Limitations of Science
Which is not a good characteristic for a scientist?
a. caution
b. observation
c. bias
d. curiosity
c. bias
What is the worldview that many modern biologists hold to is called___________.
Where Did the World Come From?
God has made all things.
Atoms, molecules, cells, organisms, stars, and galaxies exist not because they have organized themselves, but because God has designed them and called them into existence (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6-9).
God has done this to show His own glory-to show how great He is and how good He is (Rom. 11:36).
Because he made the world, He has authority over everything.
What is the term for a simple, testable statement about the solution to a problem?
hypothesis
What scientific term could describe the group of prisoners who changed their diet (no milk, meat, or eggs)?
the experimental group
Today common murres, a smaller type of auk that can fly, live on the islands where the great auks once lived.
a. observable evidence
b. universal statement
c. value judgment
d. final answer
A. observable evidence
According to naturalism, where did the world come from and where did humans come from?
The universe has always existed. The present condition of the universe is the result of natural processes that have gone on forever.
Humans are the result of long periods of evolution.
Where Did humans Come From?
Man was created by a direct act on the sixth day of Creation (Gen. 1:27)
Man was created in God’s image, which means that God made humans to reflect certain aspects of His own being (Gen. 1:26-27).
Intelligence, emotions, and will.
Not only did God make us in His image, He also has called us to have dominion over the earth, which is sometimes referred to as the Creation Mandate (Gen. 1:28).
A well-planned experiment always results in one clear answer (True/False).
False. The data does not always immediately point to one clear answer. The data must be classified and analyzed. Sometimes additional or modified experiments will need to be performed before the best answer can be chosen.
What did Goldberger conclude was the cause of pellagra?
A diet poor in animal products (milk, meat, and eggs)
Great auks nested in large colonies, but their population growth was limited because no auk ever laid more than one egg each year.
a. observable evidence
b. universal statement
c. value judgement
d. final answer
b. universal statement
Whats wrong with the world according to naturalism?
To a naturalist, there is no ultimate authority to say what is right or wrong. There is only nature. There is no purpose or design, simply a matter of blind chance. They acknowledge there is pain and suffering in the world, but have difficulty identifying these things as a result of wrongdoing.
What’s Wrong with the World?
A biblical worldview affirms that the world is under God’s curse.
God’s original creation was “very good” (Gen. 1:31).
Adam and Eve chose to disobey God by eating the fruit that God had said they could not eat. Because humans sinned against Him, God cursed the world (Gen. 3).
Mankind’s first sin that resulted in God’s curse on the world is often called the Fall. Death and disease (a reoccurring theme in life science) are the results of sin.
How can an answer from an experiment be verified?
By obtaining more data through repeated experiments or surveys
A person makes a value judgment when he decides _____.
a. how big something is
b. how much something is worth
c. whether something is possible
d. whether something is based on Scripture
b. how much something is worth
Name the three characteristics required to think Christianly about scientific thinking.
Curiosity to the Glory of God.
Caution controlled by scripture.
Commitment to Biblical presupposition.
What do naturalists think should be done to help solve the world's problems?
Believe that science is the key to solving man's problems.
Rid the world of ignorance by teaching that the process of evolution has produced them. To free from the dread of God that religion puts in their hearts.
What Should Be Done?
A biblical worldview holds out hope for fallen sinners and this world.
This hope does not come from science, but from God.
God provided a way of salvation for us. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the sins of mankind.
By His death and resurrection, He ensured salvation for all who trust in Him. God promises to give such people eternal life with Him.
Science is not the source of this redemption, but science does benefit from it.
Why is it important to have only one experimental variable in a scientific experiment?
If you have more than one variable, you cannot be sure that your results are due to the experimental variable; the results may be due to one of the other variables you didn’t control.
People who believe that science is the only source of knowledge about the world have put their faith in _____.
a. Christianity
b. the Creation Mandate
c. systematics
d. scientism
d. scientism
List six limitations of science.
Science deals only with things that can be observed.
Scientific observations may be faulty.
Scientists are influenced by bias.
Science cannot make value judgements.
Science cannot prove universal statements.
Science cannot provide final answers.
What does naturalism say about death?
We should focus on life we are living now because it is the only one we will ever have.
What does the study of science help people do/see in a Biblical worldview?
Science helps redeemed people see the glory of God.
We know from the Bible that God is great.
But, once we have spent some time studying how a leaf stores energy or how cells divide, we come to see for ourselves the wisdom and power of God.
Simply by speaking, He brought to life a world of marvelous beauty and complexity (Gen. 1:11-25).
Christians are called by God to spread the good news of God’s plan of redemption. Science can play a role in this work because it offers many opportunities to serve God and others.
Since many think that science proves that Christianity is unture, Christians need to learn about science from a Christian perspective. Any piece of evidence in science can be explained from a biblical worldview.
Which of these problems would best be studied with a survey?
a. Which antibiotic is most effective at killing E. coli bacteria?
b. Which brand of toothpaste do most dentists recommend?
c. Which chemical makes Bermuda grass the greenest?
d. Does vitamin C help prevent cancer?
b. Which brand of toothpaste do most dentists recommend?
John wanted to do an experiment to test whether using fluoride rinse helps prevent cavities. He believed that rinsing with fluoride does help prevent cavities. John asked 20 people in his school to be in his experiment. He divided the 20 people into two equal groups. The people in the first group brushed their teeth twice a day but did not use fluoride rinse. Those in the second group brushed their teeth twice a day and used fluoride rinse once a day. After six months, all 20 people went to the dentist to find out if they had any cavities. Four people from the first group had cavities. No one from the second group had a cavity. What was the experimental variable?
a. brushing teeth
b. type of toothpaste used
c. using fluoride rinse
d. going to the dentist
c. using fluoride rinse