When people speak about the so-called conflict between Christianity and science, they often ignore the fact that modern science itself was birthed out of a Christian worldview. The conviction that the universe is rational, orderly, and accessible to human reason was not a pagan idea, nor was it a product of atheistic philosophy. It was nurtured in the soil of Christianity. Few individuals illustrate this better than Johannes Kepler (1571–1630), the German astronomer and mathematician whose discoveries laid the foundation for Isaac Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation.
Kepler’s life was marked by hardship, loss, and controversy, yet he saw his scientific calling as an extension of his devotion to Christ. He described himself as “thinking God’s thoughts after Him,” convinced that creation was a divine book written for human discovery. By examining Kepler’s worldview, we can see at least ten ways the Christian faith fostered the development of modern science.
1. The Belief in an Ordered Universe
Christianity teaches that God created the world with purpose and design. Unlike pagan myths that depicted the cosmos as chaotic and unpredictable, the Bible reveals a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33). Kepler embraced this conviction, insisting that the heavens moved in harmony and followed discernible laws. His discovery of planetary motion as elliptical rather than circular came not from abandoning faith, but from trusting that God’s creation was intelligible and consistent. Without this underlying conviction of order, the scientific method could not have flourished.
2. Mathematics as the Language of Creation
Kepler believed that mathematics was more than human invention—it was the very language in which God wrote the universe. His three laws of planetary motion reflect this: elliptical orbits, equal areas in equal times, and the proportional relationship between orbital period and distance. To Kepler, numbers were not neutral; they revealed the fingerprints of the Creator. Christianity gave him confidence that the natural world was not arbitrary but could be expressed with elegant mathematical precision.
3. Creation as a Revelation of God
Christian theology taught Kepler to see two books: the book of Scripture and the book of Nature. Both revealed the glory of God, though in different ways. For him, studying the heavens was a form of worship, a way of discerning God’s majesty displayed in creation (Psalm 19:1). This belief drove him beyond mere curiosity. He saw his vocation as sacred, aligning his intellectual labor with God’s purpose. Modern science’s impulse to search for underlying principles owes much to this Christian conviction that creation itself is a revelation.
4. Human Reason as a Reflection of the Divine Image
Unlike philosophies that diminished human dignity, Christianity affirmed that men and women were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This meant humanity was endowed with reason and creativity, designed to steward the earth. Kepler leaned on this doctrine, believing that if God gave us rational minds, then He expected us to use them to uncover creation’s mysteries. The confidence that human intellect could grasp natural laws laid the groundwork for the modern scientific enterprise.
5. Faith as a Catalyst for Perseverance
Kepler’s life was full of suffering—financial struggles, the death of his children, and even accusations of heresy. Yet his Christian faith gave him endurance. He viewed his scientific labor as a calling, not merely a career. When he finally uncovered the laws of planetary motion after years of frustration, he attributed it to God’s providence. This perseverance was not incidental but rooted in a worldview that saw trials as refining and discovery as participation in God’s unfolding plan.
6. The Integration of Theology and Natural Philosophy
Kepler did not compartmentalize faith and science. His theological reflections shaped his astronomical theories. For example, he likened the sun to Christ, central, life-giving, and radiating light to the planets. This spiritual imagery motivated him to embrace the Copernican heliocentric model, even when it was unpopular. Christianity gave him categories of meaning that fueled scientific innovation, reminding us that faith and reason can operate in harmony rather than opposition.
7. The Pursuit of Truth as Sacred Duty
For Kepler, truth was not negotiable. Since God is truth, he believed the pursuit of scientific accuracy was a moral and spiritual obligation. He refused to settle for convenient but false theories of planetary motion. Instead, he labored until his data fit reality. This conviction—that truth is objective, consistent, and worth pursuing—was a distinct inheritance from Christian theology. The modern scientific method, which demands rigorous testing and fidelity to evidence, was born from this commitment.
8. A Universe Built on Harmony
In his work Harmonices Mundi (Harmony of the World), Kepler described the cosmos as a grand symphony. He believed the planets moved according to a divine harmony, echoing the “music of the spheres.” This conviction sprang from his Christian belief that God delights in beauty and order. The search for elegant, harmonious explanations in science—from physics to chemistry—is an extension of this worldview, one that sees creation as not only functional but beautiful.
9. Humility Before God’s Majesty
Unlike the hubris of some later scientists, Kepler approached his discoveries with humility. He acknowledged that his insights came not from his own brilliance but from God’s mercy in revealing them. His prayers are woven throughout his scientific works, asking for divine help and giving thanks for breakthroughs. This humility prevented him from worshiping science itself; instead, he saw science as a servant of theology. Such an attitude safeguarded early science from arrogance and kept it grounded in awe.
10. Legacy of Faith and Reason for Modern Science
Kepler’s integration of faith and science left a lasting legacy. His laws of planetary motion paved the way for Newton’s theory of gravity, and his methodology influenced generations of scientists. More importantly, his example shows that modern science was not birthed in opposition to Christianity but in partnership with it. The Christian worldview provided the philosophical and spiritual framework that made such advances possible.
Kepler’s Witness for Today
The life of Johannes Kepler dismantles the myth that faith and science are enemies. His Christian worldview did not hinder his discoveries; it fueled them. He believed in an ordered universe created by a wise God, accessible to human reason, and worthy of exploration. His perseverance, humility, and devotion to truth remind us that the scientific enterprise, at its best, flows out of a vision of creation as God’s handiwork.
Today, as secular narratives attempt to erase Christianity’s contribution to science, Kepler’s life stands as a witness. Modern science grew in the soil of a Christian worldview, and its greatest fruit came from those who, like Kepler, sought to think God’s thoughts after Him.
To study more on this subject, read:
Rodney Stark, For the Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-Hunts, and the End of Slavery (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2003),
Johannes Kepler, The Harmony of the World (1619), trans. E. J. Aiton, A. M. Duncan, and J. V. Field (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1997), Book V.
Joseph Mattera is an internationally known author, futurist, interpreter of culture and activist/theologian whose mission is to influence leaders who influence nations. To order one of his books or to subscribe to his weekly newsletter go to www.josephmattera.org.
