To do science, one must assume that the universe makes some kind of sense, that it behaves according to some kind of logic, that there is an intrinsic order in the universe. If there was no intrinsic order in the universe to discover, there would be no point in doing science. One big question that pops up, then, is the source of this intrinsic order.
St. Athanasius, in his Discourse Against the Pagans, gives the Christian's answer to the source of the order in the universe and insists that this intrinsic order lends support to Christian belief. Writing in the 4th century he says:
For if the movement of the universe were irrational, and the world rolled on in random fashion, one would be justified in disbelieving what we say. But if the world is founded on reason, wisdom and science, and is filled with orderly beauty, then it must owe its origin and order to none other than the Word of God.
. . .
By his eternal Word the Father created all things and implanted a nature in his creatures. He did not want to see them tossed about at the mercy of their own natures, and so be reduced to nothingness. But in his goodness he governs and sustains the whole of nature by his Word (who is himself also God), so that under the guidance, providence and ordering of that Word, the whole of nature might remain stable and coherent in his light.
There are, of course, alternatives to the notion that the universe was endowed with order by its creator. One could always take the multiverse hypothesis: that there are an infinite number of universes popping into and out of existence all the time and we just happen to be in one that appears to make sense. I mean, what with an infinite number of universes, one that makes sense would have to pop up eventually. Infinite universes, yes, that's it! No, we can't really prove their existence, but believing in them without any proof is far more reasonable than the God hypothesis.
Reference: Excerpt from St. Athanasius, Discourse Against the Pagans, in The Liturgy of the Hours Vol. III, Office of Readings for Thursday of the first week of Ordinary Time, pp. 67–68; New York: Catholic Book Publishing Corp., 1975.
