Christianity’s Role in the Rise of Science

Why Science Only Arrose in the Christian West.

Shorts on Science

To win Arguments or People?

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;

to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

On the essentials of the faith—Christ's death, resurrection, and the authority of Scripture—we must stand firm. However, on secondary issues, such as the age of the Earth, we must show charity and love in all things.

As Young Earth Creationists, we firmly hold that Scripture teaches a recent creation—about 6,000 years ago—in six literal days, as described in Genesis 1 and affirmed by Jesus in Mark 10:6: "But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female." This view grounds our faith in God's Word as authoritative and trustworthy.

Yet, we must not reject brothers and sisters who differ on this secondary issue, such as Old Earth Creationists or Theistic Evolutionists.

Romans 14:1 urges, "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters." By harshly dividing over Earth's age, we risk becoming a stumbling block, hindering unity and even repelling the lost from the gospel.

Instead, like Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, we become "all things to all people" to win some—meeting others where they are, without compromising essentials like Christ's death and resurrection.

Let love prevail: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

In this big tent, we point all to the Creator, fostering dialogue that draws souls to salvation, not division.

All Things to All People: 1 Corinthians 9:19–23

The Intelligent Design Movement: A Big Tent for Diverse Creation Views

The Intelligent Design (ID) movement is a contemporary intellectual and cultural effort that argues certain features of the universe and living things are best explained by an intelligent cause rather than undirected natural processes such as random mutation and natural selection. Emerging prominently in the late 20th century, ID challenges purely naturalistic explanations for life's complexity, drawing on scientific evidence like irreducible complexity in biological systems and the fine-tuning of the cosmos. Unlike strict creationism, which often ties directly to religious texts, ID focuses on empirical arguments for design without specifying the designer's identity, though many proponents associate it with a divine creator. This approach has made ID a "big tent" that accommodates various perspectives on origins, including Young Earth Creationism, Old Earth Creationism, and even Theistic Evolution.

Young Earth Creationists in the Intelligent Design Movement

Young Earth Creationism (YEC) holds that the Earth and universe are approximately 6,000 to 10,000 years old, based on a literal interpretation of the biblical Genesis account. YEC proponents argue for direct divine creation of kinds of life, rejecting macroevolution and an ancient Earth. While some YEC advocates criticize ID for not being explicitly biblical or for allowing an old Earth, many have embraced ID arguments to challenge evolutionary naturalism. For instance, irreducible complexity—where biological structures like the bacterial flagellum couldn't evolve step-by-step—aligns with YEC's view of special creation. ID's flexibility allows YEC to fit under its umbrella as long as the focus remains on detecting design, even if timelines differ from other ID supporters.

Old Earth Creationists and Their Role

Old Earth Creationism (OEC) accepts scientific evidence for an ancient Earth—around 4.6 billion years old—and universe, but maintains that God intervened through special acts of creation rather than evolution producing all life forms. OEC often interprets the "days" in Genesis as long ages or uses frameworks like gap theory (a vast time gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2). This group forms a significant part of the ID movement, as most prominent ID theorists, including those from the Discovery Institute, hold old-Earth views. ID's emphasis on design detection complements OEC by providing scientific tools to argue against unguided evolution, while allowing for geological deep time. For example, progressive creationism, a subset of OEC, posits God created species in stages over eons, which aligns with ID's rejection of Darwinian mechanisms for major innovations.

Theistic Evolutionists Within the Fold

Theistic Evolution (TE), also known as Evolutionary Creation, posits that God created life through the process of evolution, guiding it providentially rather than through direct interventions. TE accepts common descent and the scientific consensus on evolution but attributes it to divine purpose. While some distinguish TE from ID—seeing ID as more focused on detectable design in nature—others argue TE can overlap with ID if evolution is viewed as a designed process. In ID's big tent, theistic evolutionists who affirm that intelligence is evident in evolutionary fine-tuning (e.g., the anthropic principle) can participate, even if they differ on the extent of direct divine action. This inclusion broadens ID's appeal, though tensions exist with those who see TE as too accommodating to naturalism.

Unity Under the Big Tent

The strength of the Intelligent Design movement lies in its inclusivity, uniting YEC, OEC, and TE under the common banner of opposing materialistic evolution. This "big tent" strategy, promoted by organizations like the Discovery Institute, focuses on shared goals: promoting design theory in education, culture, and science. Despite internal debates—such as over Earth's age or the role of evolution—participants agree that intelligence, not chance, best explains life's origins and complexity.

Note: This website, bythelightoftruth.com, confirms a Young Earth creation perspective. However, we love our brothers and sisters who do not hold this view and appreciate the shared commitment to recognizing design in the universe.