LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PASTORAL COUNSELING PACO 506 c c c c c c c c c c c
c 1
As an engineer and minister of God's word for more than 16 years, I have often struggled
with the roles of science and religion or faith in my own life. Therefore, I am looking
forward to the study and discussion of these two topics in the perception of the worldview.
Entwistle’s story on his hike through the woods, and how his perception limited his overall
view. So too our shared experiences and assumptions play a significant role on how we
view our world and consequently what we believe! It gives new meaning to the scripture
“walk by faith and not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)
I have always considered myself a realist, not an optimist, not a pessimist, but a realist.
For the mountains or problems that we face are real, but we also serve a real and living
and merciful God! “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible
with God!” Mark 10:27 (NIV)
I have experienced many times as a senior design manager, where we as a Team
encountered highly complex, technical engineering problems; where it seems no solution is
possible; but as a leader of my Team, we always work together in faith to do additional
field investigation or to perform additional research or to just to continue to push, to strive,
to press on as a Team with the hope that solution will present itself or will reveal itself!
And guess what God always provided every time, as HE is my witness! So much so that
my own fellow coworkers, customers and contractors were often drawn to the servant
leadership of Christ exhibited c - c peace, understanding, commitment and calm during the
storm! God shows out and gets all the glory, if we just but believe and follow the science
to the end. God will reveal his handiwork and masterpiece of the world in which we live.
In my experience science and faith complement one another, if one is to more fully
understand how God works in our life and in our world. We begin to see that truly God is
2
real and that HE is able to solve all of our real problems no matter what may what it may
be! No problem is too great for our Lord!
Albert Einstein speaks of science and religion as being “….very close connection between
the two. ….science without religion is lame, and conversely that religion without science is
blind.” Entwistle (2015)
As a born and raised Roman Catholic I am familiar with the writings of Thomas Aquinas
and Saint Augustine, although in the past some of their writings admittedly has been
somewhat difficult to understand.
I do identify with Pope John Paul II’s teaching on compatibility of science and faith in
Fides et ratio 1998 papal encyclical, where he wrote “Both the light of reason and the light
of faith come from God, ….and hence there is no contradiction between them.” And also
that “Faith therefore has no fear of reason, but seeks it out and has trust in it. Just as grace
builds on nature c brings it to fulfillment, so faith builds upon and perfects reason. Illumined
by faith, reason is set free from the fragility and limitations deriving from the disobedience
of sin it finds the strength required to rise to the knowledge of the Triune God.” Ooh I
love that!!
Saint Augustine also “…emphasized the priority of faith over reason since faith comes from
God via revelation, and philosophy from the reasoning of fallen human beings. Yet the two
were not generally seen as irreconcilable and overall philosophy has seen as useful to
theology.” Entwistle (2015)
I also follow Anselm of Canterbury’s thoughts “For I do not seek to understand in order to
believe, but I believe in order to understand. For I believe even this: that unless I believe I
shall not understand.” Entwistle (2015)
3
At a significant marker event in my life from my Lord in 1999, I was able to see the
thousands of Kosovo refugees due to war, and to sense His Almighty Presence, and to
know that He is a real and living God! Thru the years since, I have been looking to
understand my God more by reading his Word and understanding how God works within
my life and service.
I left the Roman Catholic Church after 40 years; realizing that I have been fed milk and
not with the meat of God's Word, which I knew very little about. I eventually moved to a
Baptist Church, then to a non-denominational Church, and became involved in the homeless
and prison ministry at the church. My first sermon was at the local detention center and
shortly thereafter Hurricane Katrina hit my hometown of New Orleans, and actually
preached my first sermon again at Church before my recently exiled parents from New
Orleans - 16 years ago to almost this very day of 29 August 2005.
I do have difficulty accepting within my spirit the Evangelical fundamentalist views (blind)
and also Darwin's evolutionary theory (lame) for a number of reasons.
As expressed in the course literature, my goal is to become more biblically responsible,
relationally wise and ministry savvy. I am eager to earn more arrows in my quiver to use
in ministry. The integration of science and religion and faith can be a formidable weapon
against ignorance, misinformation and lies! Jesus says “I am the way, and the truth and the
life. No man comes to the Father except through me!” John 14:6 (NIV)
Amen!
4
References
Entwistle (2015). Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity 3rd Edition, An
Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of
Integration. Eugene, Oregon: Published by CASCADE Books.
John Paul II (1998) Fides et ratio papal encyclical, section 43, para. 1 and 2.
