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 The Role of Evidence in
Science & Religion
by Nic Samojluk
Introduction. It is almost universally accepted that scientific belief is solidly based on tangible evidence, while religious conviction rests on intangible blind religious faith. Most scientists argue that science is the result of investigation, testing, experimentation, replication, and verification; and that it is subject to falsification; while religion cannot make similar claims, and that the main foundation of religious faith rests on the mystical claims of prophets, visionaries, and seers.
Is Religious Belief Based on Blind Faith? In order to elucidate the accuracy of our perception of religious belief, I would like to ask the following question: Is religious belief based on blind faith? How can we determine the nature of religious conviction? One way is to go to the classic biblical chapter on faith: Hebrews 11. You might be surprised that in the first verse of said chapter there is a clear reference to evidence:
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| Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. |
This alleged connection between faith and evidence is rather intriguing. Let us explore what else this chapter of faith may reveal. We find in it allusions to a long list of men of great faith, men who, prompted by their faith
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conquered kingdoms ... closed the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword ... turned back foreign invaders ... endured mockery, scourging, even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death at sword's point ...
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My question is: What prompted these men of old to risk everything and to endure such odds? Was blind faith the main motivation behind their actions? The author of this chapter enumerates a long list of brave men whose actions were a reflection of strong convictions. Was their valor and allegiance to God's requirements bereft of evidence?
Was Moses' Faith Withoug Tangible Evidence? Take the case of Moses. Was his experience in front of the burning bush strictly a spiritual one? If a scientist were to encounter a non-consuming burning bush in the desert, would he say: "Oh, there is nothing tangible here to observe! This has nothing to do with science"?. Then we have Moses' call to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptian bondage. Did Moses respond with a "Yes, Lord. I will present myself in front of Pharaoh and demand that he free my people from slavery"? Did God say: "Moses, go because I am requiring this from you" without providing him with tangible evidence of divine power? What did the Lord do to strenghthen Moses faith? Did the turning of his staff into a living serpent have anything to do with this? How about the plagues that eventually followed in response to the Pharaoh's refusal to comply with what God demanded from him? Did the Lord expect the egyptian king to act in response to blind faith?
Was Gedeon's Action the Result of Blind Faith? How about Gedeon? Did he act on the basis of blind faith when the Lord called him to defeat Israel's enemies with a handful of soldiers? Did Gedeon respond to God's command without tangible evidence of God's power and guidance? Was his experiment with the fleece totally unscientific? Did he say, "Oh, this is religion! I must not subject my experience with the Lord to investigation, testing, verification, and experimentation"? Did God expect him to go fight against powerful enemies and great odds on the basis of blind faith?
Did Jesus Demand from His disciples and the Jews a Blind Faith? Have you ever wondered why did Jesus perform such a long list of miraculous acts of healing? If religious faith has nothing to do with tangible evidence, then why waste three years of divine activity to convince his followers and opposers that he was indeed the Son of God? Have you ever asked yourself why did Jesus walk on water, why he fed the five thousand, why he did bring back to life the daughter of Jairus and Lazarus, and why he chose to let his enemies crucify him to later rise himself from the tomb? Was this to emphasize the idea that faith must not rest on scientific evidence?
An Incredible Crescendo of Scientific Evidence of Divine Power. Let's consider the following: When Jesus fed five thousand men and women, the Jews responded with scorn. They asked for some evidence that he was greater than Moses. They were not impressed with the feeding of such a multitute, because Moses had fed thousands not for one meal, but rather for 40 years. They demanded additional evidence before deciding whether to accept him as the Messiah. The Lord could have said, "If you refuse to believe on the basis of blind faith, then you will perish!" He didn't. Instead, he raised the daughter of Jairus. Seeing this evidence of God's power, the Jews argued: "He himself stated that the girl was asleep!" [my own version of their reaction]. Jesus could have said, enough is enough. 'I will not provide any additional evidence of my divinity." Did he stop there? The answer is No.
Sometime later, while he was away from Jerusalem he was notified that his friend Lazarus was sick. He could have rushed to the bedside of his devout follower and saved him from death. He didn't. He purposely allowed the enemy to temporarily triumph. When Lazarus was dead, then he went to Jerusalem. Remember that his enemies were demanding some tangible evidence that he was greater than Moses. He did not refuse to comply with this expectation. Bringing somebody who had been dead for four days back to life was beyond what any former prophet had been able to acomplish.
At this juncture, Jesus's enemies had all the scientific evidence they needed to accept him as the one sent by God to save the Jewish nation from the disaster that followed when Titus, the Roman General destroyed their holy city and the glorious temple they revered so much. But this is not all. When his enemies took his life, he provided the greatest evidence of divine power ever witnessed by men since creation: Jesus rose from the tomb, thus providing tangible scientific evidence that he had power over life and death.
Conclusion. If after reading this you still think that religious belief is bereft of verifiable evidence, and limited to blind faith, then I give up. I have provided you with all you need to change your mind about this issue! Of course, there is much more, but to get it you need to read again what the men of God recorded for posterity in the pages of sacred writ.
By the way, I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I am willing to venture that, before the Lord brings the history of this world to conclusion, he will again provide scientific, verifiable, tangible evidence of his divine power. If he did so in the past on numerous occasions, I believe that he will do likewise again before the history of this world is over.
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