As a Catholic who studies science, I’ve faced a personal challenge reconciling my Christian faith with the liberating education I’ve received in science and related fields. Many people treat religion and science as separate, irreconcilable realms, each with its own boundaries and truths. Sadly, some believe there is no bridge between the world of reason and the world of faith. They imagine that one must either commune with God by drinking sacramental wine or reject the blood of Christ altogether in favor of atheism.
But I don’t believe it has to be an either-or choice. Religion and science can coexist.
At home, the atmosphere feels like an extension of school. Both of my parents are professors of education, well-versed in philosophy, and I’ve always felt fortunate to have them around to satisfy my curiosity. Many times, I asked them about the tension between religion and science. My father would explain that religion offers faith where reason cannot reach, while science depends on our senses and rational thought. My mother expressed a similar belief. Though they didn’t elaborate much, they believed in both God and the power of science.
By eighth grade, I began to think that understanding scientific facts would make me more mature. I grew skeptical of biblical teachings. It’s difficult to determine whether everything in the Bible is literally true. In science, theories are based on observable evidence and logical reasoning. If something can’t be seen, touched, heard, smelled, or detected through scientific instruments, it’s often dismissed as unknowable.
Religion, on the other hand, teaches us there is a reality beyond what we can perceive with our senses, and that God is known through faith. So I wondered: Why bother drinking sacramental wine, which is believed to symbolize the blood of Jesus? To me, it seemed like just ordinary wine. At that point, I questioned my faith so deeply that I considered embracing science alone and becoming an atheist.
One night, during a family movie session, my parents suggested we watch Angels & Demons. The title intrigued me, and my sister and I agreed to watch. Although my parents had seen it before, they joined us but refused to answer our questions about the plot, saying, “We don’t want to spoil it.”
So, with snacks in hand, we settled into our parents’ bedroom, which doubles as our movie room on weekends.
It felt as if God had intervened in my internal debate. The film’s story, about an atheist who collaborates with church leaders to bridge the perceived gap between science and religion, hit close to home. It suggested that science and faith are not necessarily enemies, and that science, in fact, could point toward creation.
After the movie, I lay in bed, reflecting. What struck me most was the Church’s attitude toward science. These men of God recognized the life-saving value of scientific discovery. They understood that science plays a vital role in the survival of humanity, and they sought to close the divide between faith and reason by enlisting scientists to explore the mysteries of creation.
The story reminded me of a famous quote from Albert Einstein: “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” Einstein saw no contradiction between the two. He encouraged humanity to embrace both realms of knowledge. That night, I realized my parents probably chose that movie for a reason. Though they never said so, perhaps they wanted my sister and me to discover, on our own, the harmony between science and faith.
The next morning, I woke with these reflections still in my mind. It felt like I was having them for breakfast. Humans are naturally curious — we search for explanations, experiment, and test until we find answers. But we also need to recognize that many questions remain beyond our grasp. This is where faith steps in, offering insights where science leaves uncertainty.
Science tells me that a small sip of wine won’t make me drunk. But as a symbol of the blood of Christ, that sip offers something more profound — a healing reminder that faith can fill the gaps science cannot.
