Torch, Summer 1993

If we were to believe the caricatures of creationists and Christians presented in the popular media, it certainly would seem impossible to find good Christian thinking. But we find that Scripture encourages Christians to use the minds that God has given them. We also find that Christians throughout the history of science have used their minds to make significant contributions to the scientific process. CltRiSTiAN TltiNkERS In Isaiah 1:18, we read, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." God's appeal to His people is through their reason. Christianity is preeminently a logical and reasonable system. We should be encouraged to remember that it is not necessary to "hang up your brains when you enter the door of the church." Throughout Christ's ministry, He appealed to men and women to think as an avenue to belief. "What think ye?" was one of His favorite questions. In Acts 17:11, the writer (referring to the Berean Christians) says, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Why were they "more noble"? They used their minds to seek God's truth. The scriptural mandate for Christians to be good thinkers is clear. And many Christians have taken up this mandate throughout history, making outstanding contributions in the sciences. One fine example of such a Christian is Blaise Pascal (1623- 1662), the great French scientist and mathematician who established the science of probability and made many foundational contributions in several areas of physics. At the time of his death at an early age, he was collecting notes for a book on Christian apologetics. These notes were so profound and effective that they were published posthumously as a book called Pensees which is still studied today. Consider also Michael Faraday (1791-1867), a British physicist who belonged to a group similar to today's Plymouth Brethren. Faraday is credited with many fundamental discoveries in the area of electricity and magnetism. Modern electrical motors and generators are based on his discoveries. Both Pascal and Faraday would be considered creationists today. Another example is James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879), a British scientist who was a devout Christian. While courting his wife-to-be, he extensively quoted Scripture in his letters to her. Maxwell developed a set of equations that united two separate fields of science-optics and electromagnetism. This set of four equations, developed about the time of the Civil War, still stands over 130 years later as the basis for most of electrical engineering study and activity. Maxwell strongly opposed Darwinism, which was introduced about this time. Furthermore, creationist scientists today are making significant contributions to scientific endeavors. The late astronaut James Irwin, who held advanced degrees in aeronautical engineering and astronautical science, was just one prominent example of many Christians who hold to the literal truth of the Bible and who have made an impact on the scientific community. Wlto Is BiAsEd? Thus we see that thinking is an appropriate activity for the Christian and that Christians have been prominent thinkers throughout history. If this is the case, why is there such conflict between the thinking of the evolutionist and the creationist? To answer this question, we must examine and compare their thinking processes. Each frequently accuses the other of bias in his thinking that colors his conclusions. Which one is really biased? The answer is that both are biased. In fact, it is impossible for thinking to take place without bias. Frequently these biases are referred to as "presuppositions," basic assumptions which underlie any thinking processes. Usually a person holds his own presuppositions to be unquestionably true and is amazed that others could disagree. An example of a presupposition of a creationist would be, "There is a God who has acted in the world." An example of a presupposition of an evolutionist would be, "Everything can be explained by natural processes without recourse to any supernatural intervention." The conclusions each would reach from any given set of data would then be determined by their presuppositions. Consider an example of how these presuppositions would influence the interpretation of scientific data. There are instances of geological deposits where a single rock layer contains widely differing fossils within a few hundred feet. The creationist examines the rock layer and sees that it appears to have been laid down in one continuous action. He sees no physical evidence that different parts were laid down at different time periods. He therefore concludes that the fossilized creatures must have lived at the same time. The evolutionist looks at the fossils in the Torch 7