A very prominent person accepted the task of being the guest editor for a recent edition of a magazine. The focus of the edition had to do with pushing “the limits of human intelligence and health.” In his editorial, the guest editor championed the idea that “humans—through our ingenuity, our commitment to fact and reason, and ultimately our faith in each other—can science the heck out of just about any problem.” He expressed high optimism concerning the future because of “the constant churn of scientific progress.” He declares that now is the best time ever to be alive in human history, especially to live in America. That is, until the next round of scientific developments take us to the next level. One gets the sense that science is the answer to all the world’s problems and challenges. I am reminded of a character in a 2006 movie who declared: “I only believe in science!”
Indeed, science has gone a long way and, in many ways, has made life a little bit easier. Advances in medical technology, for example, may help not only to extend life but also to improve the level of health in latter years. In other fields too, significant advances have been made (like electronics, communications, engineering). Many tasks have become easier and more efficient because of the developments. I am one who enjoys many of these advances.
But sometimes I wonder if “easier” necessarily equals “better.” Though scientific advances open up opportunities for doing good at very high levels, they also could make not-so-favorable conditions for other people. The truth is, sometimes science may also create new problems that did not exist before. For example, when computers or robots reduce the need for a labor force that would mean jobs lost. There also is the matter of scientific advances that make more efficient weapons of destruction.
It is not enough to have “scienced the heck out of our challenges,” for life is much more than just meeting our physical comforts or psychological preferences. We over-estimate ourselves when we think our human intelligence will solve all the problems of the world. Even the tools designed for good may easily be used for the wrong reasons. What scientists meant for good others could easily use for evil. Scripture warns us: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17.9 ESV) We just cannot science the heck out of the deceitfulness of our hearts. Neither can we resort to religiosity, for that too can be corrupted. We need a change of heart and mind, the kind that only the gospel of Christ can do (Romans 12.2).
—Keith Y. Jainga