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1.6. Nature of truth.

We have already seen that neither the scientist nor the Christian, in their search for truth, can accept the idea that truth is a matter of opinion. The correct picture is not a melting pot or 'brew' model where we cook up truth from a multitude of views. No, truth is more like a rock to be uncovered. This may be where science and theology both differ from certain branches of sociology! If I wish to know what 2 + 2 is I am not going to get the answer by surveying public opinion, and certainly should not weight in the view of the man that thinks it is 5! Nor am I going to decide whether Christ rose from the dead, by asking peoples opinion. This is why I call my world as a professional chemist and an amateur theologian 'one world' - for in both I search for objective truth that is out there. Thus, I believe very much in the complementary nature of science and faith, and of chemistry and theology.

This 'one world' involves three basic things - the three R.s. The one world involves reality, revelation and reason:

What true theology and good science have in common is that neither is unfounded speculation, and both are attempts to reflect upon an encounter, with the one world. Science on the one hand offers theology a knowledge of what the physical world is really like in its history and nature - whereas, theology on the other hand offers science the possibility of answers to questions that arise from all forms of human experience (and which are beyond sciences ability to discuss). I can say as a chemist that our experience of the quantum world gives us accounts of reality which will not submit to application of common sense! These prepare us to accept truth as what we find, even if we cannot picture it and didn't expect to find it.

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