Why is the kettle boiling?

I AM in awe of scientists. When I hear a description (massively simplified, I realise) of how they have produced such promising Covid vaccines and how they work, I’m dumbfounded. And all in a fraction of the time these things usually take. Clearly there are some very clever people around.

Nearly half of professional scientists believe in God. It’s not that they do their science during the week and their religion on Sunday, keeping the two worlds separate. Rather they experience science and faith as complementary, not contradictory.

When asked how this can be, the humble kettle can help.

To the question “Why is the kettle boiling?” there is a scientific answer. It involves an explanation of how electricity works and the conductivity of water.

However there is another answer which is “Because I want a cup of tea.” These answers do not contradict one another. They give two perspectives on the same phenomenon.

The scientific answer to the question is really answering how the kettle comes to the boil. Put briefly, science answers the questions ‘what?’ and ‘how?’, but the questions ‘why?’ and ‘who?’ are outside its remit, because these are questions of purpose, meaning and origin.

When it comes to vaccines, this means that it is absolutely possible to be grateful to scientists and grateful to God at the same time.

Like most people I deeply appreciate the knowledge, skill and dedication of those who have developed safe vaccines in record time.

I also thank God for giving people this knowledge, skill and dedication, and for making science possible in the first place by creating a world which is rational and predictable to our minds. Science proceeds on the assumption (or faith) that this is so.

And now I’m off for a cuppa.

REV DAVID TAYLOR

Thatcham Baptist Church