The Influence of Jesus Christ on Science (2)

The Influence of Jesus Christ on Science (2) – A Glimpse Through the Lives of Galileo, Kepler, and Pascal

Yesterday, we considered the influence of Jesus Christ on arguably the most outstanding scientist who ever lived in the person of Isaac Newton. Today, we will continue our exploration of Jesus’ influence by considering some more scientists whose works and impacts were heavily influenced by their Christian faith. We will be considering Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Blaise Pascal.

These three were not only pioneers in their fields, but they were also witnesses to the harmony between faith and scientific reasoning. Their position on the universe as God’s creation led them to discover truths that resonate with the divine order of the cosmos, even when they were not so popular during their time.

Galileo Galilei

Regarded as the father of science, Galileo’s name is synonymous with the dawn of modern science. His work in astronomy, particularly his advancements in telescope design and his support for the heliocentric theory, has forever changed our understanding of the universe.

Although he faced fierce opposition from the Catholic Church, his steadfast belief in the harmony between scripture and nature never wavered. For Galileo, the heavens were not a distant, empty expanse; they were the creation of a loving Creator. As he gazed at the stars through his telescope, he didn’t just see celestial bodies; he saw the fingerprint of God. Galileo once said, “I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” His faith in Christ empowered him to explore the natural world, confident that it would reveal God’s glory.

Galileo made discoveries about planets and moons that reinforced God’s brilliance and intentionality in creation. Even in the face of conflict with the Church, Galileo held to the belief that both Scripture and science pointed to the same truth: a divine Creator who speaks through His creation. The universe was not a random collection of particles; it was a beautifully ordered system, a reflection of God’s perfect mind.

Johannes Kepler

Whereas Galileo looked outward to the heavens, Johannes Kepler sought to uncover the precise laws that governed them. Kepler’s laws of planetary motion laid the foundation for the physics of motion that would later be perfected by Isaac Newton. Yet for Kepler, his scientific discoveries were deeply intertwined with his faith.

He was a devout Christian of the Lutheran sect, and he saw the laws of the universe as evidence of God’s incredible intelligence and design. To him, each planet’s motion was a reflection of God’s mind, and the order and precision in the cosmos were not accidents of nature—they were the deliberate handiwork of the Creator. In his own words, “The chief aim of all investigations of the external world should be to discover the rational order and harmony which has been imposed on it by God and which He revealed to us in the language of mathematics.”

Kepler believed that understanding the universe was an act of worship. The stars were not mere points of light; they were divine messages written in the language of mathematics, a language that, as he saw it, revealed the mind of God. Kepler’s faith in Christ drove him to explore the cosmos with a sense of awe and reverence, believing that every discovery was a deeper insight into the beauty and brilliance of the Creator.

Blaise Pascal

Blaise Pascal is best known for his work in mathematics, physics, and the invention of the early mechanical calculator. Yet, what makes Pascal’s story particularly profound is how his scientific pursuits were deeply intertwined with his Christian faith. Pascal’s brilliance was matched by a profound spiritual commitment that led him to write Pensées, a work that defends the rationality of Christianity and presents a passionate plea for the necessity of faith.

Pascal, whose work in probability theory has influenced fields far beyond science, believed that reason alone could never answer the deepest questions of human existence. In his famous “Pascal’s Wager,” he argued that faith in God was not only rational but also the most reasonable choice for anyone seeking truth. For Pascal, the universe, in all its complexity and design, pointed to a Creator who was not distant but intimately involved in His creation.

This made his scientific work not just an intellectual pursuit, but an act of honoring God. Pascal once wrote, “The supreme function of man is to know God, and the greatest comfort is to know that He knows us.” His life was a testimony to the belief that the pursuit of knowledge, when grounded in faith, is not in conflict with Christianity but rather a way of understanding and glorifying the Creator.

Galileo, Kepler, and Pascal each saw their work as a response to the divine call. They did not separate their scientific endeavors from their faith in Christ; rather, they saw the two as deeply interconnected. For them, science was not a cold, impersonal study of nature but a way to honor God and discover His wisdom. Their devotion to Christ gave them the courage to explore the mysteries of the universe, confident that in doing so, they would reveal not only the beauty of creation but the glory of the Creator Himself.

To be continued…

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. – Habakkuk 2:14

Also read:

• The Influence of Jesus Christ (on Science 1)
• Hole in the Heart – Finding Healing and Wholeness in God’s Love
• Understanding God: God of Reproduction
• After A Flash of Inspiration, What’s Next? (4)
• We Live By Faith
• My Brother Got A US Visa For A Short Program

You can now partner with the Daily Dew Ministry by clicking here