a survey of the current theological and scientifi c landscape and ending
with practical advice for theologians, pastors, scientists, and laypersons.
I NTERPRETING GOD’S WORLD
Theologians interpret God’s Word using methods of biblical hermeneu-
tics. 2 In a like manner, scientists interpret God’s world using scientifi c
methods. For the purposes of this paper, we defi ne science as knowledge
about and methods used to answer questions and solve problems about
the natural world. 3 The central features of this enterprise are observation,
experimentation, and logic. Once a question or problem has been identi-
fi ed, the scientist gathers as much information as he/she can about the
question or problem via the fi ve physical senses (or instrumental exten-
sions of these senses). Then a tentative explanation (hypothesis) is pro-
posed, and experiments are designed and constructed to test it. Typically,
other scientists will repeat the experiments and attempt to confi rm or
refute the hypothesis. Although methods of scientifi c hypothesis testing
are widely agreed upon, applications of these fi ndings are not. There is no
single scientifi c method. Rather, there are scientifi c methods (plural). Ian
Barbour writes:
At the outset it should be stated that there is no “scientifi c method,” no
formula with fi ve easy steps guaranteed to lead to discoveries. There are
many methods, used at different stages of inquiry, in widely different
circumstances. 4These processes are often fraught with incompatible presuppositions,
hypotheses, and sometimes, strong polemics. Because of this, there is
much contentious debate among scholars on distinguishing science from
nonscience. 5
Presuppositions of Scientists
Most practitioners of mainstream science are realists. 6 Like other people,
they assume self-existence and the existence of other people and things, and
act as if communication is possible. Scientists also usually presuppose the
following: nature is measurable, understandable, knowable, orderly, and
regular. Natural phenomena are reproducible and can be described math-
ematically, and natural laws do not change with time (uniformitarianism). 7
280 M. TENNESON ET AL.