chapter 1a god and science. biology bios + logos life study of bio logy

Chapter 1AChapter 1AGod and ScienceGod and Science

BiologyBiologybios + logos

life study of

Bio logyBio logy

BiologyBiology

A Branch of Science

A Branch of Science

ScienceScienceA body of facts that man

has gathered by observing the physical

universe

A body of facts that man has gathered by

observing the physical universe

FactFactSomething that is trueSomething that is true

So what is truth?So what is truth?

Is something true . . .Is something true . . .… because people believe it?… because it seems to work?… because we have seen it

happen repeatedly?… because it is logical?

… because people believe it?… because it seems to work?… because we have seen it

happen repeatedly?… because it is logical?

Is something true because

people believe it?

Is something true because

people believe it?

Hippocrates

350 B.C.

Hippocrates

350 B.C.

Doctrine of Humors

Doctrine of Humors

Holds that living things are made up of four liquids, or “humors”

For a person to be healthy, his humors must be in perfect balance.

Holds that living things are made up of four liquids, or “humors”

For a person to be healthy, his humors must be in perfect balance.

Doctrine of HumorsDoctrine of Humors

Black bile: spleenBlood: heartYellow bile: liverPhlegm: brain

Black bile: spleenBlood: heartYellow bile: liverPhlegm: brain

The 4 HumorsThe 4 Humors

Is something true because it seems to

work?

Is something true because it seems to

work?

Doctrine of Signatures

Ancient Babylonians

Held that God left behind signs or “signatures” to indicate cures for the

illnesses resulting from Adam’s sin

Doctrine of Signatures

ExamplesExamples

• Liverwort believed to cure liver disease

• Yellow lichen used to cure Jaundice

• Liverwort believed to cure liver disease

• Yellow lichen used to cure Jaundice

Is something true because it

is seen repeatedly?

Is something true because it

is seen repeatedly?

Theory that nonliving materials change into

living organisms—spontaneously (abiogenesis)

Spontaneous Generation

Read the section on page 17 about Jan Baptista van Helmont.

What was Van Helmont trying to prove?

What was Van Helmont’s hypothesis?

Mice will __________ inside the box with wheat and a sweaty shirt.


How did Van Helmont perform his experiment?

What were the problems with Van Helmont’s experiment? What are other possible explanations for his results?

What could Van Helmont have done to obtain more reliable results?


Read the section on page 17 about Francesco Redi.

What was Redi trying to prove?

What was Redi’s hypothesis?

How did Redi perform his experiment?


Why did Redi have to repeat his experiment?

Did Redi’s results support biogenesis or spontaneous generation?


Review the sections on pages 6-7 and 18 about John Needham.

What was Needham trying to prove?

What was Needham’s hypothesis?

How did Needham perform his experiment?


Did Needham’s results support his hypothesis?

Were Needham’s results valid?

What were the problems with Needham’s experiment?


What could Needham have done to make his results more reliable?


Read the section on pages 18-19 about Louis Pasteur.

What was Pasteur trying to prove?

What was Pasteur’s hypothesis?

How did Pasteur perform his experiment?


Did Pasteur’s results support his hypothesis?

Were Pasteur’s results valid?


Is spontaneous generation still believed today?

YES


Is something true because it seems logical?

Is something true because it seems logical?

Logical Reasoning

InductiveDeductive

Inductive Reasoning

Begins with a number of observed facts and

derives a general conclusion

Example Plants are living things, and

they are made of cells.

Animals are living things, and they are made of cells.

Algae are living things, and they are made of cells.

Therefore . . .

All living things are made of

cells.

All living things are made of

cells.

Deductive Reasoning

Begins with a general principle and draws conclusions about

specifics

Deductive Reasoning

The general principle is assumed to be true.

• All boys are smart.• Jim is a boy.

Therefore . . .

Example

Jim

is

Smart!!

Jim

is

Smart!!

If either of your premises is incorrect, your conclusion may

be false.

Deductive Reasoning

All birds fly. Cardinals are birds.Therefore, cardinals fly.

All birds fly. Cardinals are birds.Therefore, cardinals fly.

Is the conclusion correct?

Is the argument valid?



The first premise is incorrect.The first premise is incorrect.

YesYes

NoNo

All birds fly. Ostriches are birds.Therefore, ostriches fly.

All birds fly. Ostriches are birds.Therefore, ostriches fly.





The first premise is incorrect.The first premise is incorrect.

NoNo

NoNo

Is something true because it is accepted by

faith?

Is something true because it is accepted by

faith?

FaithFaith

Truth is not based upon Truth is not based upon what we believe.what we believe.

