Study On The Newtonian Religious Ideas

Newton, the most outstanding representative of modern European scientists, has been honored as "Father of modern science", "World's greatest philosopher", "Symbol of modern science", and so on. With all his great intellectual achievements and permanent pursuit of truth, he has made everlasting contributions to the development of the world natural sciences, greatly affecting natural sciences in the world as well as in Europe. But besides mathematics, mechanics and optics, Newton's enthusiasm above all lies in the field of theology. In Newton's belief, God is not only the almighty ruler of all beings, and is omnipresent, He is also the author of the two "books" that are the Holy Bible and "Nature". God takes action through natural causes to manipulate all beings and these manipulations are of order and principle.Newton's behavior in religious is absolutely not incidental, and it has a profound realistic background. On the one hand, the relationships between European religion and science in 17th century and between British Puritanism revolution and science at the same time have a great effect on Newton's religious thoughts; on the other hand, Newton's personal experience also gives rise to a significant influence on his religious thoughts. Newton holds that theological thought and scientific thought are closely related to each other, and they are an organic integrity in which savvy in one field may enlighten that in another field. The image of God as the master of all things promotes Newton to study the nature, and the conviction that God creates the world according to some natural laws which can be proved through scientific study promotes Newton to do a variety of tests. Thus the idea that the essence of God can be experienced by human beings becomes the impetus of Newton's "Experimental Philosophy". Newton makes it possible to use mathematics to describe the truth of nature through mutual influences of science and religion, and sets up strict Physics (Natural Philosophy) knowledge system similar to classical Geometry.