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.
Science and the Church of Jesus Christ
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]]
Subtopics
=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.
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
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.
The exercise of faith sometimes seems to require a direct contradiction of what we "know" to physically be true. C. Terry Warner, a professor of philosophy at Brigham Young University, expressed this issue well when he said:
- Because they think of science as objectively testing its theories against evidence and because they suppose that knowledge and faith are somehow opposites, they regard faith as an attitude of clinging to theological beliefs in spite of any evidence which might be found: an attitude of closing one’s eyes to and stubbornly refusing to be swayed by the facts. Keep in mind that it is a misconception of science and knowledge that I am challenging, not science and knowledge themselves.[2]
Faith sometimes allows us to perform tasks that are beyond the scientific knowledge of our time. The very definition of faith is that it has to do with things that we cannot know in any other manner. The confirmation of this knowledge is supposed to come after we demonstrate faith.
- And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. (Ether 12꞉6)
Once we have received a confirmation of our faith, it becomes knowledge. Consider the experience of the Brother of Jared:
- And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting. (Ether 3꞉19)
The problem that arises when attempting to reconcile religion and science, therefore, is that we feel that we have acquired knowledge that sometimes appears to contradict what faith would require us to believe. This knowledge "short circuits" our attempt to exercise faith. Henry Eyring explained it as follows:
- Probably one of the most difficult problems in reading the scriptures is to decide what is to be taken literally and what is figurative. In this connection, it seems to me that the Creator must operate with facts and with an understanding that goes entirely outside our understanding and our experience. Because of this, when someone builds up a system of logic, however careful and painstaking, that gives a positive answer to this difficult question, I can't help but wonder about it, particularly if it seems to run counter to the Creator's revelations written in the physical world. At least I would like to move slowly in such matters.[3]
In a talk entitled "Fundamental Premises of Our Faith," Elder Dallin H. Oaks told the Harvard Law School of "The three-fold sources of truth about man and the universe: science, the scriptures, and continuing revelation..."[4] Latter-day Saints respect the truths that science can reveal about our earth and universe but we also treasure God's word as found in our scriptures and modern revelations. Understanding how these sources of knowledge and truth complement each other can provide wisdom and comfort to all those that search them diligently by the Spirit.
Specific scientific issues which concern Latter-day Saints
There are a variety of scientific issues which concern Latter-day Saints. The following sections summarize these issues and provide links to more detailed articles which address them.
Archaeology and the Book of Mormon
Burning in the bosom
Questions:
- Isn't the "burning in the bosom" simply the result of an electro-chemical process that occurs in the brain?
Biodiversity versus the flood of Noah
Common questions:
- Why is there 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. Even BYU professors teach this. How do they maintain their belief in God?
- 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?
Church attitudes toward education
- 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?
The story of the creation and the age of the Earth
Common questions:
- Do Mormons 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
Common questions:
- How do dinosaurs fit into God's plan?
Evolution and the origin of Man
Common questions:
- How does the Church reconcile the theory of evolution with the story of Adam?
- 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?
- How could the diversity of humanity that we see today occur within the short span of 6,000 years?
- Why does Doctrine and Covenants section 77 say that the history of the earth covers only seven thousand years?
- Were there people other than Adam on the earth before the Fall?
- Was there death in the world before the Fall of Adam?
- Were Adam and Eve able to have children before the Fall?
Book of Mormon and DNA evidence
LDS Apologists' attitudes toward science
Free will and 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
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]]
Subtopics
=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.[5]
—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.
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
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.
The exercise of faith sometimes seems to require a direct contradiction of what we "know" to physically be true. C. Terry Warner, a professor of philosophy at Brigham Young University, expressed this issue well when he said:
- Because they think of science as objectively testing its theories against evidence and because they suppose that knowledge and faith are somehow opposites, they regard faith as an attitude of clinging to theological beliefs in spite of any evidence which might be found: an attitude of closing one’s eyes to and stubbornly refusing to be swayed by the facts. Keep in mind that it is a misconception of science and knowledge that I am challenging, not science and knowledge themselves.[6]
Faith sometimes allows us to perform tasks that are beyond the scientific knowledge of our time. The very definition of faith is that it has to do with things that we cannot know in any other manner. The confirmation of this knowledge is supposed to come after we demonstrate faith.
- And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. (Ether 12꞉6)
Once we have received a confirmation of our faith, it becomes knowledge. Consider the experience of the Brother of Jared:
- And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting. (Ether 3꞉19)
The problem that arises when attempting to reconcile religion and science, therefore, is that we feel that we have acquired knowledge that sometimes appears to contradict what faith would require us to believe. This knowledge "short circuits" our attempt to exercise faith. Henry Eyring explained it as follows:
- Probably one of the most difficult problems in reading the scriptures is to decide what is to be taken literally and what is figurative. In this connection, it seems to me that the Creator must operate with facts and with an understanding that goes entirely outside our understanding and our experience. Because of this, when someone builds up a system of logic, however careful and painstaking, that gives a positive answer to this difficult question, I can't help but wonder about it, particularly if it seems to run counter to the Creator's revelations written in the physical world. At least I would like to move slowly in such matters.[7]
In a talk entitled "Fundamental Premises of Our Faith," Elder Dallin H. Oaks told the Harvard Law School of "The three-fold sources of truth about man and the universe: science, the scriptures, and continuing revelation..."[8] Latter-day Saints respect the truths that science can reveal about our earth and universe but we also treasure God's word as found in our scriptures and modern revelations. Understanding how these sources of knowledge and truth complement each other can provide wisdom and comfort to all those that search them diligently by the Spirit.
Specific scientific issues which concern Latter-day Saints
There are a variety of scientific issues which concern Latter-day Saints. The following sections summarize these issues and provide links to more detailed articles which address them.
Archaeology and the Book of Mormon
Burning in the bosom
Questions:
- Isn't the "burning in the bosom" simply the result of an electro-chemical process that occurs in the brain?
Biodiversity versus the flood of Noah
Common questions:
- Why is there 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. Even BYU professors teach this. How do they maintain their belief in God?
- 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?
Church attitudes toward education
- 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?
The story of the creation and the age of the Earth
Common questions:
- Do Mormons 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
Common questions:
- How do dinosaurs fit into God's plan?
Evolution and the origin of Man
Common questions:
- How does the Church reconcile the theory of evolution with the story of Adam?
- 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?
- How could the diversity of humanity that we see today occur within the short span of 6,000 years?
- Why does Doctrine and Covenants section 77 say that the history of the earth covers only seven thousand years?
- Were there people other than Adam on the earth before the Fall?
- Was there death in the world before the Fall of Adam?
- Were Adam and Eve able to have children before the Fall?
Book of Mormon and DNA evidence
LDS Apologists' attitudes toward science
Free will and 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
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FairMormon web site
External links
Printed material
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External links
Printed material
Copyright © 2005–2024 FAIR. This is not an official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The content of this page may not be copied, published, or redistributed without the prior written consent of FAIR.
| We welcome your suggestions for improving the content of this FAIR Wiki article. |
Sites we recommend: |