Science and Faith: Are Christianity and Science Compatible? | Casey Luskin & Jonathan McLatchie

Are science and Christianity fundamentally at odds—or can they converge in a common pursuit of truth?Host Luke Betzner opens Season 8 of Paratus with Dr. Casey Luskin and Dr. Jonathan McLatchie of the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. Together they examine what science is, what biblical faith is, and whether the two are genuinely incompatible.The conversation moves beyond the familiar “science versus faith” conflict. Luskin and McLatchie consider the limits of scientific consensus, the difference between evidence and authority, methodological naturalism, scientism, confirmation bias, and the importance of testing every claim. They also explore evidence bearing on a Creator—including the beginning and fine-tuning of the universe, the information-rich character of life, and the cumulative case for intelligent design and Christianity.In this episodeScience as an empirical, evidence-governed search for truthFaith as rational trust grounded in evidence rather than blind beliefConflict, separation, and qualified-agreement models of science and religionWhy methodological naturalism can prevent investigators from recognizing intelligent causesScientism, cognitive dissonance, institutional pressure, and scientific consensusThe Big Bang, cosmic fine-tuning, biological information, and the origin of lifeWhy multiple independent lines of evidence form a cumulative case for theism and ChristianityChapters00:17 — Welcome and the Season 8 question01:14 — Meet Jonathan McLatchie and Casey Luskin03:50 — What is science?07:50 — What is faith?12:32 — How science and faith relate to truth18:19 — Why people separate science and faith25:21 — Methodological naturalism explained29:23 — Confirmation bias and intelligent causes33:34 — Scientism: when science becomes an idol37:24 — Cognitive dissonance, theology, and scientific claims42:17 — Testing agenda-driven claims with a scout mindset45:31 — Creation, the Big Bang, and fine-tuning50:20 — A cumulative case for design and Christianity53:39 — Recommended books and further study55:43 — Closing resources and a preview of Episode 2Guests and resourcesDr. Casey Luskin — Associate Director, Research Director, and Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and CultureDr. Jonathan McLatchie — Fellow of the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and CultureJonathanMcLatchie.comTalk About Doubts — confidential conversations for those examining doubts about ChristianityDiscovery InstituteThe Comprehensive Guide to Science and Faith: Exploring the Ultimate Questions About Life and the Cosmos, edited by William A. Dembski, Casey Luskin, and Joseph M. HoldenRecommended reading mentioned in the episodeUndeniable by Douglas Axe; Signature in the Cell, Darwin’s Doubt, and Return of the God Hypothesis by Stephen C. Meyer; works by C. John Collins on science and Genesis; Theistic Evolution: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Critique; and The Scout Mindset by Julia Galef.About ParatusParatus is sponsored by Veritas International University and exists to defend and discuss unchanging truth in changing times—helping listeners think deeply, stand firmly, and live purposefully within a biblical worldview.Learn more about VIU and support its outreach at ves.edu.