Chapter 1 - What is Science? What is Faith?
You may be wondering why I paired the words science and salvation together in the title of this book. On the surface these two ideas seem diametrically opposed to one another. Many believe that science is a concept completely disassociated from God. Conversely, many also believe that salvation, which is rooted in faith, is the polar opposite of science.
Before we continue in this vein, it is important to consider that people have become quite cavalier in the way that they use language. One of the results of our careless manner of verbal expression is the widespread misapplication of connotation and denotation. Connotation is the association we conjure up in our minds when we hear a word and what we conjure up sometimes has no direct relevance to that word’s actual definition. Denotation, on the other hand, is what the word actually means, its proper definition.
As it relates to religion, the undisciplined use of language and subsequent neglect to differentiate between connotation and denotation has caused many unfruitful misconceptions about how spiritual things are comprehended. With that said, let's return to the previous vein of discussion and consider the actual denotation, or definitions, of the words science and faith.
Science -
According to Webster’s dictionary, science is knowledge or certain knowledge, the comprehension of truth or facts by the mind. True science like mathematics is based upon self-evident truths.
The part of the definition I’d like for us to focus on is the phrase self-evident truths. It is the cornerstone of what true science is, or should be, all about. The comparison of true science to mathematics is also worth noting. Two plus two is simply four. This is true because it is self-evident!
Faith -
The dictionary defines faith as belief that is not based on proof. This is the most widespread definition of faith, even among the religious population. It is what many believers of God internalize and practice. You might raise your eyebrow and think, well that comes from the dictionary which makes it denotative, so what's the problem? Yes, this understanding comes from the dictionary but it does not incorporate the theological concept of the word as its cornerstone. Tragically, and all too frequently, this misconceived idea about faith contributes to guilt and frustration in the mind of the believer when he or she cannot reconcile their proof-less belief system with the tangible reality of their lives. God never intended for humans to be burdened by this exercise of futility. Therefore, the best place to gain a fruitful and accurate understanding of faith is not in the dictionary, but rather, where it was born, in the word of God itself. Let us now consider the biblical definition of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Since believer's minds are so saturated with the proof-less definition of faith, they sincerely, but mistakenly, compare faith to things hoped for and things not seen. Might they be leaning this way because things you hope for and things you can’t see don’t require actual proof? And if your faith doesn’t require proof, then you don’t see the need to critically examine it.
A more thorough examination of the verse reveals that the writer of Hebrews, through the use of metaphor, is actually comparing faith to substance and evidence. Substance and evidence are things which form the bases of proof. They are what a detective uses to solve a murder, what a coroner uses to identify cause of death, and what the National Transportation Safety Board examines to determine the cause of a plane crash. These individuals, although not present at the time of the events in question, are able to utilize the facts and evidence left behind to arrive at verifiable conclusions. God has done no less and, in fact, has done even more to demonstrate His involvement with and love for the human family. So Hebrews 11:1 does not teach belief that is not based on proof; it teaches that substance and evidence are the bases of authentic faith.
It is also a great misconception that faith is an abstract construct for religious people only. Faith, in actuality, is a principle which can be and is exercised by individuals outside the boundaries of religion as much as by those inside it. Faith is simply belief rooted in experience and made tangible by corresponding actions. When a parent, believer or non-believer, tosses their small child playfully into the air, they exercise faith in the unseen force of gravity. This is true or authentic faith because the action is based upon proof borne from experience that what goes up comes back down. If a parent was not certain that their infant or toddler wouldn’t safely descend into their loving and waiting arms, instead of continuing to float off into the sky, they would not toss them into the air.
The principle of faith is far more scientific or self-evident than we give credit it for being. It is exactly this kind of faith that God wants us to have—a proof-based belief that doesn’t give us a moment’s pause or waver in the presence of inconvenience, adversity, or calamity ...