In the secular age, physics alongside other natural sciences are written with the notion that science is solely concerned with the sensual data and should not delve into philosophical and metaphysical aspects. Since theological arguments usually outline the framework of our understanding of the universe, science –with such a limited notion- is designated as the crop of trusted, validated facts, whereas theological themes are considered personal views, and sometimes legends. According to this dichotomy, science stands out disconnected from a holistic human understanding of the universe, and more seriously alien to our theological beliefs.
It is my belief that all human convictions, including those related to natural phenomena and the theological ones, should fit into a robust reasoning framework for validation. Credibility is endowed over the theological themes and the scientific output alike based on the outcome of the validation process. It is thus vital to accurately characterize the concepts and mechanisms of this reasoning framework. In this characterization process, the way our minds work, and the way our intellectual investigations are conducted, are also shaped. This is a major task undertaken by IICR.
The above view should not be perceived as a call to convert scientific research into religious discussions. No one claimed that physics and chemistry should be united under one discipline upon discussing the atomic structure in either science. As a matter of fact, all sciences overlap and the major themes of human knowledge do intersect. Addressing the links between natural phenomena and theological themes is nothing unusual and is better aligned with a consistent approach for human understanding.