Several centuries ago science dethroned the Bible as the greatest authority for humankind, pushing it to the background. But as scientists have reexamined its instruction, they've found it's always been ahead of its time!
Earlier centuries saw little conflict between the Scriptures and science.
It was common for scientists and churchmen alike to view the Bible and science
as in complete agreement. If an apparent discrepancy came to light, the Bible
was considered more trustworthy, but the two were widely accepted as harmonious.
But the harmony that once existed between the Bible and the scientific
community has largely dissolved. As biblical misinterpretations and assumptions—along
with religion in general—have been discredited, people have increasingly
turned almost exclusively to science and human reasoning for answers. As
a result, people generally have much more confidence in science and scientific
pronouncements—verified or not—than in God's Word.
A brief look at the world around us shows us that science has indeed been
enthroned in our culture. Religion, in comparison, has been forcibly dethroned.
A recent demographic study concluded that, of the 40 hours a week of free
time the average American is said to have, a typical woman allots about
15 hours to television and only a single hour to religion. Among men the
time devoted to religion is even less. Technology and entertainment have
conspired to knock religion off its pedestal.
Where the usual approach in the past was to let the Bible take precedence
over scientific discoveries, now the situation is reversed. "There developed
in the nineteenth century what has been called 'scientism.' This holds
that only science has the key to truth and that whatever is not scientific
is false" (James Hitchcock, What Is Secular Humanism? 1982, p.
44). Today the typical academic will elevate a biology text or theory far
above the Bible.
