How and Why Science has influenced Christianity Flashcards
(10 cards)
Christianity and Science relationship
Science is not always opposed to religion, for example early scientists were religious and even used scientific thinking in their religious arguments, for example Paley’s Design Argument
But, as history progressed there was a shift. This shift was caused by concerns about the Church hierarchy, people’s ability to read the Bible themselves and make their own judgements, as well as the rise of non-religious sources of authority such as scientific studies.
Relationship between science and religion
Most of the scientific thinkers reread religious! They did not see their work as being any threat to Christian teachings. Many of them simply wanted to know more about God’s creation.
- There was a move from trust and faith in God, belief in the supernatural, the authority of the Church + sources of truth like holy books and leaders -> humans reason which meant there was no need for God and the supernatural, and led people to challenge and evaluate the claims to truth, even those made by the Church.
For example, in medieval times, people thought that droughts were a curse from God, now we know from science there is a logical explanation that is not supernatural.
Science and religion (cont.)
Early religious thinkers did not see science as a threat, fro example Aquinas used human reason and science as to gain a greater understanding of God and his plan for the world. Monks and religious people were the first scientists.
- However, as Science became more popular, human reason began to work on its own- it became autonomous and started to follow its own agenda without reference to God or traditional teachings.
- This threatened the power of the church and those in authority, It also began to encourage people to question God himself.
Popularity and Science- Evidence and Reason
- Knowledge is based on observation and the evidence is gained from it. Hypotheses are made and tested using experimentation.
- This then leads to the making of a Law of Nature through induction, usually expressed in scientific/mathematical terms.
- This has then become the norm and now in all areas of life (including religion) people want to know the evidence that a claim is based on. This method is known as empiricism.
- Key thinkers:
1. Bacon devised a method whereby scientists set up experiments to manipulate nature, and attempt to prove their hypotheses wrong. Bacon insisted that experiments must be consistently repeated before truth can be known.
2. Isaac Newton used telescopes to prove that God is not in heaven.
Evidence and Reason
Since the 17th Century, science has been dominated by Empiricism.
However, we have to remember that sense experience is interpreted, so pure thought or rationalism had some influence. Rationalism is concerned with pure logic and theory, such as maths. A key thinker in this realm is Descartes, who argued that the ‘thinking self’ is the most important.
Inductive and Deductive method
- Science uses the inductive method; it can only give a probability meaning it can only predict what might happen.
- Induction is usually based on what we can observe, allowing us to make a hypothesis and then predict what might happen in the future.
- People have wrongly assumed that science gives certainty, but it is more true to say that science gives us the best possible explanation.
- Scientism is the view that Science alone can give is knowledge or evidence. This view is not necessarily true.
Naturalism vs Supernatural
- Science is naturalistic, meaning it deals with experience of the Natural World.
- Christianity makes claims based on the Supernatural. These are things that are outside and transcendent to the Natural World. for example, miracles, visions, God himself, Jesus as the Son of God and Jesus’ resurrection.
- This leads to the view that science and religion cannot be reconciled.
Christian responses to the rise of science (Deism)
- The rise of science has meant that religious believers have had to compromise and work alongside science.
- Deism is the belief in God who is an intelligent designer, but one who is impersonal. It is not a specific religion, but a perspective on God. For example, the image of God in a cloud was dispelled by Newton’s telescopes which found no such thing.
- God created the universe and then left it to its own devices (AO2- This God cannot do miracles, so what of the key miracles of Jesus?)
ARGUMENTS AGAINST DEISM:
- John Polkinghorne points out that it goes directly against the Christian idea of a personal God. Christians believe that they can interact with God through prayer and that, in return he provides for and acred for his people. The God od Deism is not a God who we can have a meaningful relationship with, For example, a God who can answer prayers, perform miracles and have an active presence in our daily lives through the Holy Spirit and our conscience.
- If we adopt a deistic view, we can incorporate more Scientific views into our world view. (AO2: But, if we compromise too much we may lose the essence of Christianity. CAN BE RECONCILED: If Christianity is about morals, for example if we view Jesus as just a spiritual leader, then we do not need miracles or the supernatural and therefore we can compromise. OR CANNOT BE RECONCILED: If Christianity is about miracles and is a revelatory religion that proves God as a supernatural being. Therefore, we cannot reconcile as we need the supernatural as a basis for Christianity.
More on deism
CAN BE RECONCILED WITH Christianity: For deists, belief in God is not a matter of faith or suspension of disbelief, but a common sense conclusion based on the evidence of the senses and reason.
CANNOT BE RECONCILED WITH Christianity:
- Deists believe that a single creator god does exit, but they take their evidence from reason not logic, not the revelatory acts and miracles that form the basis of faith in many organised religions. Desists hols that God does not intervene in the lives of humans, and that we cannot have a personal relationship with God (See above)
- Rejection of prophets: undermines all of the teachings of OT prophets (see other notes for examples)
- Rejects the idea that God sends his representatives to live among humanity- this undermines belief in Jesus.
- Deism rejects supernatural events because God created all of the desired motions of the universe during creation, therefore there is no need for him to make mid-course corrections such as granting visions and performing miracles. This means that deism is incompatible with Jesus’ resurrection and incarnation.
- Deism rejects ceremony and ritual. This undermines belief in the sacraments, such as holy communion and baptism.
Responses to the rise of science (Existentialism)
This is a philosophical stance that suggests that human choice affects human reality. The world is shaped by individual commitments and values. The world is shaped by individual commitments and values. This is different to the scientific idea that the world is here and we have evolved on it.
- Soren Kierkegaard was a Christian existentialist who stated that faith was a matter of personal commitment and is not linked to scientific facts.
- Paul Tillich stated that Christian symbols have to be interpreted using existential concepts- the meaning and purpose of life- in order to be relevant to people’s lives. Tillich argued that we should look at symbols and and interpret the, for example we can interpret a miracle and question what it tells us about the meaning and purpose of life. This means that it doesn’t matter what science says.
SCIENCE CAN BE COMPATIBLE WITH RELIGION: If we adopt these ideas, religion and science answer different questions and can therefore be compatible. Science deals with the ‘how’ and religion deals with the ‘why’, by offering. personal relationship with God and a world view based on their faith.
