The Soul Of Science

Philosophy of Religion
Robby K. Magee
The Soul of Science
I tend to enjoy reading books that focus on scientific issues from a Christian

perspective. Although The Soul of Science was a great book, it was a very challenging

read to say the least. For this reason, I will treasure the information gained and will most

likely read it again in the near future to gain an even better understanding of what its

authors Charles Thaxton and Nancy Pearcey look to convey. J.P. Moreland says this

book would be “an excellent text for courses on science and religion.” James Sire says

“this book should destroy for all time the persistent myth that Science and Christianity

have always been at war with each other.”

I am not a scientist so this was a very tough book for me to wrap my arms

around. I was looking for answers to the history of science and why the rest of the world

has turned its back on Christian Science (as a majority). The answers I would later find

were fascinating and enlightening to say the least. The underlying philosophy of science

and Christianity creates a new perspective for the unknowing Christian. We no longer

need to consider Christianity apart from Science because Christianity was the “soil in

which Science was planted.” Science in and of itself is a devised method to observe and

empirically study or predict outcomes under factual circumstances. What I had not

realized were the philosophical underpinnings that must exists to allow Science to

succeed. Science begins with a presupposition that our world is real. Not all societies

have agreed to this, hence the reason many societies developed and disappeared

without the utilization of scientific reasoning. Our Christian worldview says there is both

a God, and a world that God created. This caused early scientists to understand the

world that God created which translated into a means of knowing God and praising Him.

I was also intrigued by the notion that there is some kind of hostility between
 The Soul Of Science
Philosophy of Religion
Robby K. Magee
science and Christianity. Thaxton and Pearcey prove this to be false because the only

hostility portrayed is due to scientists abandoning Christian reasoning for atheistic

presuppositions. The basic philosophies described by the authors are: Aristotelian, Neo-

Platonic and Mechanistic. Aristotle envisioned the universe as a vast organism. He

believed that all forms of motion are accomplished because of inherent purpose that is

built into an object. Aristotle described things by using terminology from living organisms

and not machines. Aristotelianism viewed God as a rational mind whose thoughts are

known by logical analysis. Neo-Platonists were similar to Aristotelians in that they

believed the world was a living organism. Their explanation is where the difference was.

Natural forms were disregarded and the power of spiritual forces were regarded as

divine and possible avenues for the world to remain. The mechanistic worldview

rejected Aristotelianism and Neo-Platonism because it did not see the world as an

organism but as a machine with God at the control panel calling the shots. I might even

picture a locomotive engineer with the throttle and steering wheel ready to drive.

The Soul of Science had a good technical section on DNA and yet another on

mathematics. Some of the terminology used was quite advanced and required the use

of a dictionary but it was nonetheless informative. The complexity given by DNA

evidence has now convinced me that my faith is only blind to the fact that we are

fearfully and wonderfully made. I sincerely believe that DNA can prove this faith.

The Soul of Science has helped me to look beyond the facts I have taught by

secular secondary education and learn from a Christian theistic perspective. From an

apologetic standpoint, I believe every seminarian should read this book. From a

Christian standpoint, I believe every pastor should read this book. Thanks to Dr. Howell

for the assignment. Max Planck wrote perhaps the best quote towards science: “Over
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Philosophy of Religion
Robby K. Magee
the entrance to the gates of the temple of science are written the words: ‘Ye must have

faith.’”