Christianity and science Flashcards
Why might religion and science be at odds?
Religion once had total power and authority over culture, life and truth itself. This led to an uneasy relationship with science, especially during the enlightenment period when science really began to emerge as a source of truth. The source of the tension was twofold. Science had its own method for discovering truths which was independent of religious authority. Secondly, science began to make discoveries which contradicted religious beliefs. This motivated religious leaders to try and impede scientific progress.
The idea that the earth was the centre of the universe was important to Christians as it fit with their belief that humans are a special part of creation made in God’s image for a unique purpose. Galileo discovered that actually the earth orbits the Sun. The Church imprisoned Galileo and forced him to state publicly that he was wrong.
What did Dawkins argue about religion and science?
They are not only incompatible but at odds. Their goals actally antagonistic to eachother, whilst science seeks knowledge Christianity revels in ignorance. Faith is belief without proof afterall. Dawkins argues that science has shown religion to be pointless as a means of discovering truth. Not only is religion pointless, it actively stands in the way of scientific progress. It teaches people to be satisfied with God as an explanation rather than search for the true scientific explanation. It is against important areas of research like stem cell research. It convinces people to not believe in evolution.
What priest thoerised the first ideas about the big bang?
Lemaître
Who is Polkinghorn
A modern scholar who argues that religion and science are complimentary. Any dialouges between them are “ mutually enriching”
What is the fine tuning argument
That the cosmological constants in our universe, eg Speed of light and our specific gravity, are the only ones which would sustain our life or any life that the probability they were created this way by chance is much less likely than if a God were to fine tune them.
What does Polkinghorne mean when he says the world is intelligable so God must exist
We can study the world to find out more about it so it must have semblance of design
What did Dawkins say about the fine tuning argument
If anything would convince him of a Deistic God, it would be this. Even so, the postulation of a “fine tuner” is not necessary.
An example of how Christianity and science have been at odds?
Galileo was locked away by the Church for saying the earth 🌎 orbited the 🌞 and not the other way around. It didn’t coincide with the religious belief that humanity was created by God, to be the centre of the universe, his most important creation.
The God of the Gaps approach
Certian people now and throughout history have attributed the unexplainable things in the world to God, As science expands its understanding, God is squeezed out of these gaps. Arguably, this is evidence that certain thiests are actually against scientific development, as Dawkins would argue.
What is the anthropic principle
The incredibly precise fine tuning of the elements that are essential for life.
