NASA Astronaut: "Science Doesn't Contradict Christianity"

A former NASA astronaut said he believes the study of nature and science are intertwined with Scripture at the opening of a new exhibit at the Museum of the Bible about the Bible's role in the relationship between science and Christianity. 

His comments are very informative. And inspiring.

Be informed, not misled.

The conflict between God's Word and Darwin's theory.

“The parents have a right to say that no teacher paid by their money shall rob their children of faith in God and send them back to their homes skeptical, or infidels, or agnostics, or atheists.” — William Jennings Bryan.J. 1925.

“Here, we find today as brazen and as bold an attempt to destroy learning as was ever made in the middle ages, and the only difference is we have not provided that they shall be burned at the stake, but there is time for that, your Honor.” — Clarence  Darrow, 1925

Ninety-eight years ago this summer the infamous Scopes “Monkey” Trial convened in Dayton, Tenn. What many called the “trial of the century” was held inside and outside Judge John Raulston’s steamy courtroom in July 1925.

It was the contest between Creationism and Evolution. God vs Darwin---the Bible vs Science, for the mind of the child in the classroom.

Ultimately Darwin would win on a technicality.

Darwin is dead.

Since those times, Charles Darwin has been elevated to a god-like scientist because of his theories. They represented what those opposed to God the Creator wanted to believe.

Darwin infamously and regularly denied the very existence of God:

Here are some of his comments:

• "There is no evidence that man was aboriginally endowed with the ennobling belief in the existence of an Omnipotent God."
• "The idea of a universal and beneficent Creator does not seem to arise in the mind of man, until he has been elevated by long-continued culture."
• "I am sorry to have to inform you that I do not believe in the Bible as a divine revelation, & therefore not in Jesus Christ as the Son of God."

There are volumes written about Darwin's non-belief in God and His Word.

Here's the problem. Continued scientific discovery has put so many holes in Darwin's theories that honest scientists today are embarrassed by most of his beliefs and theories. They simply don't stand up in the light of truth.

He seemed to recognize the errors of his ways when he instructed his son not to publish his essay.

In 1873 Darwin's son George wrote an essay that boldly dismissed prayer, divine morals, and "future rewards & punishments. I would urge you not to publish it for some months, at the soonest, & then consider whether you think it new & important enough to counterbalance the evils," he told his son.

What were the evils?

"The evils on giving pain to others, & injuring your own power & usefulness... It is an old doctrine of mine that it is of foremost importance for a young author to publish... only what is very good & new... remember that an enemy might ask who is this man... that he should give to the world his opinions on the deepest subjects?... but my advice is to pause, pause, pause."

Darwin is dead. And so are most of his anti-God ideas about evolution.

Christianity is not estranged from science.

Too often it has been said that science and faith just don't mix -- but nothing could be further from the truth. Real science doesn't contradict the Christian faith. In fact, it soundly and emphatically affirms it.

Jeffery  N. Williams is a retired astronaut with a bio too long to include here, but here's a summary:

Jeffrey N. Williams (Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret.) flew on Expedition 47/48 which completed his fourth mission, making it a record-breaking mission aboard the International Space Station. He has now has spent 534 days in space. The Wisconsin native was a Flight Engineer and lead spacewalker for STS-101 in 2000, Flight Engineer for Expedition 13 in 2005 and Expedition 21 in 2009, where he worked as Flight Engineer and then as commander for Expedition 22. Selected as an astronaut in 1996, Williams graduated first in the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School class 103 in 1993.

Williams is now involved in a new exhibit at the Museum of the Bible that demonstrates that science and religion [biblical Christianity] are not at odds.

Jeff Williams told The Christian Post during a visit to the exhibit titled, "Scripture and Science: Our Universe, Ourselves, Our Place," that he spent 534 days in space from 2000 to 2016. 

Williams, who has been heavily involved in scientific research relating to astronomical studies for roughly 26 years, said the new exhibit reaffirmed his belief that science goes hand-in-hand with Christianity, each complimenting the other.  

A devout Christian, Williams previously attended a Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregation for many years and now attends a Bible church in Washington state.

"Science does not contradict Christianity. There is no contradiction. The contradiction comes into your philosophy going into your science," said Williams. "And your philosophy acknowledges a God that has either revealed Himself specifically in the scriptures of the Bible or your philosophy discounts or doesn't allow a God. Then, you have to explain the existence of everything by chance over time."

Williams believes there is a God who has revealed Himself in creation as well as in His Word.

The creators of this exhibit, which opened on January 19th at the Museum of the Bible, say they "hoped that in creating and designing this exhibition, people would see that Scripture and science are not in conflict but are in a conversation that is ongoing. And in recent years, it seems like there is more conflict, but there is a long history that proves that faith and science are not at odds with each other."

The exhibit, "Along with manuscripts and rare printed books... will include letters from pioneering scientists and early photographic plates from members of the Sisters of the Holy Child Mary, a Roman Catholic order, who in the early 20th century helped map the stars visible in the night sky."

Rediscovering the "old path."

He says, "Many of the scientists in the age of science — who we all read about in our textbooks about the laws of physics and chemistry — were believers first. They were theologians first. People like Kepler and Newton and Faraday and Maxwell, and many others. They were driven by their faith and their understanding of their calling before God to fulfill that calling."  

Williams said the first Great Commission, which can be drawn out of Genesis 1:28 to "subdue God's Creation," was obeyed by many early scientists. 

God has provided His creation with everything, including the scientific order of Creation, the mathematical order of Creation — chemistry, physics, and optics — which are all clear demonstrations of God's order in creation. 

Williams says, "I believe in the biblical account of creation recorded in Genesis 1 and 2 bearing the image of God. He gave man not only the calling but the ability to seek out that order." 

"I think this exhibit will certainly help people reexamine questions that they have in life if they think that there's a conflict between science and the Bible."

Takeaway

The ancient prophet Jeremiah (6:16) told the people of God: 

"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. "

Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Engaged. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.