So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
— Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
— Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
Whether approaching scientific inquiry or biblical exegesis, understanding always begins with faith. Science cannot prove that the physical world is real rather than a simulation, nor can it scientifically prove the validity of logic itself—it must assume those truths by faith before the first experiment ever begins. Even the legendary atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell conceded this baseline reality in The Problems of Philosophy:
"The general principles of science... are believed because mankind have found them convenient, not because there is any formal reason for believing them true."
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.
— John 3:8a (NKJV)
At its core, faith is a foundational trust in that which is unseen and intangible. Consider the wind: we feel its immediate force, observe its physical effects, and measure its velocity and vector with precision. Yet, we cannot directly see the air currents themselves, nor can we catch and hold a handful of wind. We accept its existence based on observable impact; we operate on a reasoned faith that the wind is real.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
— Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
— Romans 1:20 (NKJV)
Some will assert that “faith is merely replacing evidence with personal belief.” Consider the Big Bang Theory—a model that requires its own kind of faith in an unobserved chain reaction of random events that somehow resulted in fine-tuned, organized, sentient life. It is essentially organized chaos. Where did those primordial elements originate? What sparked the expansion? As prominent atheist philosopher Thomas Nagel candidly pointed out in Mind and Cosmos, treating the standard materialist origin story as settled fact relies more on an unprovable baseline framework than a fully demonstrated proof:
“It is an assumption governing the scientific project rather than a well-confirmed scientific hypothesis.”
— Goodreads
To practice science at all, as theoretical physicist Paul Davies famously observed in his New York Times essay, “Taking Science on Faith”:
"To be a scientist, you have to have an 'act of faith' that the universe is bound by dependable, immutable, rational laws... Science can proceed only if the scientist adopts an essentially theological worldview."
— Georgia State University
If one can exercise faith in an unobserved cosmic origin, one can rationally exercise faith in a Creator.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
— Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
I have faith in God. God cannot be seen, touched, or held, but I can feel God’s effect in my life, I can see God’s hand in creation, and I can read the message He inspired over the millennia. I have faith God exists.
Faith is not the absence of reason—it is the foundation upon which reason builds.
Tags: Faith, Science, Apologetics
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