Christianity and science haven’t always had the smoothest relationship. In the 1800s, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously declared, “God is dead, and we have killed him.” Nietzsche believed that human progress had reached a point where belief in God was no longer necessary. He viewed the Enlightenment as having provided enough scientific understanding to free humanity from its dependence on religion.
At the same time, there are Christians who view science with suspicion—some even see it as a tool of the enemy. In today’s world, it still seems like Christianity and science are often at odds. Science appears to reject Christianity, and Christianity can be wary of science.
This tension becomes especially relevant when we think about our teenagers—particularly those with a love for science. To many of them, it feels like they have to choose: you can either be a scientist or a Christian, but not both. The two worldviews seem to contradict each other. So, as parents, how can we help our teens navigate this?
Many of our kids are naturally curious. They want to explore the world and ask big questions. But that curiosity can feel threatening, especially knowing how often young adults go through faith deconstruction during college—an environment that can be hostile to Christian belief.
In the next few paragraphs, I want to put your mind at ease. We’ll examine whether Christianity and science are truly at odds and then talk about how to support your scientifically minded teenager in both their faith and their learning.
Three Assumptions in the Christianity vs. Science Debate
Let’s consider three key assumptions that often underlie the idea that science and Christianity are incompatible.
Assumption 1: Science is against Christianity.
First, let’s define our terms. Science is simply the systematic study of the world around us. Broadly speaking, science falls into three main branches:
- Formal Sciences – math and logic
- Natural Sciences – biology, chemistry, physics
- Social Sciences – sociology, psychology, economics
Each of these disciplines is just a method for gaining knowledge. None of them are inherently anti-Christian. What can cause tension are the conclusions drawn from science and the assumptions made about Christianity. We should not be alarmed when our teens want to explore these fields. Curiosity is not the enemy.
Assumption 2: Science can disprove Christianity.
To unpack this, we need to clarify a few more terms:
- Fact – An observation repeatedly confirmed.
- Hypothesis – A testable, tentative explanation.
- Theory – A well-substantiated explanation backed by facts and tested hypotheses.
- Law – A detailed description of how some aspect of the natural world behaves.
Sometimes, theories or hypotheses may challenge Christian beliefs. Scientists once confidently believed the sun revolved around the Earth. That turned out to be false.
The point is this: science is always evolving. It’s built on asking and answering questions with the best available knowledge. But that knowledge can change. So when people claim science has “disproven” Christianity, it’s important to remember that science isn’t infallible or final—it’s a process of discovery.
Assumption 3: Science wants to disprove Christianity.
This assumption can cause Christians to reject science altogether. But science itself is just a tool—a way to understand the world. It’s not science that has an agenda, but some scientists. Like any tool, science can be used for good or harm depending on who’s using it.
Where Do We Go from Here?
There are a few key things to remember as we help our kids walk in both faith and reason.
First, as Christians, we believe that God’s character is shown in both general revelation and special revelation. Romans 1:20 teaches us that the created world informs us about God. Paul writes, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” His point is that we can know some things about God just by looking at the created order around us. The hymn This is my Father’s World illustrates this point beautifully. The second verse says, “This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise, / The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.” If we want to know what our Creator is like, we need to pause and look around at what he created. Studying creation through science is actually a very good thing because it helps us learn about who God is and what he is like. Nature doesn’t tell us everything though, so we need God’s special revelation: his Word.
Second, it’s only in the Holy Scriptures that we find God’s special message to mankind—the message of who he is and the redemptive arc that he is working in the world. Mountains and oceans point to the beauty of our God, but they can’t tell us about the gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ purchased redemption for us through his atoning sacrifice on the cross. Saving knowledge only comes from the Bible.
So, knowing these two things, how do we parent wisely in the tension between science and faith?
Let me offer two encouragements:
1. Jesus grew in knowledge.
Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Jesus didn’t shut off his mind when he came to earth. He learned. He worked as a carpenter. He gained knowledge. Following Jesus doesn’t mean rejecting education or scientific discovery. We should encourage our teens to use their God-given minds to understand the world. Learning is not scary—what matters is why we learn. In Matthew 22, Jesus gives us the answer. He says, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Using the brains that our good Lord has given us is worshipful to him. It’s good to ponder, to ask questions, to learn with the ultimate aim being love for God.
2. Science can lead us to worship.
Troy Van Voorhis, a chemistry professor at MIT, once said,
“One of the joys that I have in studying the natural sciences is that I learn a little bit about what God has done. I understand a little bit of what He is like. He is much bigger, much grander, much more awesome, much more majestic than what I previously imagined.”
When pursued with a Christ-centered perspective, science becomes a way to worship. It helps us see how vast, intricate, and beautiful God’s creation truly is. It reveals how small we are—and how great our Creator is. We have had a long-standing tradition in our youth group that we take our teenagers to either the mountains or the ocean for summer camp. One of the reasons we do this is because going to either of these places brings much-needed perspective to teenagers as well as adults. Gazing out at the ocean and watching the waves crash onto the beach reminds us of how weak we are. Standing before a mountain, awestruck at the size and the beauty, humbles us in ways that little else can. If science is a way to study the world around us and learn about our Creator, it should really humble us, just as the ocean and mountains do.
With the right perspective, science can actually grow and strengthen our understanding of who God is and lead us to worship him even more. Please don’t fall into the trap of thinking science is anti-faith. Encourage your teens to be discerning about what they read, watch, or hear. Most of all, help them see that science, rightly understood, doesn’t have to pull them away from faith—it can actually deepen it.
Ultimately, our goal is not to raise scientists instead of Christians—but to raise young people who love Jesus and are bold enough to explore his creation with joy, wonder, and wisdom.
Are you a parent of a teenager seeking biblical resources, encouragement, and wisdom? Listen to the Rooted Parent Podcast for conversations that will show you how to disciple your children to lifelong faith in Jesus.
