Life and Science

Chapter 1

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ScienceScience

the total collection of knowledge gained through man's observations of the

physical world

ScienceScience

man's observations of the world God created and

man's use of those observations to make

decisions

Life ScienceLife ScienceThe study of living things

Science is NOT wickedScience is NOT wicked• Observations are not sinful.

• What man does with these facts may be unacceptable

• Man may interpret observations in a wrong way or he may use them to sin.

Three Basic Ways of Knowing Three Basic Ways of Knowing What is True or False:What is True or False:

• Historical Facts

• Scientific Facts

• Biblical Truth

Historical FactHistorical Fact

a statement about the existence of

something or about a past event

Our knowledge of history Our knowledge of history is limited – how?is limited – how?

• Our age

• Where we’ve been

How to Judge Historical FactsHow to Judge Historical Facts

• By Physical Evidence

• By Recorded Evidence

Physical EvidencePhysical Evidence

Normally a good method of determining something existed.

Deciding what the physical evidence means is more difficult.

Recorded EvidenceRecorded Evidence

evidence which men have written or recorded in some way

Problems with Recorded EvidenceProblems with Recorded Evidence

1. people may record things that they believe to true but that are actually false

2. people may intentionally write things to deceive others

3. people often interpret recorded evidence in ways that suit them best

Scientific FactScientific Fact

Key words: observablemeasurable repeatable

ObservationsObservations

what we can tell about our

surroundings by using our senses

Good Scientific ObservationsGood Scientific Observations

• measurable

• repeatable

Types of Scientific FactsTypes of Scientific Facts

• direct observations

• indirect observations

Limitations of Scientific FactsLimitations of Scientific Facts

• They must be measurable.

• They must be repeatable.

• They cannot be universal statements.

• They cannot make value judgments.

Universal StatementUniversal Statement

either excludes or includes everything

All cats have tails.

Uses words like “all” or “none”.

Universal NegativeUniversal Negative

a blanket statement of denial

There are no aliens.

Value JudgmentValue Judgment

deciding whether something is right or wrong, good or bad, valuable or

worthless

This painting will look great in your

living room.

Biblical TruthBiblical Truth

Only one that is true ALL the

time.

Types of Biblical TruthTypes of Biblical Truth

• record of history

• prophecy of the future

• revelation of spiritual and moral truth

Limitations of Biblical TruthLimitations of Biblical Truth

• Is NOT limited by inaccuracy

• Does not deal with all physical things.

How We Know that the Bible is the How We Know that the Bible is the Infallible, Inerrant Word of GodInfallible, Inerrant Word of God

1. Faith (a position of belief)

2. Fulfilled Prophecy

3. Accurate record of history

4. Accurate description of the physical world

5. Inner testimony of the Holy Spirit