What does science tell us about reality?
My thoughts after interviewing Biologist and secular thinker Bryan Gitschlag.
It was truly remarkable to have a conversation with Bryan, first of all because of his honesty and intelligence, but also because of his challenges and how well-versed he is on the topic of scientific literature.
From my point of view as a Christian, there were two moments I would remark about our conversation: one, what we do once we receive data by science, and two, the fact that believing in God is not only a far-fetched hypothesis, but it is also irrational. These are two points of the conversation I enjoyed, these might not summarize the conversation for you. I encourage you to watch it and share your comments below.
What do we do once we gather data which describes a property of our Universe?
This is a very important question for me. Once something is described, let’s say: cell division, the process by which a parent cell divides into two or more cells, what are we supposed to do with that information? In order to have cell division, you need a context in which this can happen, an universe with specific constants and physical laws. Secondly, you need a cell, which is a microscopic entity that does something, and you also need to physically instantiate the concept of division. Those three things inhabit a space beyond their descriptions, one that description cannot account for.
What is scientific understanding then and what are its limits?
Well, from my point of view, scientific knowledge is information which describes something that is already there. It is not new information per se…it is only new for us because there is a precise time in human history when it is discovered. Science does not create, but discovers and describes. There is a sub-project in science which uses creativity though, but this creativity is not creation, since it uses materials and possibilities that already exist in the Universe. An example of this (among many) is an iPhone. There is creativity in the process of building an iPhone, since you need a mind to put it together and assemble the materials for it. However, there is no creation (the creation of materials out of nothing). In fact, in the beginning of the Universe (as far as we know it now cosmology points towards the existence of one) the creation of an iPhone was a possibility from the very beginning. Everything that we see around us, even ourselves, were potentialities at the beginning of the Universe. The properties of the Universe allowed us to be creative in the first place. Thus, what do we do with scientific knowledge once we have it?
I would like to introduce three viewpoints about this:
There are those who don’t make statements about it, they just continue searching and describing. (This is the scientific method)
There are those who make a statement about it, this being that the universe is all there is. (That is not a statement of science)
There are those who make a statement about it, this being that the universe points to something else beyond it, usually God. (That is not a statement of science)
Does this mean that scientific knowledge is the only way to acquire knowledge and meaning for our lives?
As human beings we don’t think scientifically and make decisions purely from testable data at all times. In fact, the majority of the time, we have evidence that points somewhere and we follow this evidence with hope and faith that we will be right in the end. Scientists do this every morning in the lab as well. Therefore, a statement of science is only a description. The thing is, human beings are not made only out of data. We are a conglomeration of data, new evidence, decisions, feelings, emotions… we are information processors and more. How do we account for the existence of any data (a given) our brain (another given) and the Universe (the big given)?
Bryan thinks believing in God is not only a far-fetched hypothesis, but also irrational. I love this, because I believe in God and I always want to make sure that I am not irrational in my thinking and beliefs. Am I irrational? This is a good challenge.
What is the one thing in the Universe that we know of that can be creative with things already in existence, makes decisions out of a free-will, is pattern oriented, processes information, and communicates it? What is there in the universe that can do all these things beyond matter, and also happens to be conscious? A mind though the process of thinking. This is a hypothesis a person can concoct by just using nature and experience. Of course, this mind would be very different from ours, and wouldn’t need anything from within the Universe to create it.
Is it irrational to believe that a mind made all of this? I don’t think so. That is why I became a theist. The path from theism to becoming a follower of Christ is another matter, one I would love to explore with another guest in the future.
Challenge me.
Challenge Bryan.
Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments section here, youtube and email.
askandwondernashville@gmail.com
Pedro R. García.