Science & Religion

1.standard image: science versus religion 2.historical revision: –objection A: not always conflict –objection B: deliberate choice 3.consequences of the revision for us

1. Standard image our idea about old times secularized society a fundamental conflict: science vs. religion? J.W. Draper, History of the Conflict between Religion and Science (1874) A.D. White, A History of the Warfare of Science and Theology (1896)

Science & Religion 2.historical revision: –objection A: conflict is rare –objection B: deliberate choice

2. Revision: objection A Conflict is rare medieval universities –Greek philosophy & Christian theology –fits, Thomas Aquinas –conflicts: eternity world, omnipotence God –1277 Paris bishop Tempier bans articles based on Aristotle –qualifications

2. Revision: objection A Conflict is rare modern science –nature = creation –book of nature –natural theology (or physico-theology)

2. Revision: objection A Conflict is rare examples: Newton, Swammerdam, Kepler, others Galileo?

Isaac Newton ( )

2. Revision: objection A Conflict is rare examples: Newton, Swammerdam, Kepler, others Galileo?

Jan Swammerdam ( )

2. Revision: objection A Conflict is rare examples: Newton, Swammerdam, Kepler, others Galileo?

Johannes Kepler ( )

2. Revision: objection A Conflict is rare examples: Newton, Swammerdam, Kepler, others Galileo?

Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury, Galilée devant le Saint-Office au Vatican (1847)

2. Revision: objection A Conflict is rare General picture early-modern science: no fundamental opposition science and religion go together, e.g. in natural theology study of nature = study of Creation

2. Revision: objection A Conflict is rare are things different today? after Darwin etc.

2. Revision: objection A polls 2003 and 2005: 90% Americans believes in God 84% believes in immaterial soul 84% believes in miracles (53% Europeans believe in astrology vs. 40% Americans) (32% Europeans: Sun around Earth vs. 24% Americans)

2. Revision: objection A 84% Americans believes in miracles 72% with Masters or PhD 12% Americans: Darwinian evolution 16,5% with Masters or PhD 55% scientists 40% scientists believes in God 15% National Academy of Science believes in a personal God

2. Revision: objection A Conclusion polls: science has little effect on personal beliefs many scientists combine science and religion still secularization: see further

2. Revision: objection B Conflict is deliberate choice 18 th century France: –Enlightenment philosophes criticizing religion –not against deity per se, but against religious institutions, Catholic church and clergy –larger project of reason vs. illegitimate power, based on tradition, superstition and ignorance –half a Newton

2. Revision: objection B Conflict is deliberate choice 19 th -century England: –initially: science & religion: in natural theology in Oxford and Cambridge in gentleman-amateur scientists* –new professionals claim monopoly –means: ridding science of religion

2. Revision: objection B Conflict is deliberate choice 19 th -century England: –initially: science & religion: in natural theology in Oxford and Cambridge in gentleman-amateur scientists* –new professionals claim monopoly –means: ridding science of religion

2. Revision: objection B Conflict is deliberate choice debates on Darwin’s evolution Draper and White secularization: not a process but a project

2. Revision: objection B Conflict is deliberate choice debates on Darwin’s evolution Draper and White secularization: not a process but a project

2. Revision: objection B Conflict is deliberate choice science as a secular religion: –Descartes’ bones as relics –Comte’s positivism –Wilhelm Ostwald’s energeticism: philosophy of life Sunday services with sermons songs, celebrations

2. Revision: objection B Conflict is deliberate choice successful? no in personal beliefs yes in institutions: RS, universities, official science see UM buildings in Maastricht

3. Consequences revision A.no essential conflict variable relations science and religion are flexible entities consequence: questioning current thesis of Clash of Civilizations (S. Huntington)

3. Consequences revision B.conflict has political agenda see professional struggle in 19 th -century England, see Draper en White see recent Economist article observation of ‘eternal’ conflict is really call to arms

3. Consequences revision C.standard image undermined was self-complimentary, story of liberation how enslaved were people in the past? how liberated are we? is science our new religion?