LATE MODERN SCIENCE AND ATTACKS ON RELIGION Darwin’s “Dangerous” Idea LATE MODERN SCIENCE AND ATTACKS ON RELIGION

EVOLUTION IS DISCOVERED Darwin’s discovery and fossil record contradict ancient idea of God’s direct creation of species Natural selection and variation reveal an endless process of nature making and re-making itself

FOUR SOURCES OF CONFLICT BIBLICAL Genesis is read literally as natural history; Christian thinkers continue efforts of “natural theology” (William Paley) Darwinism undermines biblical authority

FOUR SOURCES OF CONFLICT PHILOSOPHICAL MATERIALISM triumphs. Only matter can be detected by science; the spiritual is equated with superstition DUALISM splits matter and spirit, mind and body, reason and emotion; matter,mind, and reason dominate

FOUR SOURCES OF CONFLICT ANTHROPOLOGICAL DETERMINISM triumphs. Behavior reduced to operation of forces beyond free control. Human body viewed as machine. FREUD AND BIRTH OF PSYCHOLOGY – religious feeling is produced by subconsciousness as humans evolved

FOUR SOURCES OF CONFLICT THEOLOGICAL DEISM triumphs. God is vaguely benevolent, but distant, clock-maker who observes the machinery God’s role seen only as intervention – such as miracles

THE END OF THE MODERN ERA Post-Modern discoveries and the break-down of modern ideas THE END OF THE MODERN ERA

FOUR POST-MODERN CHALLENGES QUANTUM PHYSICS HISTORICAL-CRITICAL BIBLE STUDIES NEW PARADIGMS IN THEOLOGY ENVIRONMENTALISM

QUANTUM PHYSICS: paradigm shift New discoveries in physics of astronomy and sub-atomic theory Planck, Einstein, Heisenberg, Hubble The emergence of the Big Bang Theory

paradigm a conceptual model used by scientists to express theories, determine what needs to be known, and to design experiments.

An example + = ?

Light: Both a wave and a particle? Cosmological conclusions of quantum physics: Uncertainty and what science cannot know Freedom and indeterminacy in nature (new studies in evolution: Stephen Jay Gould and the unpredictability of natural selection)

BIBLICAL STUDIES: Beyond literal readings Awareness of human forms of writing in ancient world Discovery of cultural influences in Genesis

NEW THEOLOGY – Catholic approaches Teilhard de Chardin and evolution: “Logos” transcends time and is built into natural evolution John Paul II – acceptance of evolution; advocates dialogue between science and religion

ENVIRONMENTALISM Modern views of nature blamed for ravaging natural resources and ecosystems. Renewed appreciation for spiritual dimension of nature

POST-MODERN COSMOLOGY

GOD’S ROLE IN NATURAL EVENTS God’s role is both knowable and unknowable God’s guidance is subtle, intelligent cooperation with nature and human agency

NATURE IN POST-MODERN COSMOLOGY Nature is a system of relatively independent processes Nature is relatively undetermined, but guided by hidden spiritual dynamics