religion and science Flashcards
(26 cards)
what are the two approaches to science
- empirical approach
- rationalist approach
what is the empirical approach to science
- every scientific hypothesis arose out of evidence that came from experiments or observation
what is the rationalist approach?
- the use of Reason was needed to interpret the evidence
what is the deductive approach to gaining knowledge
- if the premises leading to the conclusion are true then the conclusion is without a doubt true
what is the rationalist/ inductive approach to gaining knowledge
- if the premises are true then the conclusion is probably true but not for definate
what are the two Christian responses to the rise of science
- deism
- existentialism
what is deism and do christians agree
- the belief that God ‘set things off’ and then left the universe to work according to the laws he created, without influencing it any further
- most reject this because it interferes with the belief that God is immanent and the miracles of Jesus
what is existentialism and do christians agree
- there is no conflict between religion and science for Christian existentialists
- christian existentialists are concerned with the meaning and purpose of life and view faith as a matter of personal commitment
what are the two major scientific discoveries that have challenged religious belief
- darwins theory of evolution
- big bang theory
what is darwins theory of evolution
- study of finches beaks convinced him of natural selection
- over a long period of time, the characteristics of a species are modified to enable the survival of said species
- those less suited die out – survival of the fittest
how does darwins theory of evolution challenge religion
- rejects the idea of all living things being distinct creations
- rejects the idea of the essential seperateness of humanity from the animal world
- suggests that the evolution of species was and is due to random mutations, removing any idea of purpose
nineteenth century christian responses to evolution
- bishop Wilberforce (CofE) asked whether his descent from a monkey came from his grandma or grandpa
- fundamentalist christians dismissed it as human error since it conflicted with the word of God
- many lost faith
- liberal christians welcomed the theory
current christian responses to evolution
- young earth creationists reject evolution totally because it contradicts the infallible genesis story
- some old earth creationists accept it in a diluted form, it explains development of simpler life forms. not humans
- most christians believe natural selection as the way God works, following the laws of nature
- catholics believe evolution and teaching is compatible
what is the big bang theory
- 13.8B years ago there was a sudden burst of energy that marked the creation of time, space matter and energy
- this theory has been supported by the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation and by the abundance of helium and hydrogen in the universe
what are 5 christian responses to the big bang theory
- deism
- god of the gaps
- creationism
- the catholic church
- mainstream christan responses
what is the god of the gaps approach to the BBT
- christians attribute anything they cannot explain scientifically to God
- as science grows, god gets squeezed out of more gaps
- many christians see it as diminishing God
what is the Creationists response to the BBT
- young earth creationists reject the BBT
- incompatible with the 6 day creation story
- old earth creationists believe it is compatible because it was 6 stages not days
what is the catholic churches response to the BBT
- fully accepts the BBT
what are mainstream christian responses to the BBT
- the evidence for the BB in its most commonly accepted form is very strong
- suggests there was a beginning to the universe, but that demands explanation
- god is a more likely explanation than chance
what are john polkinghornes 5 points to why science is compatible with christianity
- explanation is needed for the fact that the world is intelligible
- the idea of providence is at heart of Gods relationship with the world and human kind
- both religion and science are concerned with understanding and making sense of experience
- bible gives evidence for christian claims about jesus that can be rationally examined like a theory
- the claim that there is a god is one that can be made on the basis of evidence
what are the four possibilities offered by genetic engineering
- treatments for currently incurable diseases
- possibility for parents to pick DNA that’ll lead to their offspring being super intelligent or super fit ‘transhumans’
- genetically modified animal milk can be used to treat people with lung disease
- crops genetically modified to produce a significantly larger crop
christian responses to genetically enhanced crops and animals
- some support for GM crops, because of World Hunger, but there is also concern about reducing biodiversity
- some concern abt GM animals because it is contrary to natural moral law
christian responses to somatic-cell therapy and germline therapy
- somatic – a responsible use of God given skills
- germline – bad because if a mistake was made it would be passed down for generations
what is somatic cell therapy
- a treatment intended to correct genetic disorders which only affects the person being treated
