Evidence-based Belief and Living - Part 5

This post is a comment I posted in response to a comment I received today.

"I accept that the scientific method in the lab is fine. But, when you are speaking of God, the origin of the universe, or faith, don't you think that might be exceeding the limits of the scientific method?

The presupposition of science is that we have the ability to judge the results of our experiments. Placing yourself in the position of Judge in these matters is to exalt the science above God.

This is folly."

I have described previously that I believe faith is not antithetical to scientific reasoning, but rather is the trusting of that reason, regardless of the mood--good or bad--that one finds himself in that moment.

From the point of view that God is the cause of this universe, it follows easily that God also would have caused the method of reasoning which we utilize so fully now. If this is the case, then God as he has manifested himself on Earth in the natural world should stand up to reason and the act of Judging (this is referred to in the anonymous writer's comment) would not exalt one to assuming the position or superpostion of God.

To follow the reasoning that somehow being a Judge of information is sinful (in that is requires one placing him/herself in a position of greater authority than God) would lead one to make no judgements in life. To add to this, what are the constraints that are being put on the word or idea of a "lab". The idea of lab being a room to which scientific reasoning can or should be contained is just too reductionistic. The world is the lab in which we make judgements all of the time. We may not see them that way because we don't take the time to be metacongitive about what goes into everyday decisions. Why would we?

At what point would one be the sinful judge or the judge that is exalting him/herself over God? Take for example the decision to buy toothpaste. A person is faced with two or more varieties of toothpaste from which to choose for a purchase. Let's say this person is armed with data showing which one fights plaque the best. This person then makes a judgement using scientific reasoning on which toothpaste to buy. This may sound like it is simplyfying or reducing the idea of being a Judge, but at what point does the Judging begin? Judging is the result of a way of thinking or knowing. Regardless of the content which is being judged the value of this way of knowing does not differ. So to condemn science in this way--saying that it is an act of judging which exalts itself above God--also condemns the very nature by which we carry on many activities in our lives. This means to reject Judgement would mean to reject God who created we who carry on these daily activities. I believe that the act of rejecting science is to exalt oneself above God and above the justification for why he created the world the way he did.