What does doctrine have to do with science?
'Doctrine' might sound like a word that belongs in the theology faculty rather than the science lab. It's the kind of word that, even in church, only comes out when things are getting serious.
We needn't be intimidated by the word. Doctrine is just the formal expression of beliefs that Christians, churches, and other organisations hold to be important. We might consider doctrine the theological equivalent of a 'theory' in science. Doctrine is how we define what we mean by 'the gospel', such that we can let it shape our thinking, living, and speaking together as a Christian community. In UCCF, we use the Doctrinal Basis as a summary of the Bible's teaching on what the gospel is so that we can agree on the message that we're taking out to the university, and the story that we're seeking to live by ourselves.
If doctrine is how we define the gospel, then doctrine matters for scientists! We've explored previously the difference that the gospel makes for scientists in different fields. In our new series, 'Doctrine for Scientists', we're going to be pushing deeper into each of the eleven points of UCCF's Doctrinal Basis - seeing how each element of core Christian belief shapes how we think about and practise science. We'll be asking questions like:
'What is the Holy Spirit doing when I study?'
'Why is it vital that scientists are rooted in the church?'
'How does justification by faith alone shape my career ambitions?'
We'll start in the deep end with the doctrine of God and doctrine of creation. Keep your eyes peeled for more over the coming months!
Next: the triune God
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