A Historical Overview That Sets the Record Straight

Introduction: The “Conflict” That Never Was

You’ve heard the stories: the Church fought science, banned reason, and believed the Earth was flat. Galileo was “persecuted for truth,” and medieval monks feared falling off the edge of the world. These tales often paint Christianity as an enemy of science—a view known as the “conflict thesis.”

But here’s the truth: historians have debunked this narrative. The supposed war between faith and reason? It’s largely a 19th-century invention. In reality, Christianity didn’t stifle science—it helped build it.

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Myth #1: Medieval Christians Believed in a Flat Earth

Let’s clear this up: educated medieval Europeans knew the Earth was round. As early as the 7th century, Church scholars accepted the Earth’s spherical shape based on ancient authorities like Aristotle and clear natural observations. Some even calculated Earth’s circumference with impressive accuracy—centuries before Columbus set sail.

That famous story of Columbus “proving” the world wasn’t flat? Total myth. Educated people of his day (including churchmen) already knew the Earth was round. The real debate was about distance—not shape.

Only two obscure Christian writers ever seriously argued for a flat Earth. Meanwhile, major theologians like St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Ambrose all affirmed Earth’s roundness. So where did the flat-Earth myth come from? Blame 19th-century authors like Washington Irving and Andrew White, who twisted history to make religion look anti-science.

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Faith and Reason: A Fertile Ground for Science

Far from suppressing curiosity, Christian theology nurtured scientific inquiry. Believing that God created a good and intelligible world encouraged medieval thinkers to study it. After all, if a rational Creator made the universe, then nature should behave according to consistent rules.

This belief led to two key ideas behind modern science:

• Creation is worth studying because it’s God’s handiwork.
• Nature follows discoverable laws because it’s governed by a rational God.

In fact, Christians believed that since God could have created the universe any way He wanted, the only way to know how it actually works is to observe and experiment. Sound familiar? That’s the scientific method.

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Myth-Busters: Devout Christians Who Changed the World

Many people assume science moved forward despite religion. But in truth, many of the greatest scientific minds were devout Christians:

• Nicolaus Copernicus – Cleric and founder of heliocentrism
• Galileo Galilei – Catholic scientist and astronomy pioneer
• Johannes Kepler – Discovered planetary motion, glorified God through math
• Isaac Newton – Deeply religious; saw science as uncovering God’s laws
• Gregor Mendel – Monk who founded genetics in his monastery garden
• Georges Lemaître – Catholic priest who proposed the Big Bang
• Francis Collins – Christian geneticist who led the Human Genome Project

These weren’t outliers—they were the norm. Most early scientists were Christians, and their faith inspired their work.

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The Church: A Supporter of Science

It wasn’t just individual believers. The Church itself was instrumental in science’s rise. During the Middle Ages:

• Monasteries and cathedral schools preserved knowledge.
• The Church founded universities in Paris, Oxford, and Bologna.
• Universities taught astronomy, mathematics, and natural philosophy (early science).

Clergy like Albertus Magnus, teacher of Aquinas, even conducted early experiments. The Vatican funded astronomical research, supported scholars, and helped develop the Gregorian calendar we use today.

And yes, Galileo’s trial happened—but it was more about politics and personality than science. Most Church officials supported science overall and often funded it.

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Conclusion: A Partnership in Truth

The idea of Christianity and science being enemies is a myth. History tells a different story—one where faith laid the foundation for science to flourish.

Christianity taught that the world was worth studying, that it followed consistent laws, and that truth—whether revealed through Scripture or science—was unified. As many medieval scholars said:
“Truth cannot contradict truth.”

Christianity didn’t fight science. It often fueled it. And recognizing this truth doesn’t just correct a myth—it helps us understand the real roots of the modern scientific world.

Sources

1. Baglow, Christopher T. “A Catholic History of the Fake Conflict Between Science and Religion.” Church Life Journal, University of Notre Dame, 4 May 2020, pp. 259–268.​
   catholicscientists.org
   . (Debunks the myth that medieval Christians believed in a flat Earth by highlighting that only a couple of obscure individuals did, whereas the consensus among major theologians was that the Earth is spherical.)
   
