Faith and Science: The Role of Doubt

by BlogSpotThinker
September 4, 2011
(Revised September 17, 2011)

Doubt regarding the validity of assertions appears to have different impacts when experienced regarding science and regarding God.

Generally, science’s focus might be described as the desire to understand some part of reality. Although lives might be affected by scientific conclusions such as within health science, the individual scientific inquirer might desire appropriate perspective, but, in general, appears to fear no worse outcome than continued work toward the goal of discovery. Doubt, in this context, might be considered an asset.

Belief in God, however, appears reasonably considered to be the fundamental issue of reality. Issues at that level appear considered to have life-altering impact. As a result, the perception of potential error in such a fundamental belief and in other beliefs which are based on it appears reasonably disconcerting.

In addition, the Bible’s appears to suggest that a primary aspect of the God/human relationship is belief in God. Consequently, perhaps, an individual might perceive potential misunderstandings about God or what God desires to be a negative reflection on the individual’s faith in God and, in turn, upon God’s acceptance of the individual.

While some might consider the relatively greater impact of doubt to be irrational, in light of the Biblically suggested importance of God’s existence and of humanity’s relationship with and trust in God, the relatively greater implications of doubt to believers in God appears reasonable. Perhaps an important aspect of relationship with God is acceptance of God’s leadership and sovereignty, and focus on individual relationship with God, which appears suggested to allow each individual to entrust growth in understanding to God.

Perhaps, when relationship with God is an individual’s focus rather than doctrine, doubt regarding doctrine or observed phenomena might be considered by the individual not to be a matter warranting fear of error, but a matter for further and possibly continuous inquiry. In this case, inquiry might or might not include referral to scientific tests or other study. The individual’s primary course of inquiry, however, appears Biblically suggested to be to God via individual relationship with God.