Is the pursuit of science really closely compatible with faith?

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“Breakthroughs” in science are so often a band aid for problems caused by moral decisions of mankind. Cancer is likely caused by modern pollutants. The obsession with being young and all the inventions of how to keep it is from a fear of death and what comes next. Computers and mobile phones exist because they feed our desire for worldly complex lives.

Is our relentless pursuit of controlling our material well-being the reason science has to be called into question?
 
I don’t think it’s our pursuit of science, but rather what we do with the knowledge once we acquire it- humanity has free will, and can use things for both good or ill.
Look at nuclear power- It gives us the possibility of infinite, clean, relatively safe electricity, with more development. But, those same advancements have also killed countless people, and cast the shadow of nuclear holocaust across the earth.
 
St. Peregrine suffered from cancer but lived hundreds of years ago, and St. Luke was a physician. Taking care of the body and seeking healing are not against the faith.

As with all things, moderation and prudence seem to be the key. Multiple plastic surgeries may not be prudent, but removing a cancerous melanoma or chemotherapy are not against faith.

How one chooses to use the computer and cell phone is what leads to “obsession” — the computer and modern technology are just there, morally neutral, I think.

Who/what is calling science into question?

Science is just a way of investigating the natural world, and possibly deriving good from the investigation (e.g., cures to diseases). Science can also result in…evil…things (e.g., fetal tissue research, embryonic stem cell research).
 
Christphr said:
Is our relentless pursuit of controlling our material well-being the reason science has to be called into question?
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After reading your thread title and post, I think what you want to ask is:

Is our relentless pursuit of technology a reason to call our morality into question?

Anyway, I think I understand your point. I’d say that most technological breakthroughs are not made in pursuit of immoral endeavors. Some no doubt are, but I don’t think the majority are.

Some of the biggest breakthroughs are brought about by war. Computers, steel, nuclear power are some off the top of my head, and I could be wrong about. Nevertheless, I would venture to say that most of the breakthroughs brought by war have been to defend against an aggressor, and so aren’t invented with immoral intent, but can be used immorally at that time or a later time.

But I think you have a good thought with that question.
 
Full body augmentations. cybernetic implants… We are the borg, we will add your likeness to our own.
 
1Lord1Faith said:
Some of the biggest breakthroughs are brought about by war.
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Indeed. GPS technology was developed for the military.

Going a little further back, the Haber process helped Germany to make explosives used in World War I, but today it is used to make fertilizer without which we simply could not feed today’s world population.
 
The pursuit in science should be helpful to morals, not against them. Sadly, that is not how things are.
 
It would depend on what the pursuit of science entailed in particular cases, I suppose. Obviously science can be used in ways contrary to the faith, but it doesn’t have to be.

The gifts God has given us must be used responsibly, but that doesn’t mean progress can’t be made for the betterment of the world.
 
Science is one method to pursue the truth about the material world only!

That’s it.

Science can’t address anything about the immaterial world. period underscored.
 
Edward_H said:
Science can’t address anything about the immaterial world.
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Maybe it can. Science reveals order across all levels in the universe. It even happens that disorder at one level leads to order at other levels. To the unbeliever, this implies that we are incredibly lucky. To the faithful, it shows that there is a good and wise creator.
 
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Nope.

Don’t confuse logic with science.

Science is about the material world only; physical properties.
 
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