FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Science and the Church of Jesus Christ: Difference between revisions
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== | ==Determining truth== | ||
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|summary=It is important to keep in mind the difference in purpose between science and the Gospel. The purpose of science is to examine the characteristics of the world around us in order to more fully understand it. A main purpose of the Gospel is to teach us to develop faith. Unfortunately, the acquisition of scientific knowledge is sometimes perceived to destroy faith. The purpose of faith is to help us understand spiritual things, just as science helps us to understand physical things. | |summary=It is important to keep in mind the difference in purpose between science and the Gospel. The purpose of science is to examine the characteristics of the world around us in order to more fully understand it. A main purpose of the Gospel is to teach us to develop faith. Unfortunately, the acquisition of scientific knowledge is sometimes perceived to destroy faith. The purpose of faith is to help us understand spiritual things, just as science helps us to understand physical things. | ||
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|subject=Burning in the bosom | |subject=Burning in the bosom | ||
|summary=Critics love to mock the "burning in the bosom" as a way to determine truth, and claim that it is simply the result of an electro-chemical process that occurs in the brain | |summary=Critics love to mock the "burning in the bosom" as a way to determine truth, and claim that it is simply the result of an electro-chemical process that occurs in the brain | ||
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==Latter-day Saint approaches to science== | |||
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|subject=Global or local Flood | |subject=Global or local Flood | ||
|summary=How do we deal with the fact that there is no scientific evidence of a worldwide flood? How can the scriptures and prophets teach of a worldwide flood, when this contradicts the evidence? The biodiversity of plants and animals on the earth could not have occurred within the span of a few thousand years. Did the continents separate during the flood of Noah? Doctrine and Covenants 133:23–24 seems to imply that they did. How do we reconcile this to scientific fact? Didn't Brigham Young, John Taylor and Orson Pratt teach that the Flood was the baptism of the Earth? | |summary=How do we deal with the fact that there is no scientific evidence of a worldwide flood? How can the scriptures and prophets teach of a worldwide flood, when this contradicts the evidence? The biodiversity of plants and animals on the earth could not have occurred within the span of a few thousand years. Did the continents separate during the flood of Noah? Doctrine and Covenants 133:23–24 seems to imply that they did. How do we reconcile this to scientific fact? Didn't Brigham Young, John Taylor and Orson Pratt teach that the Flood was the baptism of the Earth? | ||
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|link=/Alleged "discovery" of cold fusion by Utah researchers | |||
|subject=Alleged "discovery" of cold fusion by Utah researchers | |||
|summary=Critics claim that the mistaken "discovery" of cold fusion in Utah reflects on either LDS gullibility, inability to do science, or dishonesty. | |||
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==Latter-day Saint attitude toward science== | |||
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|link=Mormonism and education | |||
|subject=Mormonism and eduation | |||
|summary=Does the Church Educational System (CES) insists that gospel learning takes precedence over secular learning?Does the level of activity in the Church decrease as educational level increases? | |||
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|link= | |link=Apologetics | ||
|subject= | |subject=Latter-day Saint apologists' attitudes toward science | ||
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|summary=Didn't Joseph Fielding Smith declare that man would never leave this planet? | |summary=Didn't Joseph Fielding Smith declare that man would never leave this planet? | ||
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Latter-day Saints are not required to discard science in favor of religion. Many Latter-day Saints are heavily involved in scientific research without suffering a loss of faith. Not only do we believe that science is continually being updated, but that Gospel knowledge will be updated as well. As the 9th Article of Faith states: | Latter-day Saints are not required to discard science in favor of religion. Many Latter-day Saints are heavily involved in scientific research without suffering a loss of faith. Not only do we believe that science is continually being updated, but that Gospel knowledge will be updated as well. As the 9th Article of Faith states: | ||
Revision as of 03:04, 9 February 2011
Mormonism and science
==Questions
==
- Critics claim that Mormons believe that if there is a conflict between science and religion, that the science is incorrect.