2. Rogers, Katherin. “Medieval Mythbusters.” UD Research, vol. 3, no. 1, University of Delaware, 2011, pp. 165–174.​
   www1.udel.edu
   . (Explains that medieval educated classes knew the Earth was round and had even calculated its circumference with impressive accuracy before Columbus.)
   
3. Rogers, Katherin. “Medieval Mythbusters.” UD Research, vol. 3, no. 1, University of Delaware, 2011, pp. 171–174.​
   www1.udel.edu
   . (Clarifies that Columbus’s contemporaries objected to his voyage not out of fear of a flat Earth, but because they rightly believed the Earth was much larger than Columbus assumed.)
   
4. Baglow, Christopher T. “A Catholic History of the Fake Conflict Between Science and Religion.” Church Life Journal, University of Notre Dame, 4 May 2020, pp. 287–295.​
   catholicscientists.org
   . (Recounts how the supposed opposition to Columbus was a fiction created by Washington Irving and perpetuated by A.D. White; in truth, all scholars in Columbus’s day agreed the Earth was round and debated only the Earth’s size.)
   
5. Rogers, Katherin. “Medieval Mythbusters.” UD Research, vol. 3, no. 1, University of Delaware, 2011, pp. 195–202.​
   www1.udel.edu
   . (Quotes St. Augustine affirming the fundamental goodness of all creation, underscoring the pro-nature outlook of Christian theology in antiquity and the Middle Ages.)
   
6. Harrison, Peter, et al. “Religion and Science.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 2022, sec. 2.2, lines 320–327.​
   plato.stanford.edu
   . (Discusses how the Christian doctrine of creation posited an intelligible and orderly universe, yet one that must be investigated empirically because its laws are contingent on God’s will – a concept that encouraged the development of modern science.)
   
7. Bishop Robert Barron. “The Myth of the War Between Science and Religion.” Word on Fire, 20 Jan. 2015, lines 233–241.​
   wordonfire.org
   . (Observes that the great founders of modern science – Copernicus, Newton, Kepler, etc. – were devoutly religious, and notes that even 19th-century giants like Faraday and Maxwell were profoundly pious, as was the 20th-century originator of the Big Bang theory, a Catholic priest.)
   
8. Funk, Cary, and Becka A. Alper. “The Paradoxical Relationship of Religion and Science.” Pew Research Center, 5 Nov. 2009, lines 188–195.​
   pewresearch.org
   . (Highlights that for many centuries, religious institutions supported scientific endeavors: most universities were religiously affiliated and numerous scientists – Copernicus, Mendel, Galileo, Newton, Kepler – were either clergy or devout believers who saw their work as illuminating God’s creation.)
   
9. Funk, Cary, and Becka A. Alper. “The Paradoxical Relationship of Religion and Science.” Pew Research Center, 5 Nov. 2009, lines 190–195.​
   pewresearch.org
   . (Specifically notes that Copernicus and Mendel were “men of the cloth,” while Galileo, Newton, and Kepler were deeply devout, demonstrating that religious commitment was common among seminal scientists.)
   
10. Rogers, Katherin. “Medieval Mythbusters.” UD Research, vol. 3, no. 1, University of Delaware, 2011, lines 209–217.​
    www1.udel.edu
    . (Credits medieval Christian institutions – particularly the new universities of Western Europe – with establishing the cooperative, cumulative approach to knowledge that characterizes modern science, citing Albertus Magnus as an example of a medieval churchman who used experimental methods and earned the title “father of modern science.”)
    
11. Baglow, Christopher T. “A Catholic History of the Fake Conflict Between Science and Religion.” Church Life Journal, University of Notre Dame, 4 May 2020, lines 233–242.​
    catholicscientists.org
    . (Explains that Galileo’s run-in with Church authorities was due more to his provocative style and the politics of the time than to a blanket religious rejection of his science, illustrating that the Galileo affair was a complex anomaly rather than proof of an eternal conflict.)

Peter W. Stoner

When it comes to testing the truth of biblical prophecy, few names are as important—or as mathematically rigorous—as Peter W. Stoner. A respected mathematician and professor of science at Pasadena City College and Westmont College, Stoner was also the chairman of the departments of mathematics and astronomy. His book Science Speaks applies the principles of probability theory to biblical prophecy in a way that is both accessible and scientifically grounded. What sets his work apart is that it was reviewed and verified by the American Scientific Affiliation, a body of qualified scientists who affirmed that his approach to estimating odds was both conservative and statistically sound. But why does this matter? Because if even a handful of prophecies written centuries before Christ were fulfilled with precision, and the odds of that happening by chance are astronomically low, then we’re not just looking at ancient poetry—we’re staring at the mathematical fingerprint of the divine. This is not just a religious question—it’s a logical and evidential problem that demands attention.

