A proud Christian astronaut who has earlier talked about how a scientific work can be compatible with religion is out to break the record on the most days spent in space.
American space explorer and outspoken Christian believer Jeff Williams went back to the International Space Station (ISS) for the fourth time last Friday, according to a statement by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Williams went on his six-month mission with two Russian cosmonauts, and this time, he has embarked on a record-breaking trip to outer space.
"During his six-month mission, Williams will become the American record holder for cumulative days in space—534—surpassing Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly, who wrapped up his one-year mission March 1," the space agency explained.
The Christian astronaut will take command of the ISS on June 4 for Expedition 48, and will remain in the station until early September next year.
"Williams is now the first American to become a three-time, long-term resident of the International Space Station," the NASA said.
Williams has proudly shared that he is a Christian, and that he seeks to dispel the perception that science is in conflict with religion.
"There is a generalisation that anyone who worked for NASA, or an organisation like that, would naturally be an atheist, but that's not true," the astronaut said.
He also happily shared how a lot of Christians work for NASA, proving that a job in the scientific field can be compatible with having a strong faith.
"There are many Christians in the organisation, many Christians in other government agencies—there are Christians everywhere," Willams said. "The work that I do and have done through my military career and with NASA has been perfectly compatible with the Scriptures, and I've lived out my life as a Christian, and there's been no issue there."
The space explorer conceded that some people find conflict in the Scriptures and scientific work.
"I don't find a conflict with true science—genuine science with integrity—and the Scriptures," Williams stated. "I have found that in all cases where there is a conflict, it's not a conflict with the science, it's a conflict with the presupposition going in. ... If somebody perceives science to be in conflict with, for example, the early chapters of Genesis, it's not the science, it's the presupposition that goes into it."
"If you have a presupposition that excludes the possibility of a God, that excludes the possibility of supernatural acts, and that [believes] everything has to be explained just with natural processes, then you've basically limited what you can let the objective observation of science tell you," he continued. "That's where the issue comes in. I presuppose God. And I presuppose the truth of the Scripture."
