John Lennox: Time for Science












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            * John Lennox: Time for Science
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            On Thursday 2nd November 2017, the Law Faculty building of Charles University played host 

            by prestigious Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University John Lennox. The lecture was 
            students of Charles University themselves alongside the Faculty of Arts. The talk was the 
            part series of lectures focusing on Knowledge and truth, with the second part, ‘Time for T

            really trust?’, delivered by Os Guinness on Monday 6th  November. The Collegium Maximum, w
            event, was full to capacity; around 200 people of all ages occupied the floor below and ov
            the overhanging balconies. Some of the interest in the event may have been influenced by p

            Christian societies as well as academic interest from a broad range of disciples – the tal
            the Sciences, Philosophy, Theology amongst others so was of great interest to many.

            The focus was on the critical evaluation of science as a discipline - and even as a belief
            debating the role of religious faith in scientific study and whether the two can be truly 
            Lennox’s own belief system as a Protestant Christian heavily informed the contents and arg

            lecture; he has previously debated the likes of Richard Dawkins on Theism vs. Atheism. How
            point did he appear to preach at the audience as he offered a range of perspectives and wo
            scientists and thinkers from across the religious spectrum.

            The circular nature of the lecture aided understanding; it began by detailing the fundamen
            of the scientific discipline: a belief that science can be done and that the world around 
            rational and mathematical intelligibility. Science is seen as an inherently materialist di

            reduces the world to physical terms. There is little room for study of what is immaterial 
            how we do and the spiritual and emotional importance driving many events.
            Lennox illustrated this well using the question of ‘why does a kettle boil?’, the answer f

            perspective would link to the chemical properties of water and its response to heat. Thoug
            fully answer the question, as the reason the kettle is boiling is because the kettle was t
            someone wants a cup of tea. It is Lennox’s use of examples such as this that allowed him t

            attention of the audience throughout the hour, as soon as the talk rose to the scope and c
            fitting for one of his Oxford seminars, an easily accessible conundrum such as this would 
            not as versed in philosophical study.

            Science, Lennox argues, is limited and not co-extensive with rationality as is widely beli
            in response to some questions and debate it becomes pertinent to look to other disciplines
            alone cannot answer all questions of existence. This is where he brings us to the relation

            religion; why is it that there is a current presumption that science is the antithesis to 
            remarks on how many of the most revolutionary scientific ideas in history were born of rel
            – Newton and gravity, Copernicus and heliocentrism and Ernest Walton who helped split the 

            especially expressed how his belief in God inspired him to use his God-given intelligence 
            world around him. This is a sentiment echoed by Lennox, who suggests that to study science
            by studying the world he created.

            Lennox concludes his talk with the assertion that to believe in Science is to believe in t
            intelligible – as stated at the lectures beginning, and how can we trust the intelligibili
            and the world around us, if these are the results of millions of years of directionless, r

            and processes? Lennox states that it is in fact Atheism, not Theism, that is incompatible 
            The talk’s effectiveness stemmed from how it made one question their own mindset and preme
            Lennox presented all his arguments in a logical way, slowly building the foundations for h

            religious belief. He does not attack those whose worldviews oppose his, but graciously exp
            worldviews are the result of complex reason and will follow a logical pattern. It is becau
            I, despite disagreeing with his final argument, never felt alienated by the content.

            The Q and A in the final half an hour offered thoughtful meditation on why one has faith a
            must continue to question knowledge. My takeaway from the talk was that comprehensive argu
            attempting to understand the worldviews of others and contemplating what presupposes your 

            An anecdote Lennox gave of a student at an American talk illustrates the powerful message 
            from the lecture. The student suddenly stood up and shouted of the profound change that a 
            given by Lennox, when he had seen it previously, has had in his life, as it convinced him 

            to God and find happiness; after attending the talk his life was changed.

                                                                                                      
            Georgia Moss is an Erasmus student from the UK studying at the Faculty of Humanities. At h