Faith & Science

Today the Episcopal Church remembers and honors two men of science, Nicolaus Copernicus (19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) who was the first astronomer to formulate a comprehensive heliocentric cosmology, which displaced the Earth from the center of the universe, and Johannes Kepler (27 December 1571 – 15 November 1630),  a German mathematician and astronomer who is best known for his eponymous laws of planetary motion, codified by later astronomers and one of the foundations for Isaac Newton’s theory of universal gravitation.

Many think that the Church is opposed to science; however, nothing could be farther from the truth.  That which is true is not contrary to God who is all truth.  Within the Anglican Communion there are a number of scientists who are also priests.  For example, the Rev. Alister McGrath, obtained a D.Phil. at Oxford for his research in molecular biophysics (December 1977), and gained first class honors in Theology in June 1978.  McGrath then left Oxford to work at Cambridge University, where he also studied for ordination into the Church of England. In September 1980, he was ordained deacon, and began work as a curate at St Leonard’s Parish Church, Wollaton, Nottingham, in the English East Midlands. He was ordained priest at Southwell Minster in September 1981. In 1983, he was appointed lecturer in Christian doctrine and ethics at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and a member of the Oxford University Faculty of Theology.  He often debates the world renowned atheist, Richard Dawkins, who studied zoology at Oxford, graduating in 1962 receiving his M.A. and D.Phil. degrees by 1966. 

Another priest-scientist is the Rev. John Polkinghorne who was professor of mathematical physics at the University of Cambridge from 1968 to 1979, and then resigned his chair to study for the priesthood, becoming an ordained Anglican priest in 1982. He served as the president of Queens’ College, Cambridge from 1988 until 1996.  Polkinghorne considers that “the question of the existence of God is the single most important question we face about the nature of reality.”

Fr. Polkinghorne suggests that God is the ultimate answer to Leibniz’s great question “why is there something rather than nothing?” The atheist’s “plain assertion of the world’s existence” is a “grossly impoverished view of reality,” he says, arguing that “theism explains more than a reductionist atheism can ever address.”

There are many other such people, both clergy and laity, who are people of faith and also people of science.  One such person was a friend of mine who died recently, Randall Furlong, an Episcopalian, scientist, and just all around brilliant and wonderful person who now is with God, the Great Scientist, is the author is all physics, biochemistry and reality itself.

Let us pray:  Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its order, atoms, worlds, galaxies and the intricate complexities of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

St. Augustine’s Community Garden is on the Garden Tour on the Island next weekend.

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday.

Gospel by the Sea, 8 June 2013.

EFM begins in the fall.  Please contact Tammie Taylor to sign-up.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially all of the victims of the recent tornadoes in North Texas and in Oklahoma. During this graduation season, please remember all of those who are graduating from high schools and universities.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550