📜 How Many Prophecies Are in the Bible?

The Bible contains over 2,500 prophetic statements, of which about 2,000 have already been fulfilled with remarkable accuracy. The remaining deal with end times and the return of Christ. These prophecies range from specific predictions (like the place of Jesus’ birth) to broader geopolitical forecasts (such as the rise and fall of empires).

Many of these are messianic—over 300 prophecies relate directly to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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🧪 How Do We Know These Prophecies Predate the Events?

1. The Dead Sea Scrolls

• Discovered between 1946–1956 near Qumran, these ancient manuscripts contain parts of every Old Testament book except Esther.
• Most importantly, they include a complete copy of the book of Isaiah, dated to around 125 BC—centuries before Jesus was born.
• This disproves claims that the prophecies were written after the events took place.

2. Carbon Dating and Paleography

• The scrolls have been carbon-dated and analyzed by handwriting experts, both confirming that they were written well before Christ’s time.
• This gives us archaeological and scientific certainty that the messianic prophecies existed long before their fulfillment.

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🎯 Just 10 Prophecies About Jesus—What Are the Odds?

Let’s consider just 10 specific prophecies about Jesus:

1. Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
2. Preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3)
3. Entered Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9)
4. Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9)
5. Sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12)
6. Money thrown in the temple and used to buy a potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13)
7. Silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7)
8. Crucified with criminals (Isaiah 53:12)
9. Pierced in hands and feet (Psalm 22:16)
10. Buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9)

These were written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, yet every one was fulfilled in the New Testament accounts.

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🎲 Calculating the Odds

According to mathematician Peter Stoner, the probability of just eight of these being fulfilled by one man is:

1 in 10^17 (that’s a 1 followed by 17 zeros)

To visualize: Imagine covering the entire state of Texas two feet deep in silver dollars. Mark one of them with an X. Now blindfold someone and let them wander across Texas. The odds they pick the marked coin on the first try? Same as one man fulfilling just eight of the Messianic prophecies.

When Stoner increased it to 48 prophecies, the odds became:

1 in 10^157 —a number beyond the total number of atoms in the known universe.

These aren’t faith-based guesses. These are statistical improbabilities calculated using conservative estimates and laws of probability.

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✅ Conclusion: Coincidence or Divine Fingerprint?

Fulfilled prophecy isn’t just poetic. It’s empirical evidence that the Bible:

• Predicted the future before it happened,
• Did so with specificity,
• And has been verified through scientific dating, archaeological finds, and mathematical probability.

Fulfilled prophecy is one of the strongest rational foundations for Christian belief. It transforms the Bible from a spiritual book into a historical and mathematical marvel—a document that has stood the test of time, scrutiny, and science.

Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Math Behind Biblical Prophecy Odds

📌 Step 1: Choosing the Prophecies

Stoner selected specific, well-documented Old Testament prophecies that:

• Were measurable (not vague or symbolic),
• Were not under the control of the person fulfilling them (you can’t choose your birthplace),
• And were historically verified as fulfilled in the life of Jesus.

For example, let’s examine the prophecy:
“The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.”
(Prophecy: Micah 5:2, Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1)

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🧠 Step 2: Assigning Probabilities (Estimating Likelihood)

Stoner gathered data (historical population, demographics, geography, etc.) to assign conservative probability estimates for each prophecy. These were reviewed by experts from the American Scientific Affiliation to ensure they were reasonable and not biased in favor of Christianity.

