A faithful study
Dig & Delve explores the alignment of scientific research with the Christian faith

Allen Macartney
Special to Spur Ottawa

“Science and religion are incompatible.” That statement is often casually tossed around by atheists seeking to refute Christian beliefs. However, a group of world-class scientists recently gathered in Ottawa to explore a slightly different idea: “Is modern science making atheism improbable?”

The group, including a biologist, a physicist, a medical doctor, and a philosopher, were brought together November 1 and 2 for Dig & Delve, Ottawa’s largest annual apologetics conference. Dig & Delve organizer Dan Byrne says every year the conference seeks to present different viewpoints with the utmost respect, humility, and accuracy.

“Experts in their fields come and explore some of the deepest issues of life. Speakers go beyond the simple, linear explanations, and explore the scientific meaning and impact on our lives.”

“Some physicists argued strongly that science required the universe to be eternal and that it was unscientific to think otherwise.”

Speaking of this year’s theme of “Science vs. Atheism”, Byrne says, “Often Christians find themselves on the defensive when talking with others about questions of faith and science.”

He adds that believers sometimes sound naïve, uninformed, or irrelevant, but that’s starting to change. New scientific discoveries are threatening the Darwinian theories of evolution, says biologist Dr. Michael Behe, who presented at the latest Dig & Delve event and has published 40 technical papers and two books.

“Even many biologists who are no friends of Christianity are souring on Darwin’s 19th century theory. Too many new results don’t fit.”

Behe says the biggest undiscussed result of modern scientific research is how much it supports Christian belief.

“The discovery of many ‘anthropic coincidences’ (incredible and unlikely coincidences that all must come together at critical moments) support the notion that the world was made for us to live in,” Behe explains. “And the discovery of astounding molecular machinery and coded information in the foundation of life demonstrates that, as the Psalmist writes, we are indeed ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’”

In fact, Behe contends that disbelief in a creator has actually stifled science. The Big Bang theory is a prime example—when the theory was first proposed in the 1930s many scientists hated the idea, he says.

“It seemed to point to a beginning to the universe—a creation. Some physicists argued strongly that science required the universe to be eternal and that it was unscientific to think otherwise.” Clearly, that argument didn’t work out for them.

The other Dig and Delve presenters echoed and built on Behe’s arguments during the two-day conference. Dr. Brian Miller, Research Coordinator at the Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture, spoke about evidence for intelligent design in physics, cosmology, and planetary science. Dr. Robert Larmer, Professor of Philosophy at the University of New Brunswick, said that pure chance cannot explain our finely-tuned universe. Every argument for evolution requires engineering, he stated. Therefore, life is not a cosmic accident.

Derek McLellan attended the conference and has attended several Dig & Delve conferences in past years. “I liked the energy coming from the speakers,” he says enthusiastically.

Anne Sturgeon was similarly enthusiastic. “It’s nice having grounded information on which to base your faith.” An example that stood out to her was when Behe “explained that if only one part of a simple mousetrap is missing, it won’t work. Then he described the structure and complexity of bacteriophage T4 virus—something totally unknown in Darwin’s day. Because it requires every incredibly complex part to work successfully together, its existence points toward a designer.”

Organizers plan to post clips from the conference on the Dig & Delve YouTube channel for those who were unable to attend.