The Wind in His Fists

There is evidence on both sides, but it seems that all of the evidence for Christianity can be “explained away” with alternative, naturalistic explanations.   At least, it seems that whenever Christians think they have found something that cannot be explained by science, science eventually finds an alternative explanation.  When this happens, it seems to negate the evidence for Christianity.  Why?

Do we have a natural preference for naturalistic (naturalism: the view of the world that takes account only of natural elements and forces, excluding the supernatural or spiritual (dictionary.com)) explanations?  It seems clear that we approach the evidence with naturalistic presuppositions.  Is this justified?  Why do we have a preference for what we can see, hear, and touch? 

But that’s not even it.  Most scientific explanations are not like that: we can’t see, feel, or touch quantum mechanics or relativity.  Sure, we can test them, but we initially believed them with very little evidence.  And what about multiverse theory?  It has become very popular among physicists, but it can never be tested.  Why is this explanation preferable to God?  I suppose it is still in terms of things I can see, universes and such.  I can see this universe (though not the whole thing) and it is reasonable that there may be more.

But it is deeper than this.  I can’t see gravity.  What is “natural” is not what I can see, but rather what predictable, and regular.

But not quantum mechanics.  It is not “predictable” in the strict sense.  But is is testable.  It can be touched, seen, and felt,  though indirectly.  Evolution is like this as well:  it can only be tested indirectly–we see fossils, use radioactivity to estimate ages, compare DNA sequences.  So is the big bang.  So are most things in modern science.

So is Christianity.  It can be tested indirectly.  God can be felt, seen, and heard indirectly.

So why the preference?

It almost seems that the “natural” is best defined as “anti-supernatural”.  We prefer explanations that do not invoke a personality behind the universe, only impersonal objects and forces acting of their own accord.  Why is this?