Where Truth and Research Meet

Some people believe that science and religion are incompatible. However, they are both seeking truth. Science is seeking natural truth, and religion is seeking supernatural truth. These truths both come from the same source, the one who is truth itself, God.

It doesn’t matter what area of research you study. It could be research in medicine, child development, parenting, or speech-language pathology. Scientific truth points to God, the creator of everything. Speech-language therapy for autism is one area to examine for this truth.

In one speech therapy approach, natural language acquisition, the focus is on building relationships and connection. This so clearly points to God because God made us for relationship. We are made to be in relationship first and foremost with God and secondly, with each other. We see this from the very beginning. In Genesis 2:18, “[...] the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone [...]” (The Great Adventure Bible). We are made in the image and likeness of God, who exists as a relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:27, The Great Adventure Bible). It makes sense that therapy would need to focus on building a relationship. Not only do we see this with natural language acquisition, but we see this with learning in general. Children do not learn from someone they don’t like. Children learn best when they feel understood, safe, and supported.

Child-led play is another example that points to God. This evidence-based speech therapy approach focuses on letting the child lead the session and using materials that interest the child. It respects the child as who God created them to be. Each person is “single, unique, and unrepeatable” (St. Pope John Paul II). God created each of us for a specific mission and purpose, and we all have different gifts and interests that God has given us. Therapy should help the child become who God made them to be by helping them to grow in their unique gifts and interests.

God continues to breakthrough into our broken world as we pursue natural and supernatural truth. He reveals himself to us little by little as we learn scientific truths. This is where truth and research meet.