Here’s how he assigned values:

Prophecy	Assigned Probability	Rationale
Born in Bethlehem	1 in 280,000	Bethlehem’s estimated population vs. the total Jewish population
Entering Jerusalem on a donkey	1 in 100	Most people would walk or ride horses, not donkeys, for important arrivals
Betrayed by a friend	1 in 1,000	A relatively rare event, especially with 30 silver pieces
Crucified with criminals	1 in 1,000	Execution methods varied; crucifixion was rare and grouping was inconsistent
Pierced in hands and feet	1 in 1,000	Describes crucifixion before it was invented by Persians/Romans
Silent before accusers	1 in 1,000	Most people defend themselves when falsely accused
Buried in a rich man’s tomb	1 in 1,000	Criminals usually dumped in mass graves
Sold for 30 pieces of silver	1 in 1,000	Specific amount and context is rare

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➗ Step 3: Multiply Probabilities Together

Now, to find the odds of one person fulfilling all 8 prophecies, we multiply the probabilities:

1/280,000 × 1/100 × 1/1,000 × 1/1,000 × 1/1,000 × 1/1,000 × 1/1,000 × 1/1,000
= 1 in 10^17 (or 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000)

This is how Stoner arrived at the 1 in 10^17 figure for just 8 prophecies.

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💡 Why Multiply?

We multiply the probabilities because each fulfilled prophecy is an independent event. For example:

• Being born in Bethlehem has no effect on being betrayed by a friend.
• Each is a separate, measurable event—so to get the compound probability, you multiply the odds.

This is a standard method in statistics and probability theory.

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🔢 What If We Add More Prophecies?

Let’s say we go from 8 prophecies to 48. Since the probabilities continue to be multiplied, the number explodes exponentially:

• For 48 prophecies, Stoner estimated the odds at 1 in 10^157
• That’s more than the total number of atoms in the known universe (about 10^80)

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⚠️ Important Caveats

Stoner took a conservative approach:

• He rounded estimates up (making prophecies seem more likely than they were),
• He avoided any “double-counting” of related prophecies,
• He only used prophecies independently verifiable through secular history.

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🧮 In Simple Terms:

Here’s a simplified analogy:

Imagine you write 8 oddly specific predictions on ping-pong balls and throw them into separate oceans around the world.

Now imagine one person dives into each ocean once, randomly, and pulls up the right ball 8 times in a row.

That’s the kind of improbability we’re talking about. Statistically impossible unless someone rigged the outcome—or in our case, orchestrated it on purpose.

Conservative Recalculation: 8 Biblical Prophecies Fulfilled by One Person

Let’s assume each prophecy is more likely than Peter Stoner originally estimated. We’ll round down each probability estimate to favor natural occurrence and reduce perceived “miraculousness.” Here’s our revised list:

Prophecy	Conservative Probability Estimate
Born in Bethlehem	1 in 100,000 (vs. 280,000)
Preceded by a messenger (John the Baptist)	1 in 20 (vs. 1 in 100)
Enters Jerusalem on a donkey	1 in 50 (vs. 1 in 100)
Betrayed by a friend	1 in 100 (vs. 1 in 1,000)
Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver	1 in 200 (vs. 1 in 1,000)
Money used to buy potter’s field	1 in 100 (vs. 1 in 1,000)
Silent before accusers	1 in 50 (vs. 1 in 1,000)
Buried in a rich man’s tomb	1 in 100 (vs. 1 in 1,000)

Now multiply the probabilities:

1/100,000
× 1/20
× 1/50
× 1/100
× 1/200
× 1/100
× 1/50
× 1/100

Let’s simplify and multiply it out:

1 / (100,000 × 20 × 50 × 100 × 200 × 100 × 50 × 100)
= 1 / (100,000 × 2×10^8)
= 1 / (1 × 10^18)

🧮 Final Probability:

🔥 1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 (10^18)

Even with the odds severely rounded down in favor of chance, we still get a 1 in a quintillion probability of one man fulfilling just 8 specific prophecies by coincidence.

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📐 Perspective: What Does 10¹⁸ Look Like?

• One quintillion seconds = about 32 billion years (longer than the age of the universe)
• If you had a quintillion pennies, they’d stack high enough to reach past Pluto—and back.
• This is still statistically impossible by accident, even with generous odds.

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🧠 What About Just 1 in 10?

Just for comparison—if every prophecy was 1 in 10, and you picked 8 of them:

1/10^8 = 1 in 100,000,000

That’s still less likely than winning the Powerball jackpot… twice.

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✅ Conclusion (Even with Rounded-Down Numbers)

Even if you try to make the odds more favorable, the probability of one person fulfilling 8–10 specific, ancient prophecies is still astronomically unlikely—unless someone intended it to happen.

