Almost all major fields in science were discovered by Christians. Scientists like Sir Isaac Newton were found to have more notes from Bible study than papers on his research in Science and Mathematics combined. Yet, Christians has no voice in the world of technology. Why is this the case? Why is the modern scientist more susceptible to agnostic or atheistic beliefs?
Let’s go all the way back to the 15th century, where almost all phenomena were explained superstitiously. All of Christendom were under the umbrella of the Universal Church, popularly known as the Roman Catholic Church. The Church’s voice were like the Word of God, and the Pope had such massive political influence. However, the Church began to persecute scientists whose experiments revealed scientific knowledge contradictory to the beliefs of the Church.
One of such beliefs is the earth being flat, and another being that the earth is the centre of the universe. Copernicus and especially Galileo were heavily persecuted, defamed and had their scientific works banned. This was the beginning of the modern separation of science from religion. Christendom waged an unnecessary war with science as if it were the exact opposite of Christian faith.
Christians “feared” that science will explain logically something they chose to believe blindly. This is because Christianity is based on blind faith while science is based on logical reasoning and systematic analyses. Although not written anywhere in the Bible, Christians believe that the world was created 6000 years ago while science speaks of billions of years. Christianity thought science was belittling the uniqueness of humans after the discovery of billions of galaxies. Humans felt so small and insignificant compared to the vastness of space.
By the beginning of the Enlightenment Age started by Réné Descartes, the average scientist realised that Christian beliefs only retarded scientific quest to investigate natural phenomena by following scientific methods and resulting with scientific data. Why would a Christian want to know how it simply rains? “It is the work of God. God works in mysterious ways. There is no way we can understand Him.” Eventually, science and religion began to have contradictory explanations for every natural occurrence.
About a 100 years into the Enlightenment Age, the Holiness movement began in Christendom. Teachings about focusing on Heaven rather than the things of the earth popularised. Many verses about being poor on earth but rich in Heaven were stressed. In Jesus’ own words, “it is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven”. Why amass wealth on earth, where moths can eat them? Why make the world a better place, if you’re going to die and go to Heaven?
Soon, being poor was tantamount to being Christian. That’s how come the phrase “filthy rich”, was framed. While Christians focused more on the afterlife, the world focused on more on technology and making the world a better place. The world of technology expanded and it had nothing to do with Christianity. Early televanglists began to speak heavily against the evils of technology in modern day, all the while using technology to propagate their messages. Many Christian leaders still censure technology to this day.
Before the Prosperity Gospel movement could start in the late 20th century for the world of Christianity to believe there’s nothing wrong with being rich, Christians were far behind in making an impact, not only in the world of technology, but the world at large. The political arena, world of science and technology and even sustainability were no longer dominated with “Christian” power. The richest people in the world, most influential and most revolutionary people were not necessarily Christians.
Christendom was united under the Roman Catholic Church for about 1000 years. After Martin Luther submitted his 99 theses to spark the start of Protestantism, there hasn’t been a stop to separation within the “Body of Christ”. Today, there are a whopping 45,000 denominations and counting. There is still an on-going debate against the speculations of science. The world no longer knows what we believe, because we lack oneness. Thank goodness the world went on to make itself better – in terms of technology – without us.
Today, the average scientists believes in making the world a better place but this is yet to sync into the reality of the average Christian. The average scientist still thinks one need not believe in God because it will be an impediment to discover, uncover and explore. The world no longer looks to the Church. Rather, the Church is yet to catch up with world movements. This is all because the Church refused to embrace the world of science and technology at the beginning of its modern history.
If you’re a Christian and you believe in science, let me hear your thoughts on this.