What Is Science?

Just read a few selected definitions of science below. Decide what thoughts the definitions have in common and combine them into your own definition. What could you add if you are giving a definition from your Christian viewpoint?


Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence. (http://sciencecouncil.org/ )

Science (from Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge") is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science )

Science: Body of knowledge comprising of measurable or verifiable facts acquired through application of the scientific method, and generalized into scientific laws or principles. While all sciences are founded on valid reasoning and conform to the principles of logic, they are not concerned with the definiteness of their assertions or findings. In the words of the US paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould (1941-), "Science is all those things which are confirmed to such a degree that it would be unreasonable to withhold one's provisional consent ."(http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/science.html)

"Science is the study of the judgments concerning which universal agreement can be obtained," Norman Campbell (https://archive.org/details/whatisscience00camprich)


IN-CLASS DISCUSSION:

Science is (your definition):


  1. Discuss in groups or research the definitions for the following terms:
    • Absolute truth
    • Relative truth
  2. What type of truth does science offer? Explain why.
  3. What type of truth does God's Word offer? Explain what allows us to believe in the Bible as the sole authority. (Ro. 10:17, Heb. 11:1-3, Isaiah 40:7-9, Acts 22:13-15,1 Thessalonians 2:13, Hebrews 4:12, Apostle's Creed with explanations, Any others? Bible Gateway resource)
  4. Is science of man or of God? Explain.
  5. Is the Bible a science book? Explain.
  6. Where/when has science failed in it's knowledge or application of knowledge?
  7. How is science sometimes harmful to our faith as Christians?
  8. How is science very useful for us?
  9. What is going to be our Christian approach to reading, learning about, and performing science?