1

Science and The Bible

Syllabus for NS 211

Mondays12:00-2:30 p.m.– Conference Room

A

re science and Christianity inherently incompatible, like trying to mix oil and water?

D

o science and Christianity each require faith?

I

s science a reliable way to understand the world in which we live? Why? And how is science limited as a way to understand the world in which we live?

The Bible forms the best basis for scientific inquiry. Just look at this sampling of Scriptures:

  • “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” – Genesis 1:31
  • “Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then shall I know fully, even as I am fully known.” –1 Corinthians 13:12 . . .
  • “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” Proverbs 25:2
  • “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” – Proverbs 6:6

TEXTBOOKS

The Holy Bible

The Biblical Basis for Modern Science by Henry M. Morris

In the Likeness of God by Paul Brand and Philip Yancey

Science & the Bible Coursepack

ASSESSMENT TOOLS / POINTS / TOTAL / % OF
GRADE
“Three months with a tree” Journal entries (8) / 20 (each) / 160 / 20
One museum field visit / 100 / 100 / 12.5

Various assignments

/

30-50 (each)

/

250

/

31

Midterm exam

/

100

/

100

/

12.5

Final exam / 100 / 100 / 12.5
Attendance & Participation / 6 / 90 / 11
Total / 800 / 100

GRADING

A=90-100%

B=80-89%

C=70-79%

D=60-69%

F=0-59%

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Biblical basis for the sciences will be surveyed. With discussions, readings, videos, a museum visit, field assignments, and even a few experiments, we’ll be dabbling in a good range of subjects, including biology, history, astronomy, philosophy, and, of course, theology.

This is an introductory course. No prior science experience is expected.

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON BIBLICAL INERRANCY:

1. God, who is Himself Truth and speaks truth only, has inspired Holy Scripture in order thereby to reveal Himself to lost mankind through Jesus Christ as Creator and Lord, Redeemer and Judge. Holy Scripture is God's witness to Himself.

2. Holy Scripture, being God's own Word, written by men prepared and superintended by His Spirit, is of infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches: It is to be believed, as God's instruction, in all that it affirms; obeyed, as God's command, in all that it requires; embraced, as God's pledge, in all that it promises.

3. The Holy Spirit, Scripture's divine Author, both authenticates it to us by His inward witness and opens our minds to understand its meaning.

4. Being wholly and verbally God-given, Scripture is without error or fault in all its teaching, no less in what it states about God's acts in creation, about the events of world history, and about its own literary origins under God, that in its witness to God's saving grace in individual lives.

5. The authority of Scripture is inescapably impaired if this total divine inerrancy is in any way limited or disregarded, or made relative to a view of truth contrary to the Bible's own; and such lapses bring serious loss to both the individual and the Church.

- From "The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy," JETS 21/4 (December 1978) 289-296

THIS ACCURATELY DESCRIBES THE DOCTRINAL STANCE TO BE UPHELD IN THIS COURSE.

S

CIENCE, RIGHTLY UNDERSTOOD, will serve to strengthen the faith of the believer of God’s Word, as it has throughout the long and illustrious history of science, and will continue to do so, until our Lord’s return.

  • Together we will embark on a journey of discovery, so that we might, as Isaac Newton once said, “Think God’s thoughts after Him.”

ALL TRUTH IS GOD’S TRUTH.

Course Calendar

WEEK OF / READING TO BE COMPLETED BY THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK, AND DISCUSSED / ASSESSMENT SCHEDULED OR ASSIGNMENT DUE / POINTS POSSIBLE / POINTS EARNED
8/26 /

Morris

  • Chapter 1: Queen of the Sciences – Biblical Theology
  • Appendix 1: Bible-Believing Scientists of the Past

Coursepack

  • Why Does Science Work at All?
  • Did You Know?
/
  • Journal Entry 1
/ 20
9/2 /

Coursepack

  • Galileo and the Powers Above
  • A God of Math & Order
  • A Priest Serving in Nature’s Temple
  • Creation’s Symmetries, God’s Mystery
  • No Vein Inquiry
  • Microscopic Magnificence
  • Natural Adversaries?
/
  • Journal Entry 2
/ 20
9/9 /

Coursepack

  • The Biblical Roots of Modern Science
  • The Historic Alliance of Christianity and Science

Morris

  • Chapter 2: Christ and the Cosmos – Biblical Cosmology
/
  • Journal Entry 3
/ 20
9/16 /

Coursepack

  • Christianity: A Cause of Modern Science?
  • Has Science Disproved God?
/
  • Assessment #1
  • Journal Entry 4
/ 40
20
9/23 /

We will be visiting Lincoln Park Zoo one afternoon this week

Morris

  • Chapter 13: The Life of the Flesh – Biblical Biology

9/30 / Catch up week
10/7 /

Coursepack

  • Reading the Bible and Understanding Nature
  • Scripture and General Revelation
/
  • Lincoln Park Zoo Discovery Tasks
  • Assessment #2: “You Be the Biology Teacher”
/ 100
40
10/14 /

Morris

  • Chapter 6: The Host of Heaven -- Biblical Astronomy
  • Chapter 9: Foundations of the World – Biblical Geophysics
/
  • Midterm Examination
/ 100
10/21 /

Morris

  • Chapter 10: Water and the Word – Biblical Hydrology & Meteorology
  • Chapter 7: The Power of Heat – Biblical Thermodynamics
/
  • Journal Entry 5
/ 20
10/28 / Morris
  • Chapter 8: The Dust of the Earth – Biblical Chemistry and Physics
  • Chapter 3: Miracles and the Laws of Nature – Biblical Supernaturalism
  • Appendix 2: Biblical Miracles of Creation
  • Appendix 3: Biblical Miracles of Providence
  • Appendix 4: Satanic and Demonic Miracles
/
  • Assessment #3: Astronomy, Geophysics, Hydrology, and Meteorology
/ 30
11/4 / Brand & Yancey
  • Cells
/
  • Assessment #4: Thermodynamics, Chemistry, Physics, and Supernaturalism
/ 30
11/11 / Brand & Yancey
  • Bones
  • Skin
/
  • Journal Entry 6
/ 20
11/18 / Brand & Yancey
  • Image
  • Blood
/
  • Assessment #5: Cells, Bones, and Skin
/ 30
11/25 /

Thanksgiving Break

12/2 / Brand & Yancey
  • Head
  • Spirit
  • Pain
/
  • Journal Entry 7
  • Assessment #6: Image, Blood, Head, and Spirit
/ 20
30
12/9 /

Coursepack

  • Technological Challenges of the 21st Century
  • One of the following readings:
  • Three articles on Xenotransplantation
  • Cloning and Genetics: The Brave New World Closes In
  • On Human Embryos and Stem Cell Research
/
  • Group Presentations on Genetic Technology
  • Journal Entry 8
/ 50
20
12/16 /
  • Final Examination
  • Attendance & Class Participation
/ 100
90
Total points / 800

Professor Christopher Ullman -- Christian Life College -- Email: