-8- RELIGION AND SCIENCE II

(1)

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RELIGION AND SCIENCE II

(2)

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELIGION AND SCIENCE: FOUR VIEWS

(Barbour’s Classification)

1) Religion and Science Conflict:

 The view that there is a conflict between religion has a historical background and seems to stem from a naturalistic view of science and a literal interpretation of religion.

 The instances of such a conflict between religion and science has been

observed since the rise of modern science. The clash observed in transition

from geo-centric to the heliocentric idea of the universe stands as a classical

instance of the conflict.

(3)

 Another example is the conflict between the naturalistic interpretation of the theory of the evolution and the literal undrerstanding of the scripture.

 Although the idea of evolution which draws on ‘natural selection’ and that ‘species come from a common ancestor’

does not flatly contradicts withe idea of creation and design, it

has been seen as incompatible thanks to the naturalistic

interpretation of the evolution and the literal undrerstanding of

the religious texts.

(4)

2) Religion and Science are Independent:



On this views, religion and science are concieved as independent. Each has its autonomous field. There is no convergence point between science and religion, therefore no conflict.



There is not an intersection between the scope and purpose of religon and that of science.



Such a model can be characterised in terms of the Wittgensteinian idea of language- game where each language game has its own autonomous grammar and rules of justification.



However, viewed from a realist perspective of religion and science, it is not clear whether

such an approach can be convincing. Religion and science can be different in some

important respects, but does it follow that their truth claims are somehow irrelevant to

each other?

(5)

3) Religion and Science can be Integrated:

 This approach aims to integrate religion and science in the context of a metaphysical system of thought.

 The possibility of such an integration depends on the idea of religion and the view of science in mind.

 Considering the differences that exist between the subject, method and aim

of religion and those of science, it may be difficult to see how such an

integration can be achieved without a reductionism.

(6)

4) Religion and Science can be in Dialogue:

 On this approach, although religion and science are two different disciplines, their truth claims are not irrelevat to each other, they can therefore be in dialogue.

-8- RELIGION AND SCIENCE II

-8-

RELIGION AND SCIENCE II

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELIGION AND SCIENCE: FOUR VIEWS

(Barbour’s Classification)

1) Religion and Science Conflict:

 The view that there is a conflict between religion has a historical background and seems to stem from a naturalistic view of science and a literal interpretation of religion.

 The instances of such a conflict between religion and science has been

observed since the rise of modern science. The clash observed in transition

from geo-centric to the heliocentric idea of the universe stands as a classical

instance of the conflict.

 Another example is the conflict between the naturalistic interpretation of the theory of the evolution and the literal undrerstanding of the scripture.

 Although the idea of evolution which draws on ‘natural selection’ and that ‘species come from a common ancestor’

does not flatly contradicts withe idea of creation and design, it

has been seen as incompatible thanks to the naturalistic

interpretation of the evolution and the literal undrerstanding of

the religious texts.

2) Religion and Science are Independent:

On this views, religion and science are concieved as independent. Each has its autonomous field. There is no convergence point between science and religion, therefore no conflict.

There is not an intersection between the scope and purpose of religon and that of science.

Such a model can be characterised in terms of the Wittgensteinian idea of language- game where each language game has its own autonomous grammar and rules of justification.

However, viewed from a realist perspective of religion and science, it is not clear whether

such an approach can be convincing. Religion and science can be different in some

important respects, but does it follow that their truth claims are somehow irrelevant to

each other?

3) Religion and Science can be Integrated:

 This approach aims to integrate religion and science in the context of a metaphysical system of thought.

 The possibility of such an integration depends on the idea of religion and the view of science in mind.

 Considering the differences that exist between the subject, method and aim

of religion and those of science, it may be difficult to see how such an

integration can be achieved without a reductionism.

4) Religion and Science can be in Dialogue:

 On this approach, although religion and science are two different disciplines, their truth claims are not irrelevat to each other, they can therefore be in dialogue.

 Despite the various differences between religion and science, they can help each other in developing a comprehensive view

 Such a view seems to plausibe, particularly if it provides a

dynamic relationship (cooperation) between the claims of

religion and science.