A team of scientists from a Christian think-tank supports the idea that science and faith are not necessarily enemies.

Scientists from the Pasadena-based Reason to Believe (RTB) responded with support to a recent commentary from Gloria Hillard of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition concerning teaching intelligent design in the public classroom. Hillard concluded that scientific facts and faith do not have to contradict one another.

Astronomer Hugh Ross, founder and president of Reasons To Believe explains in a statement issued by RTM on Tuesday that "Attempts by both public educators and church ministers to keep science and religion in separate compartments end up castrating both the scientific and theological enterprises."

"Both science and theology deal with cause and effect and both attempt to explain the origin and history of the universe and life."

Fuz Rana, a biochemist at RTB adds, "Science is a powerful tool for testing different religious and scientific ideas and models. Instead of holding seminars to help teachers know what to say when challenged by their students about evolution, we should be giving them the scientific tools they need to help students dig deeper and put the different models to the test."

Scientists at the faith think-tank have voiced that they are not in favor of teaching the form of intelligent design that "certain religious groups have tried to force upon a number of state and local school boards."

"These groups never identify the designer and consequently cannot produce an adequate explanation for the record of nature," contends Ross.

"The question of who or what is the designer must be addressed through scientific models that are testable, falsifiable, and have the capability to make specific predictions of what scientists will discover in their future research."

Founded in 1986, Reasons To Believe is an international, interdenominational ministry established to communicate the uniquely factual basis for belief in the Bible as the error-free Word of God and for personal faith in Jesus Christ as Creator and Savior.

"We have a unique opportunity make science education exciting again," Ross concludes. "When believers and un-believers alike are willing to let science be a brutal yet fair competition among ideas, we show students how powerfully science can guide them in life’s most important decisions."