Overview
The relationship between science and religion has typically been characterized as conflictual, especially on the issue of origins (creationism vs. evolution). The historical reality is that science and religion often complemented each other and the relationship was dynamic. Science and religion are important aspects of modern life and many of the questions in this series address issues at the intersection of science and religion. The purpose of this unit is to show participants the different ways others have categorized science and religion and to provide some strategies for evaluating the big questions of science and religion.
what is science
While the term science is generally used to refer to knowledge of the natural world, this slide suggests that the original definition was simply knowledge (as opposed to wisdom, which was considered superior). Before the 19th century, many people practiced natural philosophy, which sought to study the natural world, and natural theology, which attempted to use the natural world to learn more about God. Natural philosophy eventually gave rise to physics and science as it is modernly defined. It is worth noting that different branches of science vary greatly in their methods, eg physicists and chemists can conduct controlled experiments, while astronomers and paleontologists must rely on observation.
Definition of science
This slide presents one definition of science that agrees with the most common definitions of science as currently practiced. Important words are highlighted.
Science is often taught as a set of facts, but science as practiced is about problem solving and inquiry.
Most philosophers of science agree that nothing can be conclusively proven in science. When you think about it, scientific proof would mean showing that something happens the same way under all circumstances, present, past, and future. Since the future and the past cannot be tested, all statements in science must be considered tentatively true. Note that a single case can disprove a scientific claim.
Empirical knowledge is acquired through the senses. In science, the senses are enhanced by microscopes, telescopes, and other forms of technology.
Science tries to explain the natural world.
There is some difference between the definitions of hypothesis, theory, and law, but in general, hypotheses are testable claims about a narrow topic. Theories include a series of hypotheses that are (and have been) tested and never disproved. For example, Einstein's theory of relativity predicted the bending of light as it passes a large object; bending was experimentally verified years later exactly as predicted. The term "law" is rarely used for new explanations, perhaps for fear of being disproved. We talk about Newton's laws and Einstein's theory of relativity, even though they explain the same things. The laws are somewhat more mathematical than theories. Regardless, a scientific theory describes a strong explanation rather than an estimate.
what is religion
The Protestant Reformation and the increased exposure of Europeans to other religions led believers to justify their religion as the true one. Since science did not acquire its current definition until the 19th century, religion and science technically could not have been in conflict until that date.
Definition of religion
Religion is probably harder to define than science, considering all religions.
A supernatural force can be God or gods or forces that act on people (as in Buddhism).
The institution includes churches and ecclesiastical universals, as well as religious leaders and the power and influence they exercise.
The practices associated with religion serve to unite believers in a community, educate them, and change their lives in positive ways. Institutions serve to educate leaders and provide resources to make a difference in individual believers, the community, and the world.
Religion seeks answers, although most believers hold that the answers cannot (at least in this world) be known by mortals. The pursuit of answers is more important than the answers themselves.
How do we know things in science?
Ideally, science is repeatable and the same for everyone (although some philosophers of science dispute this in practice). Science is most repeatable when it controls all variables except the one being measured, however difficult this may be. When controlled experiments cannot be carried out, observations and conclusions drawn from them must suffice. Scientists generally say that about 1,000 hours of observation are needed to draw meaningful conclusions. Ethology is the study of animal behavior in the wild. Once obtained, scientific methods, data, and conclusions are published in journals where they are available to all scientists.
How do we know things in religion?
The general forms of knowledge are a revelation (sacred texts and individual revelations), and nature (in the past referred to as the book of nature, which complements the Bible for Christians). The reason was considered a branch of natural knowledge that could be used to know God. In the late 19th century, higher biblical criticism led to the study of the Bible using the same techniques used to evaluate other ancient texts, viewing/confirming texts from other cultures, correlating biblical stories with archeology, and other methods.
Worldviews
This slide shows that we all have our worldviews and that there are differences between scientists and religious people in their worldviews. At the very least, we should realize that we may not be completely right because most others disagree with us on some aspect of our worldview.
Scientific and Christian beliefs
One historical way these two categories have been understood is through primary and secondary causes. According to this understanding, God was the primary cause but acted from natural or secondary causes. Science has investigated secondary causes but has never been able to prove (or disprove) the existence of God. Few people would disagree with one of the categories of beliefs presented.
How are science and religion related?
Ian Barbour's fourfold typology is the most frequently cited classification system for beliefs about science and religion. Barbour has been somewhat criticized for presenting his categories as proceeding in the order indicated (from conflict to independence to dialogue to integration). In his book, Barbour gives examples of each and points out that certain problems may fit more into one category than another.
Conflict
It is somewhat ironic that both sides of the conflict model rely on a literal interpretation of the Bible. Once this fact is recognized.
To help people better understand themselves as spiritual beings, 100 essays from various fields have been collected into a volume that shows what we have learned from the study of ourselves, our planet, and the universe. Critics say that "Spiritual Information: 100 Perspectives on Science and Religion. Edited by Charles L. Harper Jr. (Templeton Foundation Press, $39.95), expresses the excitement of discovery, the challenging debate, the diversity of thought, and the excellence of multidisciplinary research.
The essays reflect Sir John Templeton's motto: How little we know. How eager to learn. Sir John's vision has inspired people all over the world to open-mindedly seek new spiritual information in such diverse areas as the physical world, unlimited love, natural laws, quantum reality, the problem of evil in theology, and ways of prayer. Meditation affects daily lives, among many others. The book is a tribute to his mission.
Essay topics include Sir John's main areas of interest and expertise: spiritual capital and spiritual information.
• History and future of science-religion dialogue
• Cosmology, physics, and astronomy
• Quantum mechanics, mathematics, and symbolic logic
• Evolution and purpose
• Sociology and ethics
• Religion and health
• Contemplation and virtues
• Theology and Philosophy
• World religions
In his preface to the book, Dr. Harper notes that Sir John's determination to expand the dialogue between science and religion has allowed us to move ever closer to the frontier where knowledge meets wisdom at the threshold of "ultimate reality." He adds that the hope is that these essays "will inspire others to continue his quest to discover 'more than a hundred times more spiritual information than mankind has ever had.'
Conclusion
The conclusion is a reminder to consider that the questions of science and religion are almost always complex and that the answers they entail are also complex. Only by considering as many claims as possible and our thinking about those claims can we grow in both faith and knowledge.
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