Christopher Search and The Harmony of Faith and Science

 Christopher Search and The Harmony of Faith and Science

By: Katherine Monico


My belief that there is no conflict between science and Catholicism was confirmed during my encounter with Christopher Search. 


Raised by a former Catholic priest, Search became interested in the study of cosmology and the origin of the universe. Growing up, he would often debate with his father on topics regarding the interaction between science and religion. Having obtained degrees in physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Michigan, he sought to understand some of the greatest mysteries of our universe. In his studies as a physicist, he had thought the journey would lead him to disprove God, although it may have led him to affirm their coexistence. 


In the physics realm, there are many unanswered questions. According to Search, there are two things that physics was able to prove: 1) the universe is at least as old as the Earth and 2) the universe is expanding as seen with the Doppler effect. He found that while physics could establish these facts, certain ideas could not be explained, such as the Big Bang Theory.

The Big Bang Theory describes the discovery of the universe as we know it. According to space.com, it all began “with an infinitely hot and dense single point that inflated and stretched – first at unimaginable speeds, and then at a more measurable rate – over the next 13.7 billion years to the still-expanding cosmos that we know today”.


To Search, this idea remained as such, “just a theory”, especially considering that the laws of physics did not apply before the Big Bang. Search makes parallels with the theory of evolution, tying in that there is physical evidence like fossils that can be examined. Whereas, the Big Bang Theory lacks that support due to the impossibility of testing.


In our discussion with Search, I mentioned Georges Lemaître, a Belgian cosmologist and Catholic priest whom the American Museum of Natural History describes as the “father of the Big Bang Theory”. I was intrigued and felt compelled to know from a physicist raised in a Catholic home if there is a belief in the compatibility between faith and science. 


So I asked Search. “I feel that whenever there is talk about the creation of the universe, it is either God or the Big Bang Theory, but neither co-existing. But given your background in Catholicism and given that the Big Bang Theory was initially proposed by a Catholic priest, could you say that both are possible given that the Big Bang Theory does not explain where the matter involved came from?”


Search’s answer surprised me. He stressed that none of the current theories in physics displace the existence of God or a creator. Yet, researchers are still attempting to answer the question of why we were created if there was no God. 


Even the theory of evolution itself challenges the need for a creator, however, it does not rule out the possibility of divine intervention. There is no one to say that there is not a guiding hand in our world. It becomes a matter of faith rather than verifiable evidence. In Search’s perspective, the coexistence between the discovery of scientific knowledge and the embrace of religious faith is imaginable, each with its mystery of existence.



References:


“Georges Lemaître: Father of the Big Bang.” American Museum of Natural History, New Press, 

2000


Howell, Elizabeth, and Andrew May. “What Is the Big Bang Theory?” Space.Com, Future US, 

10 Jan. 2022


Search, Christopher. “Guest Lecture with Christopher Search.” 31 Jan. 2024. 

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