Faith and Science in the Twentieth Century: Georges Lemaître, the Anthropic Principle, and the Legacy of John Paul II

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between religious faith and the natural sciences during the twentieth century, focusing on cosmology, quantum mechanics, and the anthropic principle. Through a historical-interpretive review of the literature, the study traces how discoveries such as cosmic expansion and the fine-tuning of physical constants reopened metaphysical questions once considered closed. Particular attention is given to Georges Lemaître, whose theory of the primeval atom anticipated Big Bang cosmology, and to Pope John Paul II's addresses to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. The analysis argues that although these findings do not prove a Creator's existence, they remain compatible with a theistic reading, reframing rather than resolving the science–faith debate.

KEYWORDS: Science, Faith, Cosmology, Anthropic Principle, Complementarity, Georges Lemaître, Big Bang, Epistemology