Can Science Make the “Breath” of God Part of Its Subject Matter?

Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 60 (3) (2008)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7). Physical science has successfully developed paradigms to study nonliving “dust.” However, can science make the “breath” of God part of its subject matter? Is the concept of life so elusive that it becomes scientifically indefinable? Perhaps the inability of nonliving matter to detect and identify life as well as consciousness indicates that only life itself can “detect” and know life. Similarly, only self can “detect” and know self. Consciousness presupposes rationality, rationality presupposes life, and life presupposes God. Human rationality and consciousness are used to know nature and God, yet paradoxically humans may be unable to formulate a scientific theory either of life or of self.

Author's Profile

Moorad Alexanian
University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Analytics

Added to PP
2016-01-15

Downloads
301 (#72,427)

6 months
95 (#57,508)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?