Page 131 - The Qur'an Leads the Way to Science

Scientists of Faith

mechanics, and proved that atmospheric pressure varies according to
altitude.
An eminent figure in the history of science, Pascal was also a deeply
spiritual man. He referred to the eternal power of God when he said that
God is the Creator of everything from mathematics to the order of the
elements. 91

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J John Ray (1627-1705)
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Reputed British botanist, John Ray, was a
man of faith. He felt that if man were placed
on earth to mirror back to God the glory of all
His works, then he ought to take notice of
every created thing. In his early years, spurred
on by this outlook, Ray engaged himself in scientific research.
He was the great authority of his day in both botany and
zoology. He wrote a well-received book, The Wisdom of God in Creation. In
this book, in which Ray introduced thousands of plants, insect, bird, fish
species, and the like, he reported that nature reveals the existence of a
Creator. God's works of creation, he said, were "the works created by God
at first, and by Him conserved to this day in the same state and condition
in which they were first made." 92 Ray, who made a
considerable contribution to botany, always stressed
that science and religion intersect in many ways.
His attitude is best understood by his words:
"There is for a free man no
occupation more worth
and delightful than to
contemplate the
beauteous works of
nature and
honor the
infinite wisdom
and goodness of
God." 93
John Ray

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