1:28) and so scientific work—whether in medicine, technology, agriculture, or astronomy—is one clear way of fulfilling that vocation. As Kepler prayed after completing his astronomical studies: “I give you thanks, Lord Creator, because you have delighted me with your creation, and I have rejoiced in the works of your hands.” (“Harmonices Mundi” [The Harmony of the World], 1619)
Conclusion: Friends, Not Foes
Christianity and science are not enemies. The myth of conflict is just that—a myth. In reality, Christianity provided the foundation for science, and, when practiced for God’s glory, science continues to be a God-pleasing vocation for Christians today.
So the next time you hear “science says,” don’t feel threatened. Instead, remember that all truth is God’s truth. The laws of physics, the complexity of biology, and the mysteries of space are all testimonies to the wisdom of the One who made them. And even more, they are invitations to worship the Creator and Redeemer of all.
Reflection Questions:
What part of creation most fills you with awe?
How does knowing the Christian roots of science shape the way you view scientific research today?
How can you see your own work—whether scientific or not—as a vocation to glorify God and serve your neighbor?
Suggested Scripture: Psalm 19
Further Sources for Diving Deeper:
John Polkinghorne, Science and Creation: The Search for Understanding (New Science Library, 1988).
A physicist-theologian explains why belief in an ordered creation grounds the possibility of science.Alister McGrath, Science and Religion: A New Introduction (3rd ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2020).
Helpful survey of how Christian theology historically nurtured the rise of modern science.James Clerk Maxwell’s Laboratory Inscription: “Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them” (Psalm 111:2). For context on Maxwell’s faith, see C.W.F. Everitt, James Clerk Maxwell: Physicist and Natural Philosopher (1975).
Rodney Stark, For the Glory of God (Princeton University Press, 2003).
Argues that modern science developed in Christian Europe precisely because of biblical convictions about God and creation.Trevor Sutton & Brian Smith, Redeeming Technology: A Christian Approach to Healthy Digital Habits (Concordia Publishing House, 2021).
While focused on technology, it provides a Lutheran framework for understanding science as vocation.Martin Luther, Large Catechism, First Article of the Creed.
Luther’s exposition of God as Creator and provider, grounding a Christian view of the natural world as gift.Institute for Lutheran Apologetics (ILA) – www.lutheranapologetics.org
Resources from a confessional Lutheran perspective on science, creation, and apologetics.