Devotional: Seek, and You Will Find
Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7 (CSB)
The Renaissance was the era in European history spanning the 14th to 17th centuries, characterized by religious revolutions and, thanks to the rise of the scientific method, major scientific discoveries. While humanism was a driving factor in the renewed attention to science, the scientists of this era overwhelmingly believed in a Creator God and used the scientific method in an attempt to make Him known. They knew that the Bible was only one way God has made Himself known to us, and that He has also left His fingerprints all over His Creation.
God in all His love for us is not content to only know us; He also wants us to know Him. This is why He has commanded us to seek Him. We seek Him when we read Scripture, we seek Him when we pray, and yes, we seek Him when we study science. Like studying the Bible, however, we must be careful not to bring our own preconceived notions into our studies or we might risk misunderstanding what we are seeing. That is why the scientific method was developed in the first place. With skepticism as its backbone, when the scientific method is done properly, we should always be asking questions, always seeking our Lord’s face.
Two prominent Renaissance figures were Galileo Galilei and Leonardo da Vinci. Galileo, sometimes thought of as the Father of the Scientific Method, once said, “God is known by nature in his works, and by doctrine in his revealed word.” Da Vinci, meanwhile, painted many religious works and sought to to apply scientific principles to his art. Both men recognized religion and science as complementary studies.
Prayer
Dear Lord, your Creation is so magnificent and we know our understanding of it does not even come close to comprehending all of it. Thank you for the scientists who have gone before us for giving us a method of studying it so that we can learn more about you through your Creation. Please open our minds for what you would like to reveal to us today. Amen.
Galileo’s Falling Objects Experiment
Question
Do heavier objects fall faster than lighter objects?
Research
Galileo Galilei was a famous scientist who lived in Pisa, Italy during the Renaissance. While he is most known for his breakthroughs in astronomy, he also studied principles of physics such as speed, velocity, and gravity. The story goes that for one of his physics experiments, he stood on a balcony near the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and dropped two balls of different weights into the crowd below.
Hypothesis
Galileo’s hypothesis was that the balls would fall at the same speed, regardless of their mass or weight. Do you agree or disagree with this hypothesis?
Experiment
Materials
- Two objects the size of your hand (one heavy and one light, like a pinecone and a rock)
- Something safe to stand on (such as a picnic table or jungle gym)
Procedure
Standing on your chosen platform, put one object in each hand, raise them to the same height, and then drop them at the same time. Make sure no one is standing below you!
Analysis
- Which object hit the ground first?
- Does the outcome change if you drop them from a higher or lower height?
- Does the outcome change if you use different objects?
Conclusion
Was Galileo’s hypothesis correct?
Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man
Question
Is there anything scientific about art?
Research
Leonardo da Vinci was a famous artist and scientist who lived in Italy during the Renaissance. He is known for his paintings The Last Supper and Mona Lisa, as well as for his drawings of inventions that seemed centuries ahead of his time. As someone who was both scientifically and artistically minded, he sought to apply some scientific principles to the art world. This resulted in his drawing of the Vitruvian man, which he believed had scientifically perfect proportions.
Hypothesis
Leonardo believed he could use math to help him draw the correct body proportions in his artwork. Do his math rules match your own body?
Experiment
Materials
- A stick at least as long as your hand
- A pocketknife (and parent helper) or black permanent marker
Procedure
Lay the stick on top of your hand so that one end of the stick lines up with the heel of your and the other end extends past your middle finger. Mark the stick at the top of your middle finger. This will be your measuring stick. Use it to measure how many “hands” high your body is, and compare it to the measurements listed in the Analysis below.
Analysis
Put a check next to the measurements that match your body.
- The length of the arms stretched out = your height
- Width of shoulders = 1/4 your height
- From hairline to chin = the length of your hand
- The length of the hand = 1/10 your height
Conclusion
How closely do your body measurements match that of the Vitruvian man’s?
