““Without the Protestant Without the Protestant ReformationReformation

and its destruction of the and its destruction of the dichotomy between sacred dichotomy between sacred

and secular,and secular,the integrated Biblical the integrated Biblical

Christian Worldview of the Christian Worldview of the PuritansPuritans

with their optimistic with their optimistic eschatology,eschatology,

there would not have there would not have beenbeen

a Scientific Revolution” a Scientific Revolution”- Bird- Bird

In fact, the famous scientific In fact, the famous scientific club, theclub, the

Royal SocietyRoyal Society of London,of London, was founded by English was founded by English

PuritansPuritansTheir stated purpose was “to improve the knowledge of natural things, and all useful Arts, Manufatures, Mechanick practises, Engynes … To examine all systems, theories, principles, hypotheses, elements, histories, and experiments of things naturall, mathematicall, and mechanicall, invented, recorded, or practised, by any considerable author ancient or mondern… All to advance the glory of God, … and the generall good of mankind.”

Origin of ScienceOrigin of Science• Discussing this attitude among the Puritans, R.K. Merton Discussing this attitude among the Puritans, R.K. Merton

remarks:remarks:

• "This is the very motif that recurs in constant measure in the "This is the very motif that recurs in constant measure in the very writings which often contained considerable scientific very writings which often contained considerable scientific contributions: these worldly activities and scientific contributions: these worldly activities and scientific achievements manifest the Glory of God and enhance the Good of achievements manifest the Glory of God and enhance the Good of Man. The juxtaposition of the spiritual and the material is Man. The juxtaposition of the spiritual and the material is characteristic and significant. This culture rested securely on a characteristic and significant. This culture rested securely on a substratum of utilitarian norms which identified the useful and substratum of utilitarian norms which identified the useful and the true. Puritanism itself had imputed a threefold utility to the true. Puritanism itself had imputed a threefold utility to science. Natural philosophy was science. Natural philosophy was instrumental instrumental first, in first, in establishing establishing practicalpractical proofs of the scientist's state of grace, proofs of the scientist's state of grace, second in second in enlarging control of nature [Gen 1:28]enlarging control of nature [Gen 1:28]; and third, ; and third, in in glorifying Godglorifying God. Science was enlisted in the service of . Science was enlisted in the service of individual, society and deity. That these were adequate grounds individual, society and deity. That these were adequate grounds could not be denied. They comprised not merely a claim to could not be denied. They comprised not merely a claim to legitimacy, they afforded incentives which cannot be readily legitimacy, they afforded incentives which cannot be readily overestimated. One need only to look through the personal overestimated. One need only to look through the personal correspondence of seventeenth century scientists to realize this."correspondence of seventeenth century scientists to realize this."

Merton, Robert K. The Sociology of Science. U. of Chicago Press Chicago 1973 p.232http://www.samizdat.qc.ca/cosmos/sc_soc/cosmoeng.html

Origin of ScienceOrigin of Science• In an essay published initially in 1925 Alfred North Whitehead, an English In an essay published initially in 1925 Alfred North Whitehead, an English

mathematician, has made the following remarks on the origins of science.mathematician, has made the following remarks on the origins of science.

• "I do not think, however, that I have even ye brought out the greatest contribution "I do not think, however, that I have even ye brought out the greatest contribution of medievalism to the formation of the scientific movement. I mean the of medievalism to the formation of the scientific movement. I mean the inexpugnable belief that every detailed occurrence can be correlated with its inexpugnable belief that every detailed occurrence can be correlated with its antecedents in a perfectly definite manner, exemplifying general principles. antecedents in a perfectly definite manner, exemplifying general principles. Without this belief the incredible labours of scientists would be without hope. It is Without this belief the incredible labours of scientists would be without hope. It is this instinctive conviction, vividly poised before the imagination, which is the this instinctive conviction, vividly poised before the imagination, which is the motive power of research: that there is a secret which can be unveiled. How has motive power of research: that there is a secret which can be unveiled. How has this conviction been so vividly implanted on the European mind? When we compare this conviction been so vividly implanted on the European mind? When we compare this tone of thought in Europe with the attitude of other civilizations when left to this tone of thought in Europe with the attitude of other civilizations when left to themselves, there seems but one source for its origin. It must have come from the themselves, there seems but one source for its origin. It must have come from the medieval medieval insistence on the rationality of Godinsistence on the rationality of God, conceived as with the personal , conceived as with the personal energy of Jehovah and the rationality of a Greek philosopher. energy of Jehovah and the rationality of a Greek philosopher. Every detail was Every detail was supervised and orderedsupervised and ordered: the search into nature could only result in the : the search into nature could only result in the vindication of the faith in rationality. Remember that I am not talking about the vindication of the faith in rationality. Remember that I am not talking about the explicit beliefs of a few individuals. What I mean is the impress made on the explicit beliefs of a few individuals. What I mean is the impress made on the European mind arising from the unquestioned faith of centuries. By this I mean the European mind arising from the unquestioned faith of centuries. By this I mean the instinctive tone of thought and not mere creed of words. In Asia, the conceptions of instinctive tone of thought and not mere creed of words. In Asia, the conceptions of God were of a being who was either too arbitrary or too impersonal for such ideas God were of a being who was either too arbitrary or too impersonal for such ideas to have much effect on the instinctive habits of mind. Any definite occurrence to have much effect on the instinctive habits of mind. Any definite occurrence might be due to the fiat of an irrational despot, or might issue from some might be due to the fiat of an irrational despot, or might issue from some impersonal inscrutable origin of things. There was not the same confidence as in impersonal inscrutable origin of things. There was not the same confidence as in the intelligible rationality of a personal being."the intelligible rationality of a personal being."

Science and the Modern World. Free Press New York 1967 pp.12-13http://www.samizdat.qc.ca/cosmos/sc_soc/cosmoeng.html

Four Puritan Doctrines that Four Puritan Doctrines that promoted the development of promoted the development of

culture and scienceculture and science1. Absolute Authority of Scripture 1. Absolute Authority of Scripture - Rejected nature/grace dichotomy- Rejected nature/grace dichotomy

- Reason, mathematics, and science are tools of dominion - Reason, mathematics, and science are tools of dominion (Gen 1:28)(Gen 1:28)

2. God is Creator and Lawgiver 2. God is Creator and Lawgiver - Man given ability to study- Man given ability to study

- Divine duty to explore His mighty works (joy Ps 111:2)- Divine duty to explore His mighty works (joy Ps 111:2)

3. Vocation and Calling 3. Vocation and Calling - application of Biblical - application of Biblical principles to secular activities (Eph 2:8-10)principles to secular activities (Eph 2:8-10)

4. Optimistic Eschatology 4. Optimistic Eschatology - positive outlook - positive outlook concerning progress of society (Matt 16:18; Hab concerning progress of society (Matt 16:18; Hab 2:14)2:14)

““I am indebted to the I am indebted to the Puritans for their Puritans for their

excellence and example in excellence and example in living all of life living all of life Soli Deo Soli Deo Gloria Coram Deo. Gloria Coram Deo. Their Their

Biblical Theology enflames Biblical Theology enflames my heart, enlightens my my heart, enlightens my

mind, and has transformed mind, and has transformed my life so that even my my life so that even my scientific pursuits make scientific pursuits make sense within the plan of sense within the plan of

God.”God.”For more information seeFor more information see

http://covenantchristian.org/bird