Exploring Scientific Proof, the God of the Gaps Argument, and Religious Beliefs in Science

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Exploring the relationship between scientific proof and the biblical account of creation, including Stephen Hawking's thoughts on God's role in the beginning of the universe and the concept of the God of the gaps argument. A fascinating anecdote about physicist James Clerk Maxwell's religious beliefs is also shared, highlighting the ongoing discoveries that science has yet to uncover.

What would your life be like if you knew everything? While it would be nice to remember everyone’s names and not have to study for tests, knowing everything has its drawbacks, too. You’d no longer feel surprised, curious, or filled with wonder. And, you'd miss out on getting to know people, asking hard and big questions, and the joy of learning new things.

Our speaker today knows firsthand all the good that not knowing can bring. In fact, he’s made a career out of it. Jonathan Feng (U.C. Irvine) is a theoretical physicist researching one of the biggest unknowns in the scientific world: dark matter. In this Forum event from 2018, Dr. Feng embraces the unknowns of the universe. He discusses how our ignorance can lead us to greater appreciation of the complicated and beautiful world we live in, push us towards humility and curiosity, and, perhaps, help us better know a powerful, creative, loving God.

This Forum was originally titled "The Post Hawking Universe" and was hosted by The Veritas Forum at the University of Southern California.

Watch the full Forum event from this episode here.
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