We should base what we We should base what we believe upon truth.believe upon truth.

Truth is not based upon Truth is not based upon what we believe.what we believe.

We should base what we We should base what we believe upon truth.believe upon truth.

The only sure source of The only sure source of truth is God’s truth.truth is God’s truth.

In John 17:17 Christ said, In John 17:17 Christ said, “Thy Word is truth.”“Thy Word is truth.”


In John 17:17 Christ said, In John 17:17 Christ said, “Thy Word is truth.”“Thy Word is truth.”

Truth: The Word of God



In John 14:6 Christ said, “I In John 14:6 Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and am the way, the truth, and

the life.”the life.”


In John 14:6 Christ said, “I In John 14:6 Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and am the way, the truth, and

the life.”the life.”



God’s Word is truth. Nothing God’s Word is truth. Nothing can disprove its claims.can disprove its claims.

I Peter 1:25 says, “The Word I Peter 1:25 says, “The Word of the Lord endureth forever.”of the Lord endureth forever.”


I Peter 1:25 says, “The Word I Peter 1:25 says, “The Word of the Lord endureth forever.”of the Lord endureth forever.”




Psalm 119:160a says, “Thy Psalm 119:160a says, “Thy word is true from the word is true from the

beginning.”beginning.”


Psalm 119:160a says, “Thy Psalm 119:160a says, “Thy word is true from the word is true from the

beginning.”beginning.”



God’s Truth & ScienceGod’s Truth & Science

• Revealed truth—Revealed truth—true because it true because it is revealed in God’s Wordis revealed in God’s Word

• Theory—Theory—thoughtthought to be trueto be true• Fallacy—Fallacy—contradictscontradicts Scripture or Scripture or

scientific evidencescientific evidence• Truth by definition—Truth by definition—defineddefined by by

manman

• Revealed truth—Revealed truth—true because it true because it is revealed in God’s Wordis revealed in God’s Word

• Theory—Theory—thoughtthought to be trueto be true• Fallacy—Fallacy—contradictscontradicts Scripture or Scripture or

scientific evidencescientific evidence• Truth by definition—Truth by definition—defineddefined by by

manman

Categories of StatementsCategories of Statements

• The same One who created the The same One who created the physical world inspired the Bible.physical world inspired the Bible.

• God gave man his senses and God gave man his senses and mind to observe the physical mind to observe the physical world.world.

• God did not reveal all truth in the God did not reveal all truth in the Bible.Bible.

• The same One who created the The same One who created the physical world inspired the Bible.physical world inspired the Bible.

• God gave man his senses and God gave man his senses and mind to observe the physical mind to observe the physical world.world.

• God did not reveal all truth in the God did not reveal all truth in the Bible.Bible.

Is there a Conflict?Is there a Conflict?


• We cannot have the same trust in We cannot have the same trust in what is not in the Bible as we can in what is not in the Bible as we can in what is in the Bible.what is in the Bible.

• God’s truth will not contradict a God’s truth will not contradict a proper interpretation of science.proper interpretation of science.

• Psalm 119:89—“For ever, O LORD, Psalm 119:89—“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”thy word is settled in heaven.”

• We cannot have the same trust in We cannot have the same trust in what is not in the Bible as we can in what is not in the Bible as we can in what is in the Bible.what is in the Bible.

• God’s truth will not contradict a God’s truth will not contradict a proper interpretation of science.proper interpretation of science.

• Psalm 119:89—“For ever, O LORD, Psalm 119:89—“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”thy word is settled in heaven.”

Is there a Conflict?Is there a Conflict?


ConclusionConclusion

Science is man’s Science is man’s attempts to observe attempts to observe

and describe the and describe the natural processes natural processes God established to God established to

govern the universe.govern the universe.

Science is man’s Science is man’s attempts to observe attempts to observe

and describe the and describe the natural processes natural processes God established to God established to

govern the universe.govern the universe.

Science:Science:Science is the collection of Science is the collection of observations, inferences, observations, inferences,

and models produced and models produced through a systematic study through a systematic study

of nature that enables of nature that enables humans to exercise proper humans to exercise proper dominion over God’s world.dominion over God’s world.

Science is the collection of Science is the collection of observations, inferences, observations, inferences,

and models produced and models produced through a systematic study through a systematic study

of nature that enables of nature that enables humans to exercise proper humans to exercise proper dominion over God’s world.dominion over God’s world.

chapter 1a god and science. biology bios + logos life study of bio logy

Documents

spontaneous generationreview

spontaneous generationhow

spontaneous generationwhy

spontaneous generationwhat

needhams experiment

living things

reliable results

van helmonts experiment