Christianity and science

Question 1

scientific method

Answer 1

empirical approach: hypothesis arose out of evidence that came from experiments and observations

rationalist approach: use of reason needed to interpret the evidence

Question 2

gaining knowledge:

Answer 2

deductive: theory to specific
premises are true, conclusion true

inductive: specific to the general
more evidence there is to suggest that the observations are correct the more likely it is that the theory will be true

inductive involves:
-observing and collecting evidence
- forming a hypothesis
- repeated tests and maybe modifications of the hypothesis
developing a theory that explains evidence and results
use of deduction to predict what should be the case and setting up tests to verify and falsify the theory

Question 3

xtian responses to the rise of science

Answer 3

deism: belief that god ‘set things of’ (ie big bang) and then left the universe rot work according to the laws he created with it, but without influencing any further
- — rejected by lots because not compatible with doctrines that are commonly accepted
eg: incarnation, immanence of god, miracles etc

existentialism: no conflict between religion and science for xtian existentialists as the two disciplines are asking different questions about the world
concerned with meaning and purpose of life
faith = matter of personal commitment

Question 4

galileo

Answer 4

“bible shows the way to heaven, not the way the heavens go”

Question 5

Susan Jacoby

Answer 5

“science produces discoveries that challenge long held beliefs (not only religious ones) based on revelation rather than evidence”

Question 6

einstein

Answer 6

“science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind”

Question 7

pope francis:

Answer 7

“the big bang… does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator, but rather, requires it”

Question 8

darwin theory of evolution

Answer 8

inductive reasoning:
natural selection: individuals better suited to an enviorment are this that survive to adulthood and reproduce, passing on genetic material

• over long periods of time characteristics of a species are modified to enable survival in that enviorment
  eg finches in galapagos
• leads to development of new species
  -those less suited will die out and whole species will perish
• survival of the fittest
• highly controversial
• science of genetics has supported his theory

Question 9

Xtian responses

Answer 9

challenges because:
rejects idea that all living things been distinct creations
rejects idea of the essential seperateness of humanity from the animal world
suggests evolution fo a species was and is due to random nutation, removing any idea of purpose

Question 10

19th century xtian responses

Answer 10

c of e ridiculed theory
eg Bishop Wilberforce asking Huxley whether his descent from monkey was through grandmother or grandfather
fundamentalists dismissed as going against word of god in bible thus human error
many lost xtian faith altogether because of the challenge posed by evolutionary to traditional views
liberal xtian welcomed it as had long rejected gen creation story
—- eg lux mundi (book) incorporated evolution on book about incarnation

Question 11

current responses

Answer 11

young earth and old earth creationist reject theory completely, imcompatible with gen which is infallible word of god
old earth creationists accept in diluted form, but, humanity is the result of special creation why god. humans are not descended from apes
Michael Behe intelligent design rejects it on grounds of irreducible complexity
eg: bacterial flagellum would be unable to work if one part were removed, thus not evolved. dismissed the thoery on grounds of poor science

natural selection is way in which god works, evolution works by laws of nature and these laws derive from god
catholic teaching rejects creationism as harmful to both science and christianity they are compatible

Question 12

karl rahner

Answer 12

theistic evolutionist

“humans made wholly by evolution and wholly by god”

Question 13

Tim Keller

Answer 13

theistic evolutionist

“belief in evolution as a biological process is not the same as a belief in evolution as a world view”

Question 14

big bang theory

Answer 14

universe expanded from a point of singularity
can determine this because galaxies are moving further away from each other
from this can date universe
13.8 billion years old

theory supported by 1964 discovery of cosmic background radiation and by the abundance of helium and hydrogen in the universe

Question 15

deism response:

Answer 15

god set things off with the big bang and then left universe to work according to the laws that he created without further influence

Question 16

‘god of gaps’

Answer 16

some christians attribute anything that science can’t explain to god
eg idea that directly caused the expansion of the singularity that led to the big bang
god shrinking due to scientific development (flew gardener john wisdom)

tillich: God is being itself rather than a being
means by which all things exist any ‘god’ found in the gaps would not be the god of classical theism

Question 17

creationism:

Answer 17

young earth creationists reject in all forms as incompatible with the 6 day creation story in gen 1

old earth creationists claim gen 1 is compatible with scientific theory
eg hebrew word for day can mean era rather than a 24 hour period

Question 18

RC CHURCH

Answer 18

accepts big bang

Question 19

mainstream xtian response

Answer 19

evidence for big bang is commonly accepted/ very strong

suggests that there was a beginning to the universe but demands an explanation for that, more likely to be god than chance

Question 20

fine tuning argument

Answer 20

paul davies goldilocks enigma

universe just right for life?

Question 21

polkinghorne

Answer 21

claim that there is a god seems to many to be a claim that is based on evidence and as such can be treated the same as a scientific claim
science is compatible with christianity in that they are both ways of understanding reality

— specific claims about jesus, which make christianity what it is, cannot have a scientific basis but are based on belief

Question 22

polkinghorne

Answer 22

bible gives evidence for christian claims about jesus that can be rationally examined just as scientific theories can

• – scientific claims are empirically based, whereas claims about jesus are made on belief
• – scientific theories result of repeated experiment, claims about jc= series of events

Question 23

polkinghorne

Answer 23

religion and science are concerned with understanding and making sense of of experience
eg religious experiences require serious considerations
differences as seen in different religions are due to cultural conditioning, but nevertheless experiences of the same reality

— could lead to conclusion that the whole of christianity is simply culturally conditioned interpretation of religion and its claims cannot be compared or be assessed like scientific fact

Question 24

polkinghirne

Answer 24

idea od providence is at the heart of gods relationship with the world and mankind
god creates, cares for and sustains life for a purpose
does this in a way humans can’t detect
ie quantum level

Question 25

explanation is needed for the intelligible universe

Answer 25

anthropic principle
requires explanation
cannot be treated as ‘just happy accidents’

Question 26

ethical issues raised by science

Answer 26

in order to improve human species, should eugenic practices be introduced

should GM animals and crops be developed to benefit humans regardless of the potentially negative impact on animals and enviorment ?

develop greater understanding of effective treatments, is it morally acceptable for use genetically modified and patented mouse called the ‘oncomouse’?

Question 27

possibilities offered by GE

Answer 27

• treatments for now incurable diseases eg alzheimers and cystic fibrosis
• possible for parents to select DNA od super intelligence or super fit- transhumans
• GM animals have produced a human protein in their milk that has been used to treat some people with lung disease
• GM crops could produce higher yield and be disease resistant to address problem of global hunger

Question 28

RC and protestant responses:

Answer 28

general support for GM crops as reduce world hunger but concern fro reducing biodiversity

concern about GM animals in RC as could be seen as contrary to NML

concern about xenotransplantation because of transmittance of animal disease into humans

therapeutic GE generally encouraged as responsible use of god given skills, providing caution is taken

more concern about germline GE as if a mistake were made bad result would be passed down through generations

enhancement therapy rejected as creates super human beings

• no longer in image of god
• promote idolatry
• lead to children being viewed as a commodity
• result in 2 tier society based on wealth

Question 29

Joseph fletcher GE:

Answer 29

not an advocate of anything goes approach
proper controls to prevent abuse and axploitation must be in place, viewed positively

rules and principles based on outdated and irrelevant biblical texts or religious dogma should be set aside

foresaw future time where over population and shortage of natural resources would necessitate GM of humans to enable them to live in different conditions of space