U73611 Issues in Contemporary Religion Week Five: Religion and Science Week Five: Religion and Science

What have religion and science to do with one another? Arent they concerned with very different things? What have religion and science to do with one another? Arent they concerned with very different things?

Religion Scripture, tradition, rituals Community, identity Moral values, spirituality Scripture, tradition, rituals Community, identity Moral values, spirituality

Science Elite, educated, professional activity Using maths and technology Undertaken by small numbers of people Aims to discover the true nature of the universe Elite, educated, professional activity Using maths and technology Undertaken by small numbers of people Aims to discover the true nature of the universe

But Both religion and science share an interest in fundamental questions about nature of physical universe And about human nature Both religion and science share an interest in fundamental questions about nature of physical universe And about human nature

When we talk about religion and science We are mostly talking about Christianity

Most popular metaphor Battle which science has won

eg Galileo Condemned by RCC 17th C Bible taught that earth was stationary Copernicus - the sun is stationary Heresy - how can an omniscient God have got the Bible wrong? Condemned by RCC 17th C Bible taught that earth was stationary Copernicus - the sun is stationary Heresy - how can an omniscient God have got the Bible wrong?

Moments in the war Galileo vs the Church Darwinism vs Creationism Bible vs Science Superstition vs Rationality Dogma vs Empiricism Galileo vs the Church Darwinism vs Creationism Bible vs Science Superstition vs Rationality Dogma vs Empiricism

Too simplistic History shows there were other factors at stake

Alister McGrath

Was a molecular biophysicist Now a theologian Was a molecular biophysicist Now a theologian

John Polkinghorne

Physicist turned Anglican priest

Dialogue? Tends to be one-sided Tends to neglect the plurality of both science and religion Ignores that it is largely about Christianity Tends to be one-sided Tends to neglect the plurality of both science and religion Ignores that it is largely about Christianity

John Hedley Brooke (1991)

History of the relationship between religion and science is extremely complex Metaphors such as battle, bridges etc dont cut it There is no such thing as the relationship between religion and science History of the relationship between religion and science is extremely complex Metaphors such as battle, bridges etc dont cut it There is no such thing as the relationship between religion and science

The complexity thesis dominates scholarly thought Let us return to Galileo The complexity thesis dominates scholarly thought Let us return to Galileo

1) Theological conflict Should clergy only interpret scriptures? Laypersons? If passages conflicted with scientific knowledge then they should be read figuratively - according to Galileo Sensitive issue because of Reformation Should clergy only interpret scriptures? Laypersons? If passages conflicted with scientific knowledge then they should be read figuratively - according to Galileo Sensitive issue because of Reformation

2) Scientific conflict Between Aristotelean/Ptolomeic and Copernican views

3) Philosophical conflict Is Copernican system just a useful way of making calculations Or is it a true picture of how the world actually is? Is Copernican system just a useful way of making calculations Or is it a true picture of how the world actually is?

4) Political conflict Between those who supported Galileo as a person And those who thought him arrogant, untrustworthy and in need of reigning in Between those who supported Galileo as a person And those who thought him arrogant, untrustworthy and in need of reigning in

Huxley vs Wilberforce

Debated Darwin in 1860 Bishop of Oxford asked Huxley if he was an ape on the side of his grandfather or grandmother Huxley replied hed rather be descended from an ape than a bishop, especially one blocking progress of science Bishop of Oxford asked Huxley if he was an ape on the side of his grandfather or grandmother Huxley replied hed rather be descended from an ape than a bishop, especially one blocking progress of science

But more complex Liberal theologians had no problem with Darwin Others saw Darwinism as atheism Scientists felt there was insufficient evidence to support Darwin Philosophers unsure whether Darwin had used induction correctly Liberal theologians had no problem with Darwin Others saw Darwinism as atheism Scientists felt there was insufficient evidence to support Darwin Philosophers unsure whether Darwin had used induction correctly

Even today issues are complex Role of religion in politics Teaching of religion and science in schools Advancement of Prof. Dawkins own career? Dawkins own religious upbringing? Role of religion in politics Teaching of religion and science in schools Advancement of Prof. Dawkins own career? Dawkins own religious upbringing?

To what extent are science and religion rational? Caricature: science based on facts; religion is wish-fulfillment Science based on evidence; religion on blind faith Scientists are objective; religionists subject to emotions Caricature: science based on facts; religion is wish-fulfillment Science based on evidence; religion on blind faith Scientists are objective; religionists subject to emotions

Responses to this caricature Talking down science Talking up religion Talking down science Talking up religion

Talking science down Science may not be quite the detached, objective pursuit it claims to be Observations are theory-laden Science may not be quite the detached, objective pursuit it claims to be Observations are theory-laden

Talking religion up Theology is not unlike a sci discipline It makes inferences from the observable to the unobservable It deploys metaphors just as scientists do Has a set of hard-core theoretical assumptions surrounded by more flexible auxiliary hypotheses Theology is not unlike a sci discipline It makes inferences from the observable to the unobservable It deploys metaphors just as scientists do Has a set of hard-core theoretical assumptions surrounded by more flexible auxiliary hypotheses

Together these strategies cancel each other out! One questions the superior rationality of science, the other apes it Together these strategies cancel each other out! One questions the superior rationality of science, the other apes it

God of the gaps Perhaps we can locate God in the gaps in scientific knowledge But if those gaps are closed, where does that leave theism? Perhaps we can locate God in the gaps in scientific knowledge But if those gaps are closed, where does that leave theism?

Ethics and politics Both science and religion offer salvation ie science is often justified for its utilitarian ends Religious people are often the first to question the ethics of science Science is often funded by big business, arms companies etc - ethics? Both science and religion offer salvation ie science is often justified for its utilitarian ends Religious people are often the first to question the ethics of science Science is often funded by big business, arms companies etc - ethics?

Seminar Where does modern science leave the concept of a soul?