Does Science Make God Irrelevant?

Abstract

DOES SCIENCE MAKE GOD IRRELEVANT? by Hans Madueme. Crossway, 2025. 84 pages. Paperback; $8.99. ISBN: 9781433597992. *Hans Madueme, professor of theology at Covenant College, seeks to dismantle the perceived conflict between science and Christian faith for a conservative evangelical audience committed to the authority of Scripture. While he succeeds in challenging the popular "warfare" narrative and affirming the compatibility of science and faith, his theological framework ultimately constrains a fuller integration by subordinating scientific inquiry to a rigid doctrine of biblical inerrancy. *The author's goal in writing the book is for young Christians to see that science and evangelical faith can be taken seriously, and that they are intimate friends. He organizes the book around four areas: (1) debunking the war between science and faith, (2) Christian assumptions make science possible, (3) science and faith are close allies, and (4) to God alone be the Glory. *Madueme argues that many evangelical Christians have grown up believing that faith and science are inherently opposed. He revisits historical examples such as Galileo and the Scopes Monkey Trial, suggesting how history has been misinterpreted as evidence of conflict, and points to the influential work of John Draper and Andrew White as reinforcing the myth of conflict between science and theology. He further claims that this "warfare" narrative is perpetuated by modern critics of religions such as Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Richard Dawkins, who portray science as the superior path to truth while dismissing Christianity. Regardless of the historical accuracy of these interpretations, Madueme employs these narratives to dismantle the perceived conflict between science and faith since the persistence of this perceived conflict within Christian communities underscores the need for a more constructive and integrative approach. *In the section on how Christian assumptions made science possible, Madueme emphasizes the empirical nature of science, focusing on the hard sciences (physics, chemistry, and biology). At the same time, he argues that scientific inquiry is never purely empirical, since it rests on theological and philosophical assumptions. Also, Madueme believes that Christians assume that the world is knowable, rational, and dependable: assumptions that are basic to science. Even the Fall is related to science in providing a basis for empirical study rather than philosophically knowing the world. *Madueme then presents a thoughtful and accessible defense of the compatibility between science and Christian faith, particularly for conservative evangelical readers who often encounter the assumption that scientific inquiry undermines belief in God. One of the book's strongest contributions is its insistence that Christianity historically provided the intellectual foundations necessary for the rise of modern science. Drawing on figures such as Irenaeus, Madueme argues that belief in an ordered, rational, and fundamentally good creation encouraged scientific exploration by affirming that the natural world could be studied coherently and meaningfully. In this framework, science is not independent of theology, but rather, it has emerged from theological convictions about creation and divine order, to God's glory. This historical argument effectively challenges the narrative that religion and science exist in perpetual conflict and offers readers a constructive vision in which scientific investigation can deepen appreciation for God's creation rather than threaten it. *The book also succeeds in critiquing scientism, the assumption that science alone can answer all meaningful questions about reality. Madueme repeatedly emphasizes the limits of scientific inquiry, reminding readers that science, like all human endeavors, is shaped by finitude and fallenness. His discussion of methodological naturalism further clarifies how science operates within the study of the natural world without making ultimate claims about God's existence. In doing so, he provides a helpful framework for readers seeking to understand how theological conviction and scientific practice can coexist without collapsing one discipline into the other. The book's final section is especially effective in addressing the common cultural narrative that scientific progress inevitably renders faith obsolete. Madueme persuasively argues that scientific discovery does not make God irrelevant but instead points toward deeper questions of meaning, purpose, and human existence that science alone cannot answer. *At the same time, the book's theological framework occasionally narrows the range of dialogue surrounding science and faith. Because Madueme consistently places scientific claims under the authority of a strict doctrine of biblical inerrancy, his approach can at times position science in a subordinate role rather than as a fully integrated partner in theological reflection. Readers from broader evangelical traditions, such as the Wesleyan tradition, may find this approach limiting; particularly those who affirm that Scripture is authoritative in matters of salvation while allowing greater flexibility regarding scientific questions. These perspectives often view reason, experience, tradition, and Scripture as cooperative sources for discerning truth, and therefore approach scientific discovery as a meaningful contributor to theological understanding. *This tension becomes most apparent in Madueme's treatment of evolution and cosmology. In rejecting macroevolutionary explanations of human origins, he gives limited attention to Christian scholars and scientists who reconcile evolutionary theory with belief in divine creation. Likewise, his critique of multiverse theories largely dismisses interpretations offered by Christian philosophers and physicists who view such theories as potentially compatible with belief in a Creator. Greater engagement with these perspectives would have strengthened the book's broader argument for integration. *Nevertheless, Madueme's work provides an important contribution to contemporary evangelical discussions on science and faith, particularly in local conservative congregations. The book succeeds in reassuring readers that Christianity and scientific inquiry need not stand in opposition, while at the same time encouraging thoughtful engagement with the modern scientific world. Although its theological scope remains somewhat limited, its central argument, that science and faith can function as close allies, offers a valuable corrective to the polarized assumptions that often shape these conversations. *Reviewed by Mark A. Maddix, pastor of San Dieguito United Methodist Church in Encinitas, California; former professor of practical theology; and dean of two Schools of Theology.