Greg,


Some points of clarification. We agree on the fact that neither science nor faith really wants to hear what the other side has to say (there are, of course, notable exceptions such as the many scientisits working in quantum theory, and those working in intelligent design). What you asked was whether apologetics is a field that tries to merge science and faith. To that I would say the answer is no. Apologetics is a branch of Christian thought that seeks to make a defence of the faith. In short, while no man can ever reach Christ by reasoning his way there, apologetics attempts to remove any barriors that stand in the way between human reason and faith. If it is successful, the non-believer will have no reasonable excuse not to believe, and he/she will be left with nothing but the state of their own heart. Do they want to believe and thus submit their lives to living in conformity with the truth, or do they want to live in a state of denial because denial allows them to live according to the flesh. That's the place that apologetics seeks to bring the non-beleiver to.

So does apologetics deal with science? Yes, but certainly not exclusively. Other issues include the philosophical problem of pain (God=love; God=all powerful; evil/pain exists; Why does God do nothing?), etc...

Now , as to the specifics of your argument/question. Let's assume for a moment that Ella comes home from school and tells you that her teacher informed her that 2+2=17.6. You would , undoubtedly, look at her and say: "Ella, 2+2=4." And then you would probably contact the teacher and say: " What the heck are you teaching my kid?" The Bible says nothing about the subject of mathematics, and yet still you would act. You would do this because you believe that the field of mathematics (while still in its infancy) , has proven you to be correct. And you would not want your daughter to be taught something that is incorrect. Truth, whether covered by the Bible or not, is still truth; and it must be safeguarded.

Now, before you say that 2+2=4 is a fact. Consider the fact that the history of human knowledge is littered with "facts" that have later been born out to be "false." I'm not even talking about "flat earth" stuff. What about statements like "the atom is the smallests unit of biology and is indivisible?" What about statements like "black holes absorb all light?" These are statements that have been asserted to be "true" and yet we now know that they are false.

My point here is that regardless of the fact that our knowledge is limited, you would still make a stand on the knowledge that is available to you because you want your daughter educated in a reasonable way. You want her educated in a way that conforms to your understanding of science, no matter how limited that understanding is.

Same deal with the "gay gene" argument. Only now, in this argument, the science (which is arguably very sketchy at best) intrudes on issues of immorality, and is used to undermine the "credibility" of the Bible. We cannot afford to be silent on this issue. And while I do not base my faith in science, I am slowly learning how to speak the language of science because that is what the world speaks. Do I think apologetics are always successful? No. In fact, on a personal level, I doubt that they are. But I believe that in addition to the great commission, there is a cultural mandate to restrain evil. And anything that cuts away at our understanding of morality deserves to be responded to.