The popular conception that physics and religious faith can’t be reconciled is a massive over-simplification. The simple fact that both theists and atheists alike claim the successes of physics in support of their divergent beliefs illustrates that the relationship between faith and physics is complex and subtle. This chapter advocates the concept of ‘worldview’ for characterising the relationship between faith and physics. Our individual worldview captures our untestable assumptions (including our reaction to faith claims) as well as our understanding of the aims and methods of science. Physics makes metaphysical assumptions which must be incorporated into worldview, including the uniformity of nature and the relationship between scientific models and reality. The history of physics further bears out the need to consider worldview assumptions, as do the various claims that physicists have made on design, fine tuning and beauty in their science. All of the above demonstrate that, although physics is popularly perceived as being systematic and relentlessly rigorous, in practice it also calls upon untestable assumptions and intuitions not unlike the worldview hunches that guide other areas of human thought, including those of religious believers.
