Balancing faith and science is possible

What came first, the chicken or the egg? I am sure everyone has heard this question and attempted to tackle it — and always been unsuccessful in the end.

As scientific and technological advancements continue in the modern world, our religious beliefs and values are often challenged.

As Catholics, we can find ourselves torn between religion and science, but it is possible to reach a consensus. 

Looking at different viewpoints about how the world came into being highlights why this schism exists.

From a scientific perspective, one possible explanation of this phenomenon arose in the late 1920s when Georges Lemaître, a physics professor and astronomer from Belgium, proposed the “hypothesis of the primeval atom” or the Big Bang Theory. In his theory, Lemaître said that approximately 13.7 billion years ago the universe was created from the expansion of extremely hot and dense matter.  According to this model, the solar system and the Earth were formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago.

Meanwhile, the book of Genesis offers a vivid account of how the world was made: “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the Earth, the Earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep . . .” As Catholics, we know that the Bible explains Earth was created in six days, and on the seventh day God rested.

But does that mean that God and science cannot co-exist? I think not. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the role of science in our community, saying, “Science and technology are precious resources when placed at the service of man and promote his integral development for the benefit of all. By themselves however, they cannot disclose the meaning of existence and of human progress.”  Therefore, with regard to how the universe was created, an external influence had to trigger the Big Bang.

I believe the response to the unanswerable is God. Science cannot provide us with all the answers — there are limitations. For starters, science does not deal with phenomena that cannot be tested. As a result, science cannot explain the acts of God because God is indefinable. And in science, nothing can be 100 per cent since there is no such thing as absolute proof.

As Catholics should we take sides with religion or science? In our fast-paced, modern world, science and technology are often getting the better of us, as we struggle to live up to our faith.

I suggest that a balance between both is crucial. We cannot renounce our religion and take sides with science, nor can we completely reject science. Reaching equilibrium, a balance between religion and science is of utmost importance in understanding the world. Knowledge is a gift from God and this includes science. As Catholics, guided by our faith, it is up to us to use our knowledge appropriately.

(Gagliano, 20, is a life sciences student at the University of Toronto.)