Naomi Brehm

CiS Student Conference 2015

TRUSTING GOD WITH THE UNKNOWN

How can a believing scientist trust without knowledge?

Science

scire, to knowFaith

fidere, to trust

UNCERTAINTY - PROOF - WISDOM

UNCERTAINTY

Chaos Theory

Accuracy

Error margins

Quantum Mechanics (Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle)

Reason to investigate

Predictions

The future

Unanswered Prayer

Big questions

Finances

Career

Philosophy

Decision making

“…If they are consistent with their science, I think that they say something like this to themselves: ‘I am almost certain there is a God. The doubt is very small.’ That is quite different from saying, ‘I know that there is a God.’…”

- R. Feynman, ‘The Relation of Science and Religion’, 1956

PROOF

Observation

Hypothesis

Prediction

Experimentation

Conclusion

“…he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’

“And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come’. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus…”

“…and those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”

MATTHEW 14:25-33

FAITHWhat does it

mean?

SCIENCEHow does it

work?

JOB 28(v12) “But where shall wisdom be found?

And where is the place of understanding?

Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living…

(v23) God understands the way to it,

And he knows its place.

For he looks to the ends of the earth

and sees everything under the heavens…

(v28) And he said to man,

‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,

And to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

WISDOM – THE FORMULAE

Wisdom = understanding

nature + trusting its Creator

Knowledge ≠ Wisdom

Wisdom › Knowledge

• Live an uncertain life with certainty in Christ.• See testimonies and experiences like

experimental proof.• Accept the limitations of human understanding,

trusting that God will reveal all we need to know.• Seek godly wisdom over earthly knowledge.

How can a believing scientist trust without knowledge?

CiS Student Conference 2015

@naomi_brehm

TRUSTING GOD WITH THE UNKNOWN

Thank you for listening!