The question of science versus faith often comes up with the two in contrast to one another. However, James Tour of Rice University spoke on the topic of “Does Faith Make Science Obsolete?” on Sept. 29 to challenge this cultural notion.
faith does not make science obsolete
Rather than simply debunking the notion, Tour talked about different science theories and processes showing how many scientific questions remain unanswered or unknown. Tour’s final conclusion showed that for him faith does not make science obsolete.
“I never felt the discord, the disconnect between faith and science. My faith is part of my life and science is part of my life, I’ve never seen the two conflict with each other,” Tour said.
In showing how faith and science do not compete against one another, Tour discussed the Darwinism theory and how orphan genes reveal uncommonness, and of these genes the human body has at least 200. Therefore, humans cannot be directly descended from apes, according to Tour.
foundation for the science versus faith argument
The event gave students a foundation for the science versus faith argument, with Tour explaining how he reached his point and allowing students to take what they may from the presentation.
“This event wasn’t any sort of debate, it wasn’t trying to convince you one way or the other. It was more of an informative event explaining… some of the problems that Dr. Tour has with macro-evolution and how he as an organic chemist sees the world through organic chemistry and the different structures and mechanisms that make life,” said April Van Winkle, senior mathematics major.
Beyond learning these big ideas, students also received clarification to previously unanswered questions.
“Lately, I’ve been questioning the difference between science and religion, and this pretty much cleared it up a little bit to me,” said Carlin Choi, undeclared freshman. “I had a lot of questions regarding the difference between the two, I didn’t really think that the two could really come together, I thought they were both really opposites of each other.”
While some students came in wondering about the distinctions between science and faith, others were previously confident they could work together.
science and faith can work together
“Personally, I’ve always known that science and faith go hand in hand, through science you can see the creative work of God and the very ordered and structured way that he made the universe and life,” Van Winkle said.
Beyond ensuring students know that science and faith can work together, Tour hopes students will walk away from the event in more of a closeness with God.
“One thing is I want [is for students] to be more excited about God when I leave. I want them to be able to walk out of here and say, ‘Wow, you can be a scientist and be a Christian,’” Tour said. “And it’s OK to be in a secular position and be a scientist, and you can be a Christian and be excited about the Lord and be open about it. And to see that there doesn’t have to be a discord between our science and our faith.”
