Professor Gerald Gabrielse shares perspectives on his faith and science

Gerald Gabrielse, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, writes his thoughts and perspectives on being a Christian and a physicist in his essay from Northwestern Magazine‘s “Voices.”

Professor Gabrielse’s essay explains how his faith gives him a glimpse into what is beyond his science. He writes how this faith offers motivation and freedom to do science-driven purely out of curiosity before perceiving how it will benefit modern society. Additionally, Dr. Gabrielse writes how he believes physicists and Christians are natural allies – both enamored by a reality much larger than themselves.

“There can be no contradiction between what science reveals about the physical reality that such a God sustains, and the peek beyond that reality that God provides in the Bible,” writes Professor Gerald Gabrielse

Toward the end of his essay, Professor Gabrielse puts forward a critique. He writes how he is troubled by the false statements being spread and accepted as alternatives to reality-based findings. It pains him that evangelical Christians are caught up with these “alternative facts” – Professor Gabrielse now struggles with identifying with this group.

Professor Gerald Gabrielse closes his essay with this final call to action:

“To this scientist and person of faith, it seems urgent to reverse the acceptance of ‘alternative facts’ that propagate so rapidly in our strange times. Scientists, people of faith and Northwestern alumni need to speak up. Silence is complicity.”

Read the full essay in Northwestern Magazine’s “Science and Faith in Strange Times.”

Learn more about Professor Gabrielse and his research on his faculty biography and lab website.