Religion & Science as institutions of Modernity The S-R debate is collapsed into a debate about where to allocate “epistemic authority” (legitimate knowledge – processes!!!). It ignores the larger socio-cultural processes, the HOW is such legitimacy granted Scientists as the Priests of Modernity Those who gives us the answers, who spread the word.

Defending this statement: “Scientists are the Priests of Modernity” Approach ONE Explain Religion (& role of the priest) – that is, how are religion and science similar? Science as “religious” (Weber’s “soteriology”) Approach TWO Explain Modernity

6 Dimensions of Religion (Paccione, 1999). Sacred narrative - explanation of origin, true nature of being/reality. Ritual – practices, repeated, carrying meaning. Doctrine – something taught as principles or tenets. Experience - personal encounter, social practices performed. Ethics – rules of behaviour. Social institutions - coordinating, authorizing, sanctioning, conditioning.

Same Dimensions of Science? Sacred narrative - explanation of origin, true nature of being/reality. (“science gives us truth”) Ritual – practices, repeated, carrying meaning. (PhD convocation ceremonies; dissertation defenses) Doctrine – something taught as principles or tenets. (the accepted theories in each discipline) Experience - personal encounter, social practices performed. Ethics – rules of behaviour. (Research ethics boards) Social institutions - coordinating, authorizing, sanctioning, conditioning. (Natl Sci Councils, granting agencies)

Theology as a Science (Nancey Murphy) Uses hypothetico-deductive model Data is… Biblical presentation moral practices historical events religious experience Doctrines as theories to explain facts about Cht life Use of “models”

Science as religious… See Stahl, et al. Kuhn says science does this: Role of authoritative texts (citing the lit) Community of scholars who only question the basics in revolutionary periods Theoretical understanding shapes interp (theory-dependence of obs) Trained in a tradition (discipline) to participate in the practices (e.g, Roth & Bowen)

What is “Modernity…”? Used to describe a particular period of European history through to now. Used to refer to sociological characteristics of this society as it developed. Used to refer to development of societies, (e.g., “modern Saudi Arabia”) As in “modernization is a good thing; countries want to modernize.” Used to refer to ways of thinking/being that developed in concert with the societal characteristics over that period of history.

Modernity Rationalization Specialization of Labour Secularization Bureaucratization Mechanization National/centralized community and structure Dominance over nature Humans can control Nature (Sci/Tech) Mass society Industrial society

Modernity “Science is “rational” because it has the power to define the bounds of rationality.” Thomas Gieryn Getting this status is a historical process whereby science and rationality were co-constructed.

CBC Ideas Programme: “How to think about Science”: http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/episodes/2009/01/02/how-to-think-about-science-part-1---24-listen/