Harmonizing scientific and religious truths is a noble pursuit. Harmonization is fairly straight forward when scientific theories and gospel doctrines are in relative agreement. Challenges to harmonization arise when gospel truths and current scientific theories disagree. Disagreements will always exist for the simple fact that science is an imperfect and changing endeavor. Progress in science means that our best scientific theories are never 100% consistent with gospel truths. Science changes – gospel truths do not.
When differences arise, should we trust religion or should we trust science? It depends. If religious truth claims come through direct revelation such as scripture and revelation, then we should definitely go with religion. On the other hand, if religious truth claims come from theological conjecturing, of which there is plenty, then science may be right and religion may be wrong. In any event, properly interpreted revealed truth always trumps science.
Here are some examples.
If science claims that the sun will expand and eventually destroy the earth, we know that they are wrong because modern day revelation tells us that the earth will not be completely destroyed. Rather it will be celestialized and receive a paradisiacal glory.
If science claims that we need to restrict population growth or else we will overpopulate the earth and exhaust our resources, we know that they are wrong because the Lord has declared otherwise. Elder Russell M. Nelson recently reminded Mormon military surgeons and students in Bethesda, Maryland of this revelation when he responded to concerns about overpopulation by saying that “there is room and enough to spare.” (Church News, Nov. 18, 2009)
And if science claims that Adam and Eve’s immortal bodies were created through macroevolutionary processes, we know that it’s wrong. If macroevolution was indeed used to create Adam and Eve’s bodies, then their bodies were created by two processes, namely natural selection and random mutation in the genome. Yet revelation tells us that the creation of the first man and woman was purposeful and directed. It was not left to the vicissitudes of undirected, random processes as orthodox neo-darwinism supposes.
Should we throw out scientific theories that disagree with revealed truth? No. As mentioned above, science is an imperfect and changing endeavor. What is important is that scientists shake off the shackles of theoretical dogma and earnestly seek truth. If they do, science will self-correct and steer toward the absolute truth of things as found in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
When differences arise, should we trust religion or should we trust science? It depends. If religious truth claims come through direct revelation such as scripture and revelation, then we should definitely go with religion. On the other hand, if religious truth claims come from theological conjecturing, of which there is plenty, then science may be right and religion may be wrong. In any event, properly interpreted revealed truth always trumps science.
Here are some examples.
If science claims that the sun will expand and eventually destroy the earth, we know that they are wrong because modern day revelation tells us that the earth will not be completely destroyed. Rather it will be celestialized and receive a paradisiacal glory.
If science claims that we need to restrict population growth or else we will overpopulate the earth and exhaust our resources, we know that they are wrong because the Lord has declared otherwise. Elder Russell M. Nelson recently reminded Mormon military surgeons and students in Bethesda, Maryland of this revelation when he responded to concerns about overpopulation by saying that “there is room and enough to spare.” (Church News, Nov. 18, 2009)
And if science claims that Adam and Eve’s immortal bodies were created through macroevolutionary processes, we know that it’s wrong. If macroevolution was indeed used to create Adam and Eve’s bodies, then their bodies were created by two processes, namely natural selection and random mutation in the genome. Yet revelation tells us that the creation of the first man and woman was purposeful and directed. It was not left to the vicissitudes of undirected, random processes as orthodox neo-darwinism supposes.
Should we throw out scientific theories that disagree with revealed truth? No. As mentioned above, science is an imperfect and changing endeavor. What is important is that scientists shake off the shackles of theoretical dogma and earnestly seek truth. If they do, science will self-correct and steer toward the absolute truth of things as found in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
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