If It’s True, It’s God: Finding Deep Purpose in Science

In the drama of daily life, the wonders science has provided humanity are often overlooked. Sometimes, we need to zoom out beyond the pain of corrupt politics, global wars, and natural disasters to see how far we have truly come in a remarkably short time. While the world is far from perfect, the past 200 years have seen striking improvements in the most pivotal areas of human life. Extreme poverty has plummeted from roughly 90% to 10%, child mortality has declined from 40% to 4%, and average life expectancy has climbed from 30 years to over 70.

These trends are the direct result of a scientific method that allows us to solve massive problems with evidence-based solutions. By understanding the inner workings of the universe (physics, chemistry, and biology, etc.) we gain the tools to address our greatest challenges. This track record should encourage us to trust that the "myth of progress" is more of a reality than we realize. This hope is vital as we confront modern threats like climate change, risks of nuclear war, and the harmful potential of misaligned Artificial Intelligence.

The story of science-enabled flourishing is an important one to tell. As anti-intellectualism gains momentum, there’s concern that too many people are losing hope that things can actually get better. Throughout history, humanity has proven that we do not have to accept the status quo of the afflictions we face. Even in the political sphere, the rise of democracies over the past century is refreshing: in 1926, only 6.6% of the global population lived in democracies; today, that number is roughly 50% (note that there has been a decline of democracies since 2013).

Unfortunately, many still perceive a fundamental conflict between science and faith. This is an unnecessary tension. The idea that God and science are contradictory forces is a false notion. It reminds me of a hilarious scene in Nacho Libre, where Nacho asks his friend, “Have you not been baptized?” His friend sharply replies, “No, I believe in science.”

While the scene is comedy, it captures a sentiment many still hold. I have a personal maxim: “If it’s true, it’s God.” Essentially, God is Truth. Whatever science reveals as a factual aspect of reality is simply an opportunity to see deeper purpose and God’s nature in those observations. Sir Isaac Newton - perhaps the greatest scientific genius in history - was a devout theist. It is often argued that his faith was the primary driver of his ambition to unlock the mysteries of the universe.

One does not need to bend scientific discovery to fit religious dogma, nor is it necessary to abandon a belief in God to accept scientific facts. An example of this unnecessary tension is "Young Earth Creationism." While less prominent today, some still believe the Earth is no more than 10,000 years old based on specific biblical interpretations. However, the vast majority of scientists place the age of the Earth at 4.5 billion years, with Homo sapiens appearing approximately 300,000 years ago. The Bible was not written as a scientific textbook. Its authors likely never intended for 21st-century readers to prioritize outdated theories over the physical evidence of the natural world.

I want to be clear: I am firmly against the practice of "twisting" science to confirm religious views. Spiritual gurus have done this for years—for instance, people like Deepak Chopra using the findings of quantum mechanics to "prove" their esoteric spiritual concepts. This is a dangerous game. What I am proposing is a radical acceptance of science as it is, and seeing God’s Presence revealed within it. There is no need to spin or mix science with erroneous thinking to support pre-confirmed beliefs. It is about finding beauty and wonder in stark reality.

By being apathetic to reality, believers rob themselves of the joy of seeing God’s nature revealed in the physical world. In fact, many don’t realize that the person who first theorized the Big Bang was a Belgian Catholic priest and theoretical physicist, Georges Lemaître. Initially, his concept that the entire observable universe began with a "bang" seemed preposterous. But since his 1927 paper, science has provided overwhelming evidence for his theory.

Roughly 13.8 billion years ago, everything including you, was part of a highly condensed speck of matter no larger than the pupil of an eye. Suddenly, quantum fluctuations triggered a rapid expansion, leading to the evolution of stars, solar systems, and human beings. Carl Sagan famously said, “Humanity is the universe experiencing itself.”

The intricate details required at every step of this evolving universe are nothing short of miraculous. For me, the wonder of existence has always been a primary indicator of an unfathomable, eternal mind that precedes time and space. Even if one does not see God in this story of the universe, it still invites a sense of awe that many people feel when meditating on the beauty of existence. I applaud that approach, yet I believe the framework is missing the powerful concept of a personal God who truly cares for the individual.

Even from a purely secular perspective, the sheer odds of your existence are 1 in 10^2,685,000. In other words, you had a  1 in 10 trillion, trillion, trillion... (now say trillion another 223,745 times) shot of being here. Your life is infused with an almost impossible purpose, and no one can take that away from you.

My goal is to bridge the gap between these two worlds of science and faith. By combining the physical rigor of science with the hope and purpose offered by faith, I believe humanity can achieve monumental things. As Jesus said, “With God, all things are possible.”