You’ve probably heard it dressed up as “science,” “reason,” or “the only way to think in the modern age.” But beneath the lab coat lies a worldview with its own untested assumptions, miraculous leaps of faith, and sacred doctrines — just without the stained glass.

So, for fun (and maybe a little truth), here’s a tongue-in-cheek brochure exploring the religion of Naturalism — the belief system that says everything came from nothing, you’re just a meat computer, and morals are optional.

👇 Enjoy. Question. And laugh a little.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kszEQiosYx72esq38DU5KqKos5-nNRuQ4KlkcPa5NkU/edit?usp=sharing

In an era where the Christian worldview is often challenged by secular perspectives, it’s crucial to examine the evidence that supports the biblical narrative. From the origins of the universe to the intricacies of life, and the fossil record, the data aligns remarkably well with the teachings of Scripture.​

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1. The Universe Had a Beginning

Modern cosmology confirms that the universe had a definite beginning, commonly referred to as the Big Bang. This aligns with the biblical assertion in Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The necessity of a cause beyond time, space, and matter points to a transcendent Creator.​

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2. Evidence of Design in Nature

The complexity and order observed in the universe suggest intentional design:​

• Fine-Tuning of the Universe: The precise values of physical constants allow for the existence of life.
• DNA as Information: DNA contains complex information akin to a written language, indicating an intelligent source.
• Irreducible Complexity: Biological systems, such as the bacterial flagellum, function only when all parts are present, challenging gradual evolutionary explanations.​

These observations support the idea of an intelligent Designer, as described in the Bible.​

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3. The Fossil Record and the Global Flood

The fossil record presents several features consistent with a global flood as described in Genesis:​

• Rapid Burial: Fossils often show signs of rapid burial, such as articulated skeletons and preservation of soft tissues.
• Soft Tissue in Dinosaur Bones: Discoveries of soft tissues in dinosaur fossils challenge the notion that these remains are millions of years old. For instance, Dr. Mary Schweitzer found flexible blood vessels and cells in a T. rex femur.
• Fossils in Unexpected Strata: Fossils have been found in geological layers where they shouldn’t exist according to evolutionary timelines, such as pollen in Precambrian rocks. ​Creation.com+1Evolution Is A Myth+1

These findings suggest a catastrophic event, like a global flood, better explains the fossil record than slow, gradual processes.​

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4. Foundations of Science Rooted in Christianity

Many pioneers of modern science were devout Christians who believed that the universe, created by a rational God, could be studied and understood:​

• Isaac Newton: Developed the laws of motion and universal gravitation.
• Johannes Kepler: Formulated the laws of planetary motion.
• Blaise Pascal: Made significant contributions to mathematics and physics.​HowStuffWorks

Their faith motivated their scientific pursuits, and the Christian worldview provided the philosophical foundation for the scientific method.​

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5. The Bible’s Historical and Prophetic Accuracy

The Bible has demonstrated remarkable historical and prophetic accuracy:​

• Archaeological Discoveries: Findings such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Hittite civilization confirm biblical accounts.
• Fulfilled Prophecies: Prophecies about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, written centuries before His birth, have been fulfilled in detail.​

These aspects underscore the reliability and divine inspiration of Scripture.​

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6. Objective Morality Points to a Moral Lawgiver

The existence of objective moral values and duties suggests a source beyond human opinion:​

• Universal Moral Standards: Concepts of right and wrong are consistent across cultures and time periods.
• Moral Accountability: The innate sense of justice and conscience implies a moral lawgiver, as described in the Bible.​

Without a transcendent source, morality becomes subjective and loses its binding authority.​

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7. Personal Transformation Through Christ

Beyond intellectual evidence, the transformative power of the Christian faith is evident in countless lives:​

• Changed Lives: Individuals from diverse backgrounds testify to the life-changing impact of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Purpose and Hope: The Christian worldview provides a coherent explanation for human existence, suffering, and the hope of eternal life.​

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Conclusion

The convergence of scientific evidence, historical reliability, moral reasoning, and personal experience builds a compelling case for the Christian worldview. Far from being a blind leap of faith, Christianity offers a rational and evidence-based foundation for understanding reality.​

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Note: For a more in-depth exploration of these topics, consider reading works by authors such as C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel, John Lennox, and Nabeel Qureshi, who have extensively addressed the intersection of faith science and reason.