Four General Patterns of Integrating Natural Science and Christian Faith Steve Badger and Mike Tenneson

In this presentation, science refers to the natural sciences, and theology refers to contemporary, conservative, Evangelical, biblical theology.

Overview Compartmentalism Science and theology tell us different kinds of things about different things. Complementarism Science and theology tell us different kinds of things about the same things. Concordism Science and theology should tell us the same kinds of things about the same things, but…. Conflictism Science and theology tell us the same kinds of things about the same things. If they conflict, they both cannot be right. (Two variations.)

“There are three kinds of people in the world…”

“There are three kinds of people in the world… …those who can count, and those who cannot.”

COMPARTMENTALISM (1) Science and theology tell us different kinds of things about different things.

COMPARTMENTALISM (1) Conflict is impossible by definition because natural science and biblical theology have no common ground.

COMPARTMENTALISM (1) Each discipline should address only those issues in its own domain. (3)

COMPARTMENTALISM (1) This pattern is also known as The Two Worlds View & as NOMA (Non-Overlapping Magisteria).

COMPLEMENTARISM (2) Science and theology tell us different kinds of things about the same things.

COMPLEMENTARISM (2) When true to its capabilities and limitations, each discipline provides valid insights into the nature of reality, but from different perspectives.

COMPLEMENTARISM (2) An adequate and coherent view of reality can be obtained only if people (and professional communities) integrate these two disciplines. (7)

CONCORDISM (3) Science and theology should tell us the same kinds of things about the same things

CONCORDISM (3) The inability of natural science and contemporary biblical theology to agree is due to human imperfection in both disciplines.

CONCORDISM (3) Both science and theology need to find new approaches to achieve an integrated understanding of reality. (6)

CONFLICTISM (4) Science and theology tell us the same kinds of things about the same things. When they conflict, both cannot be right.

CONFLICTISM (4A) In any conflict, science is always right. (1)

CONFLICTISM (4A) Contemporary biblical theology must be redefined and rewritten in order to be consistent with the developments and discoveries of modern science. (5)

CONFLICTISM (4B) Science and theology tell us the same kinds of things about the same things. When they conflict, both cannot be right.

CONFLICTISM (4B) In any conflict, theology is always right. (2)

CONFLICTISM (4B) An understanding of the scientific description of the world provides us with such overwhelming evidence of the truth of the Bible and biblical theology, that we have no logically defensible choice but to believe them. (4)

Summary Compartmentalism Science and theology tell us different kinds of things about different things. Complementarism Science and theology tell us different kinds of things about the same things. Concordism Science and theology should tell us the same kinds of things about the same things, but…. Conflictism Science and theology tell us the same kinds of things about the same things. If they conflict, they both cannot be right. (Two variations.)

Acknowledgement Some of the material in this presentation was adapted from Richard Bube’s Putting It All Together: Seven Patterns for Relating Science and the Christian Faith. University Press of America, 1995.

The End The end