- Critics claim that Mormonism reserves the right to identify scientific truth.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]
=Detailed Analysis
=
Is there any conflict between science and religion? There is no conflict in the mind of God, but often there is conflict in the minds of men.[1]
—Henry Eyring, developer of the Absolute Rate Theory of chemical reactions: One of the most important developments of 20th-century chemistry.
In these respects we differ from the Christian world, for our religion will not clash with or contradict the facts of science in any particular...whether the Lord found the earth empty and void, whether he made it out of nothing or out of the rude elements; or whether he made it in six days or in as many millions of years, is and will remain a matter of speculation in the minds of men unless he give revelation on the subject. If we understood the process of creation there would be no mystery about it, it would be all reasonable and plain, for there is no mystery except to the ignorant.
—Brigham Young, (May 14, 1871) Journal of Discourses 14:116.
Determining truth
Are Mormonism and science compatible?
Summary: Secular critics charge that Mormonism and science are incompatible, and that any Latter-day Saint who actually believes is "intellectually dishonest." In reality, however, Latter-day Saints in many ways have a more liberal view of science than some of their Christian brethren. We believe that God operates according to certain laws. If there are things that God can do which seem to contradict what we know through current science, we assume that there are scientific laws that are beyond our current understanding.Faith versus knowledge
Summary: It is important to keep in mind the difference in purpose between science and the Gospel. The purpose of science is to examine the characteristics of the world around us in order to more fully understand it. A main purpose of the Gospel is to teach us to develop faith. Unfortunately, the acquisition of scientific knowledge is sometimes perceived to destroy faith. The purpose of faith is to help us understand spiritual things, just as science helps us to understand physical things.Burning in the bosom
Summary: Critics love to mock the "burning in the bosom" as a way to determine truth, and claim that it is simply the result of an electro-chemical process that occurs in the brainLatter-day Saint approaches to science
Archaeology and the Book of Mormon
Evolution
Summary: How does the Church reconcile the theory of evolution with the story of Adam?Pre-Adamites
Summary: There is scientific evidence of human habitation for many thousands of years. How do we reconcile this with the idea that Adam lived approximately 6,000 years ago?Death before the Fall
Summary: Does LDS doctrine hold that there was no death before the Fall of Adam?Procreation before the Fall
Summary: Did procreation exist before the Fall of Adam?Global or local Flood
Summary: How do we deal with the fact that there is no scientific evidence of a worldwide flood? How can the scriptures and prophets teach of a worldwide flood, when this contradicts the evidence? The biodiversity of plants and animals on the earth could not have occurred within the span of a few thousand years. Did the continents separate during the flood of Noah? Doctrine and Covenants 133:23–24 seems to imply that they did. How do we reconcile this to scientific fact? Didn't Brigham Young, John Taylor and Orson Pratt teach that the Flood was the baptism of the Earth?Age of the Earth
Summary: Do Latter-day Saints believe that the Earth is only 6,000 years old? Why does Doctrine and Covenants section 77 say that the history of the earth covers only seven thousand years?Dinosaurs
Summary: How do dinosaurs fit into God's plan?Book of Mormon and DNA evidence
Free will and science
Alleged "discovery" of cold fusion by Utah researchers
Summary: Critics claim that the mistaken "discovery" of cold fusion in Utah reflects on either LDS gullibility, inability to do science, or dishonesty.Latter-day Saint attitude toward science
Mormonism and eduation
Summary: Does the Church Educational System (CES) insists that gospel learning takes precedence over secular learning?Does the level of activity in the Church decrease as educational level increases?Latter-day Saint apologists' attitudes toward science
General authorities statements regarding science
Summary: If General authorities' statements are treated as scripture, then what does that mean when they make statements regarding science?- Brigham Young and moonmen—
Brief Summary: Didn't Brigham Young preach that the sun and the moon were inhabited? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Joseph Fielding Smith and man on the moon—
Brief Summary: Didn't Joseph Fielding Smith declare that man would never leave this planet? (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- Brigham Young and moonmen—
Answer
= Latter-day Saints are not required to discard science in favor of religion. Many Latter-day Saints are heavily involved in scientific research without suffering a loss of faith. Not only do we believe that science is continually being updated, but that Gospel knowledge will be updated as well. As the 9th Article of Faith states:
- We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
We acknowledge that we do not understand everything regarding the manner in which God created the earth, but we have been assured through revelation that at some future time we will be allowed to understand these things. Until then, our challenge is to develop and maintain faith, even if it appears to contradict current scientific trends.
