By Peter Hallett
Published February 11, 1997
In 1969 Henry F Schaefer was challenged to seriously consider the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As a young scientist he took the issue to heart and during the next three years read and researched, finally coming to the conclusion that the resurrection was "not only true but one of the best attested facts of ancient history."
Truth is one thing - personal decision another. It took another year, but the young man in whose childhood home "the ultimate act of unbelief was unbelief in evolution", submitted his life to Jesus and Creator God.
Now almost 30 years on, the five times Nobel Prize nominee takes time out from his research to speak on topics such as Scientists and their Gods and his lecture topic last week in Canberra, A Physical Scientist Looks at Creation and Evolution. As director of the Centre for Computational Quantum Chemistry at the University of Georgia, Professor Schaefer has opportunity to visit many international scientific centres and is currently a visiting research scientist to the ANU Research School of Chemistry.
In his lecture Scientists and their Gods, he gives a list of past and present scientists who are Christians ranging from the famous historical figure Francis Bacon to one of the most renown scientists of our day, Francis Collins, who five years ago discovered the gene for cystic fibrosis.
As Prof Schaefer lectured last week, it was evident he was a man at peace with himself, intellectually honest and quite confident that the Bible and science were easily compatible. If anything, it is evolution that is struggling with the rigours of physical science.
Stanley Miller’s experiments in 1952 which supposedly show how life may have begun its journey spontaneously in the earth’s atmosphere billions of years ago are no longer even respected by leading evolutionists. Another fine scientist, Francis Crick who made the landmark discovery of the structure of DNA has resorted, in his own words, to the "far-fetched" theory of Directed Panspermia to explain how the enormously complex biomolecules of even the simplest forms of life may have begun. In other words, he is suggesting perhaps bacteria were "sent" here from another planet to begin the evolutionary process. God is looking better all the time.
His fellow scientist, Leslie Oregon says a "near miracle" would be needed for life to come from nothing on earth. Again, God seems to be looking over scientists’ shoulders as their research, thought to disprove him, actually lends him great support.
As I have been challenged by those with a respect for science in the past, I would encourage you to look beyond my meagre renderings here, and listen to people like Professor Henry F Schaefer for yourself and make your own decision. A tape was made of his lecture and I hope to bring you details of how to get hold of it in my next column.
In the meantime, let me urge you to seriously consider the historical evidence for the resurrection of Christ. Start with a book by journalist, Frank Morrison, Who Moved the Stone. He was a London journalist asked by his newspaper to prepare a series of articles disproving the resurrection of Christ. He ended up becoming a Christian!
Then take to heart these words by Nobel Prize winner and Professor of Physics at Berkley University, Charles H Towns, "In my view, the question of origin seems always left unanswered if we explore from a scientific view alone. Thus I believe there is a need for some religious or metaphysical consideration..."
For those who surf the web, why not visit http://www.sojourn.com/~revev/web/dendar.html and read an article, The Deniable Darwin, by mathematician (and agnostic) David Berlinski which also appeared in Commentary magazine.
If you have questions, would like to comment on this or other matters, or would like to receive a free Fact Sheet on topics such as coping with stress, grief, prayer, heavenly perspective, marriage, raising children, or conflict resolution send a stamped self-addressed envelope to Faith to Faith, The Chronicle, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, 2610 or visit the Fact Sheet page in this website.
WISDOM’S WAY: In the beginning, God created... Gensis 1:1