Does Science Replace Faith? Why Belief in God Grows Stronger with Discovery

Yoav asks: "Hello. A secular friend of mine (who hasn’t yet returned to faith) claimed that belief in God exists only to answer questions science has not yet solved, and that as science advances, it will eventually provide answers to all these questions. What can I reply to him?"

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Hello Yoav, and thank you for your important question.

Belief in God does not come from ignorance or a lack of scientific knowledge. In fact, it is the opposite: faith often grows stronger through scientific discovery, through exploring the world’s complexity, order, and beauty.

Following are some examples:

1. The mosquito and the living cell
   In the past, people didn’t understand how complex even the tiniest creatures are. Today we know a mosquito is an incredibly sophisticated organism, with a brain, a heart, a digestive system, and a unique injection mechanism. Similarly, one living cell is more complex than the entire city of New York. Modern biology only deepens the recognition of a Designer.

2. The hidden structure of matter
   What once looked like “simple” material, we now know is built from molecules, made of atoms, made of subatomic particles. Each level reveals deeper worlds, perfectly interconnected. This intricacy strengthens the awareness of a Creator.

3. The precision of natural laws
   The universe operates with precise mathematical laws. Physics reveals equations of breathtaking complexity, interwoven in perfect harmony — laws that allow the existence of matter, space, and life. The deeper we study, the stronger the case for divine wisdom.

4. The human brain
   Ancient thinkers thought bodily function relied on fluids and mucus in the stomach and liver. Today we know the brain is the most sophisticated machine in the known universe, more advanced than any computer. Such brilliance points directly to intentional creation.

5. Light and color
   A rainbow isn’t just light refracting — it is white light splitting into seven wavelengths. Our eyes detect those wavelengths, and our brain interprets them as colors. Even the blueness of the sky is due to molecules scattering light in precise ways. Each layer of understanding reveals more order, and more reason to believe in a Lawgiver.

6. The origin of the universe
   Science has shown that the universe had a beginning. Time, space, matter, and energy all appeared at once. This is not just a scientific finding, but powerful evidence for a Creator beyond time and space.

The more science advances, the clearer it becomes that the universe is built on wisdom, intelligence, and purposeful design.

What Judaism Teaches

Maimonides (the Rambam) wrote that one of the main ways to grow in love and awe of God is through studying creation:

• “The foundation of all foundations and the pillar of wisdom is to know that there is a First Being, who brought everything into existence…” (Laws of the Foundations of the Torah, 1:1)

• “What is the way to love and fear Him? When a person contemplates His wondrous and great works, and sees in them His infinite wisdom, immediately he loves, praises, and longs to know the great Name…” (2:1)

• “When a person reflects on all these things, recognizing God’s wisdom in every part of creation, his love for God deepens…” (4:19)

Faith is not a retreat into the gaps of science, but it is strengthened and clarified by science itself.

A Historical Perspective

Looking back at history, belief in God never arose simply from ignorance. Ancient thinkers, including scientists, physicians, astronomers, and philosophers studied nature carefully. Whether in Egypt, Greece, or Babylonia, scholars documented tides, eclipses, water cycles, and star movements. For them, natural explanations were not in conflict with faith; they were proof of a higher wisdom.

Science asks “how.” Religion asks “why.” Science can describe the processes, but it cannot tell us the purpose. Those who dare to ask the “why” ultimately reach the conclusion that there must be a Creator.

Even Einstein Saw It

Albert Einstein once said in an interview: “I am not an atheist. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many languages. The child knows someone must have written them. He does not understand the languages, but sees a definite plan in the arrangement… That is what the smartest of us feel about God. We see a universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws, but only dimly understand them.”

The Simple Truth

You don’t need to be Einstein to understand this. Even a child who looks honestly at the world around him can reach the clear conclusion that there is a Creator. Whether the universe was created in an instant, or unfolded over eons of time, doesn’t change the obvious truth that the complexity, precision, and beauty of the universe point directly to design.

The more knowledge grows, the stronger faith becomes. The light of discovery only reveals more of God’s wisdom.