Blaise Pascal once said, “The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing… We know truth, not only by reason, but also by the heart.”

Pascal was a genius and a genuine polymath who lived in the 17th century. To cover his accomplishments and body of work would require volumes, which have already been written. I want to focus on the concept he so poetically illustrated above – the ever-present battle between the head and the heart. Specifically, I want to talk about the rift between science and faith that seems to pit theologians and other persons of faith on one side and scientists on the other. I contend, as did Pascal, that this rift is without purpose and devoid of foundation.

I believe in Almighty God, Creator of everything that exists. Like Pascal, I am Christian, so the definition of my faith goes a bit farther than that singular statement, but I need go no deeper to make my point. If God created everything, then He also created the human mind – complete with the restless curiosity that drives humankind onward to scientific discovery. Therefore, science is a gift from God. It is meant as a tool for us to learn more about His creation. Slowly, He lifts the curtain. As we become more able, we are given more to see. It is a never-ending parade of incremental revelations about the universe in which we live.

The unfortunate rift I mentioned earlier is the result of humans who fail to understand the nature of the gift of science and how it is related to the Giver. Many worship the gift rather than the Giver. Others reject the gift because they don’t understand how to use it to understand the Giver.

So many times, we will hear the trumpeting of a new scientific breakthrough along with some pronouncement that science has finally settled an argument about the origin of the universe once and for all. That’s it! All arguments must cease! The matter is settled because, after all, here’s the proof in some publication. The trouble with that kind of attitude is that it shuts the door on any further revelations – and even on faith itself. One could argue that faith is the expectation that more will be learned in due time.

The same thing happens in the other direction. People will resist newly imparted wisdom because they feel like it contradicts their current library of maxims. True wisdom will not contradict any real truths. Rather, upon further examination, new truths will bolster existing truths and add to their veracity. In other words, a little learning may challenge your faith, but continued learning will only strengthen it.

I contend that both science and faith are headed for convergence. A day will come when all the theologians and all the scientists will find themselves standing awkwardly in the exact same space, exchanging furtive glances before finally embracing each other – finally realizing the harmony in which our Creator intended them to live from the beginning.

About the Author

Tilmer Wright Jr is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience. He has written two novels that fall generally in the realm of science fiction. The first book, Motes, has the topic of this article at its heart. If you were intrigued by the article, you may enjoy reading the book. You can find it here ... https://www.amazon.com/Motes-Tilmer-Wright-Jr/dp/1484855000
More information about both of Tilmer's books may be found at his web site. http://www.tilmerwrightjr.com/