Atheist
Isn't faith opposed to science and reason?
Faith and reason are two complementary paths to truth, not rivals; the Catholic Church has long taught that since God is the author of both nature and revelation, genuine scientific discovery cannot ultimately contradict genuine faith.
Catholic teaching
The Church teaches that human reason, rightly used, and divine faith cannot conflict because both come from the same God who is Truth itself; apparent conflicts arise from errors in interpreting either science or Scripture, not from an inherent opposition between them.
Biblical foundation
The Psalmist declares 'the heavens declare the glory of God' (Ps 19:1), and Paul teaches that God's 'eternal power and divine nature' have been perceived 'through the things that have been made' (Rom 1:20), grounding a positive relationship between studying creation and knowing God.
Scripture references
Historical evidence
The modern university system, systematic astronomy, and the genetics of Gregor Mendel all developed substantially through the work of Catholic clergy and Catholic-founded institutions, and Fr. Georges Lemaître, a Catholic priest, first proposed the Big Bang theory in 1927.
The Church Fathers
“In matters that are so obscure... we should not rush headlong... lest, if further progress in the search of truth justly undermines this position, we too fall with it.”