Science

I've just watched a documentary in the National Geographic Channel regarding Science and truly, I was totally hooked to the programme, not allowing my parents to change the channel at all.

It was about how everything in this world originated. Some would straightaway think about the theory of evolution (related to The Origin of Species, by Charles Darwin) while some would be struck by the theory of creation (where the book of Genesis would be related). In this programme, a group of students from a certain American university were debating about this issue (about evolution). They were unhappy that the theory of evolution is not taught together with the theory of creation, and they believe that both should be included in the subject of Science.

But, one question remains. What is the meaning of Science? That is the question which is said often to be misunderstood or students do not even know what Science is.

In my opinion, Science is a subject where research is made to find out about how things work, how organisms live, the reasons to why certain phenomena occur, what reactions take place, etc. When we speak of Science, we must talk about experiments and that something must be repeatable. Science must involve evidence, concrete ones. Science is closely related to Mathematics, and when I say Science, I mean Science as a whole (including Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Geoscience, Geophysics, etc.).

Theories, in my opinion, are ideas that are believed OR confirmed to be correct and accurate based on experiments, calculations and observations. I say that theories are believed to be correct because not all theories are practical and not all theories are proven to be correct, for instance the Theory of Relativity. It is a theory believed to be correct based on calculations and some advanced logic (I needed a lot of time to understand it and Time Dilation, too). Most theories are confirmed correct and accurate based on experimental results, and I think I need not give examples, right?

So, if we discuss in the scientific point of view, which is Science: the theory of evolution or the theory of creation? The theory of evolution points out that all living things share one common ancestor whereas the theory of creation says that all living things are created by a certain supreme force.

The theory of creation is much supported by the book of Genesis (please, I'm not involving religion here) whereas the theory of evolution is supported by The Origin of Species and DNA evidence found. The National Geographic Channel did not really discuss about the evidence for the theory of creation but the evidence for the theory of evolution seemed to me more concrete. To those who are in favour of the theory of creation, the theory of evolution simply diverts away from the principles of the book of Genesis. But all I can say is, and let me lay it out for you, the theory of creation based on the book of Genesis, in my opinion, is found and written by man of faith, whereas the theory of evolution is created by man of Science. Science and faith cannot always go together at all times.

When Nicolas Copernicus suggested that the Sun is the centre of the Solar system, he was executed for corrupting the minds of the people and going against the teachings of the church. At that time, the people believed that the Earth was the centre of the Solar system and that the Sun was revolving around the former. But now, based on observation evidence, all of us have to believe that the Sun is the centre of the Solar system and that the Earth and the other planets together with their natural satellites are revolving around it. Perspectives have certainly changed, right?

The teachings of our faith cannot always coincide with the teachings of science and vice versa. It is a fact that all of us, regardless of whether we are emphasising on faith or science, have to accept ultimately.