On July 4, while Americans were celebrating the independence of our nation, a different sort of celebration was taking place worldwide. Research findings presented that day show that the elusive Higgs boson particle, nicknamed the “God particle,” almost certainly exists. The research supports a theory proposed decades earlier to explain the presence of mass. One wonders if God was sitting back and saying, “It’s about time, you guys.”
Should Christians be excited about the discovery of the so-called “God particle”? Notwithstanding its nickname, the Higgs boson particle doesn’t prove the existence of God. The discovery of the particle, however, does remind us yet again of the microscopic complexity of our universe. A person must explain this complexity basically in one of two ways: 1) It is the work of a designer, or 2) it is the result of impersonal, unguided forces interacting with one another. The Bible, of course, gives explanation #1, and I find that explanation much more logically satisfying than explanation #2, which is inconsistent with my own exposure to complexity. As the now-famous argument states, if we find a watch lying in the desert, we naturally conclude that the watch did not simply assemble itself.
Let me throw out something else that I believe is worthy of our consideration. If God actively controls the universe and the laws that govern it (see, for example, Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 1:16–17), then scientific discovery is, in itself, a good thing, consistent with the stewardship mandate (Genesis 1:28), and an opportunity for us to marvel at the majesty of creation, and thus at the infinitely greater majesty of the Creator.
What was your reaction to the Higgs boson news? Feel free to leave a comment.
–Beau Stanley
Beau,
I was enamored by the annoucement of The Higgs Boson discovery. It points to yet another reason to believe in an intelligent designer!
Brian
“A person must explain this complexity basically in one of two ways: 1) It is the work of a designer, or 2) it is the result of impersonal, unguided forces interacting with one another.”
I know this is the ‘traditional’ view, but I think it ought to be challenged a bit.
Ultimately I think these are false black-OR-white choices that don’t acknowledge the significant gray area in the middle.
As a Christian, I believe that God created the universe, the world and everything in existence. But I also believe that God very well could’ve used “impersonal, (seemingly) unguided forces interacting with one another” to bring about His creation. He’s God, after all, right? Many mainstream Christian traditions have taken this kind of perspective, which marries some fantastic biological discoveries with the reality that God is ultimately behind the whole project.
So while Grace might embrace a 7-day interpretation of creation, I would just encourage adherents of that view to not let it divide them from their brothers and sisters who have a different perspective but serve the same God. The only thing that divides many non-believers from Jesus is this issue – How sad if we let something that has different mainstream interpretations WITHIN Christianity become a stumbling block to those who would otherwise follow Jesus.
Thanks for the post, Beau! I’m glad to see more interest in science among the Christian community!
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Brian. First off, let me say that I think your encouragement toward unity is warranted. Christians indeed hold different views of how one should process the biblical and scientific data on the origin of the universe and of life, and it is very helpful to recognize this.
I also appreciate your challenge on the dichotomy I presented. Ultimately I think the dichotomy does hold, but it may be helpful for me to elaborate a bit given the brevity of the post. Most scientists would agree that there is at least an appearance of design in our universe and in the various life forms. As I wrote in the post, I think someone can only account for this in basically one of two ways: 1) he says that the design is actual design, or 2) he says that it is apparent design. Thus, your parenthetical word “seemingly” above is critical. If the forces are “seemingly” unguided but actually guided, then that view logically falls within category 1. If the forces are truly unguided, then that view falls within category 2. I would say that it is helpful in this dialogue for those who hold to some form of theistic evolution to be as specific as possible when communicating their understanding of the way in which God has infused information into our universe.
Admittedly, the word “design” has some freight associated with it in this debate. You are probably aware that there is a group of Christians (whom I identify with Francis Collins) who are uncomfortable with the notion of “intelligent design” based on their understanding of the scientific data, but who very much affirm that the universe and its laws were created by God. I respect the desire of these believers to uphold God as the Creator of the universe and to earnestly pursue scientific inquiry, but I think they end up with an almost deistic perspective of God on this issue, one that may not be scientifically feasible either, given the necessary infusion of information subsequent to the establishment of the universe and its laws.
As to interest in science among the Christian community, we probably agree that the relationship between science and religion has been too adversarial sometimes. Not many know that I once thought I would become a physicist, but I can safely say now for about a thousand reasons that the Lord has called me elsewhere. I still enjoy wading into a little physics now and then, though.
I think it’s remarkable in and of itself, that we humans have the ability to question, imagine, research, investigate, analyze, and discover aspects of the universe in which we exist, and that the universe contains such fascinating mysteries that are so elusive to answer with absolute certainty. Every scientific discovery seems to raise yet more questions and problems. Ultimately, it boils down to each of us — scientific researcher or lay person alike — must make a choice on where we place our faith… And God will make a note of that choice.
Jeffrey,
Discoveries lead to more questions, don’t they? One wants to echo Paul’s words: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out” (Rom. 11:33 NIV).