Science and Religion

Question 1

What are the core principals of science?

Answer 1

1. Pursuit of facts, supported by evidence.
2. Objective.
3. Studies the impact of cause-and-effect based on reliable data.

Question 2

What are the impacts of science on religion?

Answer 2

1. Can cause conflicts, e.g around medical treatments.
2. Can be seen as contributing to secularisation.
3. Disproved many religious beliefs about the beginning of the world.

Question 3

What is Mertons Cudos?

Answer 3

1. Communism - scientific knowledge must be shared to grow.
2. Universalism - scientific knowledge is judged by universal, objective criteria.
3. Disinterestedness - scientists should publish honest findings, with no fraud or subjective bias.
4. Organised Scepticism - all knowledge is open to scrutiny.

Question 4

What is Aldriges idea based around?

Answer 4

Transition from religious to scientific explanations.

Question 5

What stages does Aldriges idea have?

Answer 5

1. Theological stage
2. Metaphysical stage
3. Scientific stage

Question 6

What is the theological stage?

Answer 6

Theological stage - the world and human destiny are explained in terms of god and spirits

Question 7

What is the metaphysical stage?

Answer 7

Metaphysical stage - people see the world as being guided by an abstract power and is a combination of having scientific views, but believing in a higher power.

Question 8

What is the scientific stage?

Answer 8

Scientific stage - scientific explanations based on observations and experiments which can be used to develop cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 9

What is the Interpretivist perspective on science and religion

Answer 9

Scientific knowledge is socially constructed by social groups.

Knorr-Cetina - laboratory experiments are highly constructed.

Question 10

What is the Marxist perspective on science and religion

Answer 10

All ideologies are manipulated by the ruling class to maintain and reproduce inequality.

Most discoveries are fuelled by gaining mass profit.

Question 11

What is the Feminist perspective on science and religion

Answer 11

Ideologies promote patriarchy

Question 12

What is the Postmodernist perspective on science and religion

Answer 12

Lyotard - science is no different to religions as it claims to know the truth about the world.