Science and faith are complementary: Prof. Arber at SYNOD 2012

October 13, 2012: Science and faith are, and must continue to be complementary to human knowledge: this is the focal point of the intervention of prof. Werner Arber at the Synod of bishops on Saturday. Professor Arber, a Nobel laureate for medicine in 1978, was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 as the president of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the first Protestant to hold this office.

His discourse was based on the knowledge that science "has so far failed to find relevant answers" to all the questions of man, especially those who "transcend the natural realm" and therefore indicating that the religious beliefs have a role to play.

Prof Arber quoted Genesis to show that since then there was a correlation between faith and science, as the Old Testament shows a logical sequence of events possible for the creation of life.
Prof. Arber said that "so far, science does not have a precise notion of the foundations of life," or rather the "so-called creation from nothing". And while considering that there might be life on other planets, the Nobel laureate said that there is ‘no scientific evidence for this hypothesis’.

Prof. Arber made it clear that the science opens up new technological applications that improve human life and the environment. In this view, he said, the Church, civil society, business and science are called upon to assume the responsibility to establish a new vision of the future that involves long-term benefits for all humanity.

To achieve this, continues the Nobel laureate, that modern societies must respect the appropriate rules of conduct, easily acceptable if rooted in religious faith. After all, he said, even Jesus would support the application of science for the good of humanity and in accordance with the laws of nature.