SCIENCE AND UNBELIEF

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). These words were spoken by a man desperate to believe that Jesus could heal his son. His statement was both an expression of faith and an admission that his faith was far from perfect. And this odd mixture of faith and doubt is something that many of us experience. In recent years, religious disbelief has become a focus for scientific study. This series of articles explores how the results of this research might help unbelief.

If science and religion are in conflict, as is commonly portrayed by the media, the idea that science could lessen unbelief may be met with a degree of suspicion. Does not science deny all things supernatural? Yes, but we escape this drawback by recognising that science’s exclusion of the supernatural is a simplifying assumption which is open to question. Re-interpreting scientific data from a perspective that allows for God’s existence is a valid extension to the scientific method that offers a deeper understanding of the natural world. From this stand-point, the inclination to disbelieve can be understood as a neurobiological deficiency that reflects humanity’s flawed character, as displayed by an innate tendency to put self ahead of relationship with God. But we should remember that by becoming flesh and dwelling among us, God gained first hand knowledge of the biological entities we are, along with all our failings including our predisposition towards unbelief.

By replacing ignorance with knowledge, a scientific understanding of how some people come to deny God’s existence can reduce fearfulness of unbelief, not only when it co-exists with faith but also when there is faithlessness. Jesus healed the man’s son despite the father’s imperfect faith. Insights into the science of unbelief can enable us reflect Jesus’ compassion for people suffering unbelief. Perhaps it might also assist in overcoming unbelief, just as medical science can contribute to God’s healing ministry through the work of health professionals. We can call to mind the words of the eminent British physicist Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), who said “If you think strongly enough you will be forced by science to the belief in God”