History

Newton’s Views on Science and Faith

In this series

“This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being … This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called Lord God.”

“When I wrote my treatise about our system, I had an eye upon such principles as might work with considering men for the belief of a Deity, and nothing can rejoice me more than to find it useful for that purpose.”

On interpreting Scripture: “It is the perfection of all God’s works that they are done with the greatest simplicity … And therefore, as they that would understand the frame of the world must endeavor to reduce their knowledge [science] to all possible simplicity, so it must be in seeking to understand these [prophetic] visions.”

“The true God is a living, intelligent and powerful Being … He governs all things, and knows all things that are or can be done.”

“I don’t know what I may seem to the world, but, as to myself, I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.”

Charles E. Hummel is author of The Galileo Connection and Genesis: God’s Creative Call (both InterVarsity).

Copyright © 1991 by the author or Christianity Today/Christian History magazine.Click here for reprint information on Christian History.

Also in this series

Our Latest

News

Infanticide Rates Are Dropping in Africa, yet Child Abandonment Continues

Pius Sawa

Many view babies born with disabilities as cursed. Christians are fighting back.

Being Human

Shane J. Wood Helps Us Understand Christ’s Ultimate Victory in a Chaotic World

How can the book of Revelation teach us to embrace our wounds?

The Russell Moore Show

Can AI Really Sing a Country Song?

Russell answers a listener question about what algorithms miss about heartbreak.

 

With Bible Translation in India’s Hadoti Language, ‘God Came Closer’

A missionary from south India initiated the translation in the language spoken by millions in southeastern Rajasthan state.

News

Died: John M. Perkins, Who Lived and Preached Racial Reconciliation

The civil rights leader believed in a gospel bigger than race or self-interest.

Review

Decoding the Supreme Court

Three books to read this month on politics and public life.

The Bulletin

Cost of Iran War, Quiet Southern Border, and Anglican Church Split

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

The financial and moral toll of war, immigration slows but ministry continues, and why denominations split.

The Year of the Evangelical

America prepared for a bicentennial, and religious identity dominated the presidential campaign.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube