SCIENCE AND RELIGION&

Science as a Social Product

By:PATRICK JONAH AKYENE

A Video on religion and science

Outline of the Presentation• Definition:

– Science; - Religion

• Origin– Science; - Religion

• About Science and Religiono Conflict Model (Thesis)o Dialogue Modelo Integration Modelo Independence Model

• Conclusion

Science as a Social Product Science resulting from the activities of the society

(A product of the society) Science giving back to the society in the form of technology

(A product for the society)

Definition

• SCIENCE: The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the

systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation.

A systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the physical universe.

The field of study concerned with discovering and describing the world around us by observing and experimenting.

Definition

• RELIGION:A belief in, worship of, or obedience to a

supernatural power or powers considered to be divine or to have control of human destiny.

A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

A system of beliefs and practices in relation to a transcendental reality.

Origin of science and religion

• From Antiquity– In terms of their practices: science and religion are as

old as humanity itself. Ancient Practices:

o natural philosophy (speculation about the material cause of the universe)

o Polytheism ( worship of many ‘gods’)

– In terms of terminology: "religion" emerged in the 17th century in the midst of colonization and globalization and the Protestant Reformation; "science" emerged in the 19th century in the midst of attempts to narrowly define those who studied nature, and the phrase "religion and science" emerged in the 19th century due to the reification of both concepts.

About Science and Religion

• Diverse views are expressed, each of which can be put in one of four models: conflict, dialogue, integration and independence.

• Sampled views: For Richard Dawkins, "not only is science corrosive to religion;

religion is corrosive to science. It teaches people to be satisfied with trivial, supernatural non-explanations and blinds them to the wonderful real explanations that we have within our grasp. It teaches them to accept authority, revelation and faith instead of always insisting on evidence.“

For Copernicus, the first astronomer of the scientific revolution, God was personally responsible for all the activity in the heavens. In his book On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (1543, the year of his death), he expressed that the regularity he was discovering in the movements of the planets was, for him, a manifestation of the faithfulness of a loving Creator.

Sampled Views

• Galileo regarded his study of the physical universe as "thinking God's thoughts after him". In his book “The Secret of the Universe” he wrote:Here we are concerned with the book of nature, so greatly celebrated in sacred writings. It is in this that Paul proposes to the Gentiles that they should contemplate God like the Sun in water or in a mirror. Why then as Christians should we take any less delight in its contemplation, since it is for us true worship to honor God, to venerate him, to wonder at him? The more rightly we understand the nature and scope of what our God has founded, the more devoted the spirit in which that is done.

Galileo: "the world is the work and the Scriptures the word of the same God."

Sampled Views• Isaac Newton wrote in his Principia Mathematica

(1667),a book that transformed the course of western science: “This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being...This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as the Lord over all.”

• Kepler: "The tongue of God and the finger of God cannot clash.“

• Francis Bacon: “Let no man think or maintain that a man can search too far or be too well studied in the Book of God's Word or in the Book of God's Works.” (Proficiency and Advancement of Learning)

The Conflict Model

• Science and Religion ‘at war’ – they have different methods of examining the same evidence, and draw incompatible conclusions from this. Science acknowledges reason, empiricism and evidence, while religions include revelation, faith and sacredness as well as Philosophical and Metaphysical explanations with regard to the study of the Universe.

• Examples:– 1633: Galileo v Roman Catholic Church (solar system debate)– Creationists v mainstream Science: Genesis account of creation

and Darwin’s theory of evolution; the universe only 6,000-10,000 years old

– Carl Sagan: “The Cosmos is all that is or ever was, or ever will be.”– Richard Dawkins: “A case can be made that faith is one of the

world’s greatest evils, comparable to the smallpox virus but harder to eradicate.”

Proponents of the Conflict Model

– John W. Draper, History of the Conflict between Religion and Science (1874).

– Andrew Dickson White, A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom (1895).

The Dialogue Model

• There are comparisons of method between science and religion– Biblical data with nature (data)– Theology with theoretical science (method)– Exegesis with experimental science (interpretation)

• Scientific study is not as objective as was once believed

• Religious methods are more rational than was once believed

• Both science and religion can offer different viewpoints on issues to resolve them – e.g. working together to discuss moral issues in various areas: environment, medicine (euthanasia) and scientific research (genetic engineering), etc

Proponents of the Dialogue Model

• Alister McGrath (Oxford scientist and theologian):– All powerful God that works within the constructs

science has shown– God and Evil can work together, although difficult to

understand – much like light works as waves, particles, and both together. Scientists accept this, even though it is difficult to understand this duality

• Ian Barbour (Physicist and Theologian):– Science and religion provide a multi-level approach to

reality.– Process Theology = reality is a process from beginning

(ex nihilo) culminating in human consciousness. Suffering and evil necessary in this.

• John Polkinghorne (theoretical Physicist and C of E priest):– “Both science and religion involve personal judgement,

as both deal with information/data that is based on certain theories.”

The Integration Model

• Sometimes called “mutual support” model• Religion gives science the proper perspective /

viewpoint to study the world from• Using (real) science and linking to religion• 1600-1800, scientists Boyle and Newton held

to Natural Theology – study of nature tells us something about God

Proponents of the Integration Model

• Recently – William Dembski (American Scientist) talks of ‘intelligent design’ theory

• Arthur Peacocke (theologian and biochemist)

The Independent Model

• Both religion and science are looking at different aspects of reality / life and should not overlap.

• Religion shouldn’t try and ‘use’ science, and science shouldn’t try and tackle religious questions / ultimate reality questions

Proponents of the Independence Model

• National Academy of Science (1981): “Religion and science are separate and mutually exclusive areas to human thought which, if they are presented in the same context, leads to misunderstanding of both scientific theory and religious belief.”

• However, Barbour argues: “We do not experience life as neatly divided into separate compartments; we experience it in wholeness and interconnectedness before we develop particular disciplines to study different aspects of it.”

Conclusion

• Science and Religion can be seen as two ways of looking at the same reality. One should not tend to claim superiority over the other. They should mutually co-exist in peace and enhance the strength of one another. The past conflicts between them are most unfortunate and all efforts should be aimed at understanding and appreciating each other better.

SCIENCE AS A SOCIAL PRODUCT

Science resulting from the activities of the society (A product from the society).

Science giving back to the society in the form of technology (A product for the society).

Science as a product of society

• Like all fields of study Science is also a product of the people in the community.

• Men and women looked at their environment with awe and sought for some explanation.

• Some began to speculate about the causes of things in the universe. (Natural Philosophy)

• This moved further to experimentation and theoretical generalizations. (Modern Science)

• Hence the society gave birth to Science.• Therefore science is a product of the society.

Science as a product for society

• Knowledge gained from science is used to develop technologies to solve problems in society.

• People buy technological devices and make use of them.

• The use of technology becomes part of the life of the people in society and society thus become transformed.

• From antiquity to today Science has transformed society from the age of hunting and gathering to the age of information.

Transformation of Society through Science and Technology