A lot of people assume that creationism and science are completely opposed, but the reality actually isn’t that simple.
While extreme views exist on both sides, many scientists, theologians, and everyday believers see no conflict between faith and scientific discovery. Science explains how things work, while faith explores meaning and purpose — two different but often complementary ways of understanding the world. The idea that science and religion have to be in constant battle is outdated, and plenty of people manage to embrace both without contradiction. Here’s why the two can actually go hand-in-hand.
1. Many scientists are religious.
Being a scientist doesn’t mean rejecting belief in a creator. Plenty of respected scientists throughout history and today hold religious views while fully embracing scientific methods. Some of the greatest minds in history, like Isaac Newton, Gregor Mendel, and even Albert Einstein (though not traditionally religious), believed in some form of higher power.
Science doesn’t require atheism. In fact, a surprising number of scientists openly practice faith and see their research as a way to understand the universe’s design. While science is based on observation and testing, faith focuses on meaning and purpose — two things that don’t necessarily cancel each other out.
2. Science explains processes, not purpose.
Science tells us how the universe works, but it doesn’t address why it exists in the first place. That’s where faith comes in for many people. The laws of physics, the process of evolution, and the structure of DNA all explain the mechanisms of life, but they don’t answer deeper questions about why we’re here or what life means.
For many religious believers, science is simply uncovering the details of how a creator’s plan unfolds. Just because we understand how something works doesn’t mean it wasn’t designed. The two perspectives answer different questions, making it possible for them to coexist.
3. The Big Bang theory was proposed by a priest.
The idea that the universe had a beginning isn’t just a scientific conclusion — it was first suggested by Georges Lemaître, a Catholic priest and physicist. His theory, which later became widely accepted, proposed that the universe expanded from a single point, laying the foundation for what is now called the Big Bang.
At the time, many scientists actually resisted the idea, believing the universe had always existed. But over time, evidence mounted in favour of Lemaître’s theory, showing that faith and scientific discovery aren’t always in opposition. In this case, a religious figure helped shape modern cosmology.
4. Many religious groups accept evolution.
Not all believers reject evolution. Many religious groups, including major Christian denominations, see it as part of a divine process rather than a contradiction to faith. The Catholic Church, for example, acknowledges evolution as a scientific reality while maintaining that God is the ultimate creator.
Some people view evolution as a tool used by God to bring life into existence. In that sense, science and faith work together rather than against each other. The belief that creationism and evolution can’t coexist is largely based on extreme interpretations rather than mainstream religious thought.
5. Science doesn’t disprove a creator.
Science is great at explaining natural laws, but it doesn’t (and can’t) disprove the existence of God. That’s because science focuses on measurable, testable phenomena, while faith deals with things beyond the physical world.
Even some scientists who don’t personally believe in God acknowledge that science doesn’t have all the answers. There’s still so much we don’t know about the universe, and many people see room for both scientific discovery and spiritual belief.
6. The idea of a fine-tuned universe supports both views.
Many scientists acknowledge that the universe’s physical laws seem incredibly precise — almost too precise to be random, in fact. If even a few fundamental constants were slightly different, life as we know it wouldn’t exist.
Some see this as pure coincidence, while others view it as evidence of intelligent design. Either way, the discussion itself shows that science and faith often overlap, with both sides trying to make sense of the incredible complexity of the universe.
7. Science and religion both evolve over time.
Science isn’t static; it updates as new discoveries are made, and that’s a good thing. Similarly, religious interpretations change as people gain new insights into ancient texts and traditions. Many beliefs that once seemed unchangeable have shifted with time as new knowledge emerges.
What seems like a conflict between science and faith today might not be seen that way in the future. Just as science refines its theories based on evidence, religious understanding also deepens as people explore new ways of interpreting their faith.
8. Many great thinkers throughout history embraced both.
Some of history’s most influential minds — Galileo, Kepler, and even Charles Darwin, for example — struggled with the intersection of science and faith. But rather than seeing them as opposing forces, many found ways to reconcile both perspectives.
These thinkers saw scientific discovery as a way to explore and understand the universe, rather than something that dismissed the existence of God. Many of them believed that studying nature was a form of appreciating creation itself.
9. Religion has inspired scientific exploration.
Far from discouraging science, religious belief has often driven curiosity about the natural world. Many early universities and research institutions were founded by religious groups, and some of the earliest scientific breakthroughs were made by people motivated by their faith.
For centuries, religious scholars studied astronomy, medicine, and philosophy, believing that understanding nature was a way to appreciate creation. Even today, many scientists see their work as a way to uncover the beauty and complexity of the universe.
10. Faith and science ask different questions.
Science focuses on testable, measurable facts about the universe. Faith explores meaning, morality, and purpose — questions science doesn’t attempt to answer. The two aren’t designed to compete with each other because they’re looking at different aspects of life.
Many people find that embracing both gives them a fuller understanding of the world. Science helps explain how things work, while faith provides a sense of purpose and connection. They don’t have to be enemies; they can be different ways of seeing the same reality.
