Journal: Interdisciplinary Journal on Biblical Authority
Volume: IJOBA 02:3 (Spring 2021)
Article: A View Of The Authoritative Superiority Of The Scriptures Above The Sciences
Author: Chris Basel

IJOBA 2:3 (Spring 2021) p. 4

A View Of The Authoritative Superiority Of The Scriptures Above The Sciences

Chris Basel

Department Chair – STEM
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Calvary University

and

John Oglesby
Executive Vice President
Associate Professor of Transformative Learning and Leadership
Vyrsity

* * * * *

Should Science Be Our Authority?

Infectious diseases such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites are prevalent in our fallen world. Currently we are grappling with a global pandemic from the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19). The world is depending on scientists to develop a vaccine or other treatment to end the pandemic.

Similar situations have occurred in the past. In the 1940s, an average of more than 35,000 people per year were crippled by polio in the US alone, and many died.1 Many victims had to live their lives in “iron lungs,” which were pod-like chambers that externally enabled victims of polio to breath. However, in the 1950s Jonas Salk developed the first vaccine for polio. A superior vaccine was later developed by Albert Sabin.2 Now polio is virtually unheard

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of in the developed world and most people born in the 21^st century have probably never heard of an iron lung. That was a great accomplishment of scientists!

Numerous other examples could be given. Many cancers which were once considered a “death sentence” are now curable or at least have a high survival rate. The development of antibiotics has made infectious diseases that were once dreaded easier to control. Scientists and engineers have developed buildings that can withstand the seismic energy of an earthquake. And what about space travel, cell phones, computers, and many other modern inventions? The list of scientific accomplishments seems endless, and we should be thankful for these.

Such achievements have led to the belief that we can look to science to solve all our problems, and scientists are seen as authoritative. Certainly, within their field of expertise, scientists should be considered authorities. However, when one looks in detail at the history of science, the veneer of ultimate authority falls away. Scientists are imperfect, fallen beings and have at times made egregious errors.

Some errors in science are not harmful, except to the reputations of the scientists involved and wasted time and money. One well-known example was the announcement that two scientists had developed a “cold fusion” process.