The American Scientific Affiliation, or ASA, was founded in 1941 as an international network of Christians in the sciences. As scientists, members of the ASA take part in humanity’s exploration of nature, its laws, and how it works. As Christians, ASAers want to know not just how the universe operates and came into being, but why it exists in the first place.

For a detailed ASA history, see our history section.

1. We accept the divine inspiration, trustworthiness and authority of the Bible in matters of faith and conduct.
2. We confess the Triune God affirmed in the Nicene and Apostles' creeds, which we accept as brief, faithful statements of Christian doctrine based upon Scripture.
3. We believe that in creating and preserving the universe God has endowed it with contingent order and intelligibility, the basis of scientific investigation.
4. We recognize our responsibility, as stewards of God's creation, to use science and technology for the good of humanity and the whole world.

The above four statements of faith spell out the distinctive character of the ASA, and we uphold them in every activity and publication of the Affiliation.

We in the American Scientific Affiliation believe that God is both the creator of our vast universe and is the source of our ability to pursue knowledge — also, that honest and open studies of both scripture and nature are mutually beneficial in developing a full understanding of human identity and our environment.

Two things unite the members of the ASA:

1. belief in orthodox Christianity, as defined by the Apostles’ and Nicene creeds, which can be read in full here.
2. a commitment to mainstream science, that is, any subject on which there is a clear scientific consensus.

There are some remarkably persistent misconceptions that prevent us from having a proper understanding of Christianity and its relationship with natural science. Let's examine a few:

Exclusive - Many people believe that Christian groups are social cliques where everyone thinks the same way, and there is no tolerance for diverse viewpoints. Far too often, this is exactly the case — but the ASA operates according to a different model. We believe that there is room for open dialogue, and that honest disagreements have the potential to enrich our understanding.

None of us has mastered every domain of knowledge, and we are eager to interact with those from a variety of backgrounds. While full ASA members are professionals in science who profess Christian faith, the larger ASA community is inclusive of everyone who is eager to learn about issues of science and faith.

Dull - God is not static, dull, or risk-averse. So why should Christians be? Jesus told us to follow him. Since he was always on the move during his ministry, we have to be prepared for rapid change and reorientation.

Doubts and Uncertainty - Many people think that having doubts and uncertainty about God is a sign of weak faith. Doubts can lead to questions, and questions can lead us to investigate new vistas.

Nature is truly awe-inspiring. Throughout history, humans have endeavored to comprehend its complexity, appreciate its beauty, and unravel its mysteries. Modern civilization in particular has explored and investigated our surroundings at a dizzying pace.

But does this imply that science will enable us to understand everything? Will science eventually enable us to dispense with religion, philosophy, art, and literature?

Given its remarkable track record, many people have developed tremendous faith in science to solve all our problems, answer all our questions, even save humanity from self-destruction. In our age, science has taken on many of the attributes that other societies have ascribed to God.

So is faith in God compatible with the rigorous study of the natural world? We can't possibly answer this question without thoroughly investigating many possibilities. We must dive in, confront our anxieties, and push forward in the midst of uncertainty. What good is faith if it makes us afraid to learn new ideas? What good is science if it prevents us from asking big questions?

Wherever you stand now, challenge yourself.

The ASA is not an advocacy organization. Where there is honest disagreement on an aspect of science, Christian faith, or the relationship between the two, the ASA strives to create a safe environment in which dialogue can flourish and diverse, even contrasting, ideas can be discussed with courtesy and respect.

We are committed to providing an open forum where controversies can be discussed without fear of unjust condemnation. Legitimate differences of opinion among Christians who have studied both the Bible and science are freely expressed within the Affiliation in a context of Christian love, humility and concern for truth.

For those topics on which there is no consensus and further study and analysis is needed, ASA members are dedicated to promoting ethically and methodologically sound research and dialogue.

What is the ASA? The ASA is a scholarly and professional society. We are an international community and fellowship of Christians engaged in the interface of vital faith-science questions.

The ASA has four primary categories of activities: 

1. Publications. The journal of the ASA is Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith. It is a peer-reviewed quarterly journal that publishes scholarly articles on issues of science and faith and book reviews of seminal books published in these areas. It is available in print and/or electronic format to all members and subscribers. The ASA newsletter is a quarterly publication sent electronically or in print on request to all members. It is a summary of various member activities. The newest publication is this electronic magazine, God and Nature, which is published only electronically twice a month.
2. Website. We strive to make the ASA website a repository of resources for those interested in science and faith. All issues of our journal and newsletter (since 1946!) are available online as well as topical resources and book recommendations. Faith and science news articles are posted regularly. Several blogs enable members to discuss our journal articles, book reviews, and general topics on science and faith. An online membership directory available only to members encourages interactions with colleagues.
3. Personal interaction. The ASA encourages personal interaction among Christians in science. We host an annual conference at various locations in North America each year, drawing renown speakers as well as a variety of contributed papers. Approximately 250 people attend each conference. Local ASA chapters are encouraged to meet regularly to bring students and ASA members together in productive discussion and mutual support. The ASA seeks to maintain a vibrant network of Christians in science.
4. Community support. The ASA seeks to support churches and other communities in their effort to facilitate the dialog between scientists and Christians. We recommend speakers and homeschool materials and other resources. We work together with organizations such as AAAS and NAE to facilitate a broader interaction and understanding between these communities.

The ASA’s sister organizations in Canada and the UK (the Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation and Christians in Science, respectively) frequently partner with the ASA to sponsor events and scholarly work on relevant topics.

Why must there be an ASA?

Many members of various scientific and religious communities view each other with mutual suspicion, resentment, and anxiety. They are afraid that the "other group” is going to hijack our educational and political systems, then steer our society to ruin.

There are a lot of questionable ideas out there, and we should be on our guard against them. But in order to make the best possible decisions for our future, we need to be willing to hear and evaluate each others' views, not simply dismiss them.

Yet open-mindedness is not a universal value. Some people maintain, "Science is the only certain path for our society.” Others retort, "The Bible is all we need!”

Humans are complicated: we are physical, intellectual, emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual creatures. No single academic discipline or human community is going to supply us with everything we need. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we engage in dialogue to learn from each other about matters that concern us all.