== Notes ==
- [note] Henry Eyring, Reflections of a Scientist (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1983), 2.
- [note] Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 14:117.
- [note] C. Terry Warner, "An Open Letter to Students: On Having Faith and Thinking for Yourself," New Era (Nov. 1971), 14.
- [note] Henry Eyring, Reflections of a Scientist (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1983), 62.
- [note] Dallin H. Oaks, Fundamental Premises of Our Faith, (Talk given at Harvard Law School on 26 February 2010) off-site.
Further reading
FairMormon Answers articles
Mormonism and science
Determining truth
Are Mormonism and science compatible?
Summary: Secular critics charge that Mormonism and science are incompatible, and that any Latter-day Saint who actually believes is "intellectually dishonest." In reality, however, Latter-day Saints in many ways have a more liberal view of science than some of their Christian brethren. We believe that God operates according to certain laws. If there are things that God can do which seem to contradict what we know through current science, we assume that there are scientific laws that are beyond our current understanding.Faith versus knowledge
Summary: It is important to keep in mind the difference in purpose between science and the Gospel. The purpose of science is to examine the characteristics of the world around us in order to more fully understand it. A main purpose of the Gospel is to teach us to develop faith. Unfortunately, the acquisition of scientific knowledge is sometimes perceived to destroy faith. The purpose of faith is to help us understand spiritual things, just as science helps us to understand physical things.Burning in the bosom
Summary: Critics love to mock the "burning in the bosom" as a way to determine truth, and claim that it is simply the result of an electro-chemical process that occurs in the brainLatter-day Saint approaches to science
Archaeology and the Book of Mormon
Evolution
Summary: How does the Church reconcile the theory of evolution with the story of Adam?Pre-Adamites
Summary: There is scientific evidence of human habitation for many thousands of years. How do we reconcile this with the idea that Adam lived approximately 6,000 years ago?Death before the Fall
Summary: Does LDS doctrine hold that there was no death before the Fall of Adam?Procreation before the Fall
Summary: Did procreation exist before the Fall of Adam?Global or local Flood
Summary: How do we deal with the fact that there is no scientific evidence of a worldwide flood? How can the scriptures and prophets teach of a worldwide flood, when this contradicts the evidence? The biodiversity of plants and animals on the earth could not have occurred within the span of a few thousand years. Did the continents separate during the flood of Noah? Doctrine and Covenants 133:23–24 seems to imply that they did. How do we reconcile this to scientific fact? Didn't Brigham Young, John Taylor and Orson Pratt teach that the Flood was the baptism of the Earth?Age of the Earth
Summary: Do Latter-day Saints believe that the Earth is only 6,000 years old? Why does Doctrine and Covenants section 77 say that the history of the earth covers only seven thousand years?Dinosaurs
Summary: How do dinosaurs fit into God's plan?Book of Mormon and DNA evidence
Free will and science
Alleged "discovery" of cold fusion by Utah researchers
Summary: Critics claim that the mistaken "discovery" of cold fusion in Utah reflects on either LDS gullibility, inability to do science, or dishonesty.Latter-day Saint attitude toward science
Mormonism and eduation
Summary: Does the Church Educational System (CES) insists that gospel learning takes precedence over secular learning?Does the level of activity in the Church decrease as educational level increases?Latter-day Saint apologists' attitudes toward science
General authorities statements regarding science
Summary: If General authorities' statements are treated as scripture, then what does that mean when they make statements regarding science?
FairMormon web site
External links
Printed material
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