Science, faith, and reason Chapter 8: Science, faith, and reason

Defining terms Religion: a system of beliefs and practices primarily centered around a transcendent Reality, either personal or impersonal, which provides ultimate meaning and purpose to life Science: the exploration, description, explanation, and prediction of occurrences in the natural world which can be checked and supported by empirical evidence

Understanding relationships Conflict, independence, or integration?

Conflict Science and religion are in conflict with each other View points Scriptural literalists Scientific materialists Challenges Scripture is not a scientific textbook. Scientific method cannot verify itself

Independence Science and religion are completely independent forms of thought and practice which never come into contact View points Protestant neo-orthodoxy Linguistic analysis Problems Religious engagement Disparate domains

Integration Science and religion are integrated in some way. Versions Natural theology Systematic synthesis Positives Single unified worldview, without discrediting science or religion Exciting new prospects

Religious belief and justification Rational validation views of faith and reason Non-evidential views of faith and reason Fideism Kierkegaard Evidence not needed The “leap of faith” “The will to believe” James Deciding between hypotheses Believing even if evidence is lacking

Non-evidential views (continued) Pascal’s wager: believing in God is a better bet than not believing Options God exists God does not exist Outcomes Believe in God Great gain No great gain Do not believe in God

Non-evidential views (continued) Reformed epistemology Plantinga Belief in God can still be rational, even without evidence Contradicts foundationalism Belief in god is properly basic Basic, but not groundless

Questions for discussion Which of the three views of the relationship between religion and science do you find to be most accurate given the ways religion and science are generally understood and practiced today? First characterize the view and then explain why you believe it to be so Evolution and creationism are often considered to be diametrically opposed beliefs about the existence and development of flora and fauna. Can they be reconciled? Are faith and reason mutually exclusive concepts? Can you have faith in something or someone while also having reasons for what you have faith in? Explain.