History & differences
Although modern science began in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (and some scholars would claim the late fifthteenth century), the precursors of science go back to ancient Greece and Rome. However, not until a new method of inquiry relying on empirical analysis based on careful observation and data collection which replaced tradition, mysticism and Faith, could science flourish. “The cornerstones of science are based on tentativeness and open to criticism in light of new data. In order for scientific progress to be made, centuries of theological and philosophical beliefs had to be abandoned…. Astronomy led the way but only after ancient superstitious idioms in astrology were torn down and rediscovered concepts of mathematics were applied to the motions of stars and planets. Even new inventions like the telescope, as Galileo found out, took a. long time to win over new converts. Advances in physics and chemistry in the nineteenth century and then biology placed them alongside the former in prestige. Tensions began to rise over the years between theologians and men of science as the clergy became fearful that science was reaping into their domain (magisterium, as we shall soon find out). Tensions escalated as scientists fought to defend the integrity and freedom of the scientific process. “Religious doctrines and institutions had existed long before principles of science were established and are deeply entrenched in human history or sacred books, cathedrals, and temples. Cultural heritages are ingrained in the very fabric of civilization….” (Kurtz) Historically, to question sacred doctrines was to shake the very foundations of the sacred order. “Their religions have persisted because they were indoctrinated by custom and habit, sustained by law and rooted by faith… and defended as encompassing in Virtue. “ (Kurtz). Science and religion differ profoundly in their meaning of truth. Science requires critical thinking, an open mind, and peer review. Science encompasses and transcends cultures, races, nationalities, and, yes, even Religions. Christianity in the western world replaced pagan religions especially after the Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire thus splitting the empire, setting up Constantinople (now Istanbul) as a second papal city. (Kurtz)
According to Stephen J. Gould “I speak of the supposed conflict between science and religion, a debate that exists only in peoples’ minds and social practices, not in the logic on proper utility of these entirely different and equally vital subjects.” He then offers a disclaimer that nothing he says in his book, (Rocks of Ages) is original and that his arguments “follow a strong consensus accepted for decades by leading scientific and religious thinkers-alike.” Good people wish to see religion and science working together peacefully to enrich our lives. Gould doesn’t really see how science and religion could ever be unified under any common scheme or analysis but also could see why they should be in conflict. The following quote echoes something I have said for years “Science tries to document the factual character of the natural world and to develop theories that coordinate and explain these facts. Religion on the other hand, operates in the equally important, but entirely different, realm of human purposes, meanings, and values…” He then proposes that we embrace a central principle of respectful noninterference with intense dialogue by eliciting the principle of N O MA-Non-Overlapping Magesteria. (The word magisterium is derived from anagestas E magnum or great). In other words, science and religious thinkers “debate and hold dialogue in an air of silent awe and obedience to each other. The magisterium of religion extends over questions of ultimate meaning and moral value.” This sounds extremely similar to a quote of mine in an early essay from volume I when I stated that “science deals with the question of what and how and religion try tries to answer the ultimate question-of why.” The two magesteria do not overlap. To put this in another way “science gets the age of rocks and religion the rocks of ages. Science studies how the heavens go, religion how to go to heaven.”
Gould considers himself an agnostic but with open-minded skepticism as the only rational position since one cannot truly know. But he has great respect for religion saying it has always fascinated him almost as much as evolution, paleontology, and baseball (a man after my own heart). His fascination with religion lies in the historical paradox that it has fostered of the “most unspeakable horrors and the most heartrending examples of human goodness. “
The inevitable expansion of science out of religion’s expense began late in the seventeenth century during what become known as “the scientific revolution.” Probably the most ardent physicist in history prior to Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton was a committed Christian, who according to Gould, spent more time working on the exegeses of the prophecies of Daniel and John than he devoted to physics. Even today many scientists have embraced NOMA by holding that “deep” questions about ultimate meanings lie outside the realm of science and under the auspice of religious inquiry while scientific methods based on spatiotemporal invariance of natural law apply to all potentially resolvable questions about the facts of nature. Such special interference is usually called a “miracle” or a temporary suspension of natural law. If God decided to suspend these laws for a moment, He would just do that. J. S. Haldane, (1860-1936) a prominent Scottish physiologist believed that religion and the belief in supernatural events have no connection. A devout Christian, he believed that religion is the greatest thing in life and behind recognized churches there is an unrecognized church to which all people belong.
An example of a conflict between religion and science centered around the shape of the earth.
So, how, when, and why did the concept of a flat earth come about? Apparently Church dogma championed the idea of provoking fear that one might fall off the edge of the earth into eternal damnation. An historical source of discord between religion and science is based on the fact that religious faith by its very nature is unchangeable. The first commandment of NOMA holds that “Thou shalt not mix the magisteria by claiming that God directly ordains important events in the history of nature by special knowledge only through revelation and not accessible to science” According to Gould, brilliant Scientists like Newton (physics), Boyle (chemistry) and Hooke (biology), all religious men who argued that God wouldn’t allow contradiction between His words (the scriptures) and His works (the natural world) Thus nature works by rigid laws that cannot contradict scripture, for God, maker of both cannot contradict himself (Gould) Agreed!
End of the first essay on science and religion
References
Gould, S. (1999) Rocks of Ages. New York; the Random House Publishing Group
Kurtz, P. (2003) Science and Religion. Amhearst, New York; Prometheus Books
End of Part XXXIII
I graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and earned a Master of Science degree in Education also from NIU in 1973. I taught in the Harlem School District (5 years), a Chicago suburb (1 year), and the Rockford, IL School District for 27 years (26 at East High School). I culminated my teaching career at Kishwaukee College (8 years) Two important events occurred in 1988: I married my wife Angie and I received a summer teacher’s research fellowship through the University of Illinois School of Medicine at Rockford. My primary responsibility was light microscopy and Scanning electron miscroscopy of rabbit renal arteries (effect of high cholesterol diet). For 14 years I was a citizen scientist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in their RiverWatch program (monitoring water quality) My hobbies and activities include gardening, golfing, bowling, downhill and cross country skiing, photography, including photomicroscopy and time lapse photography, spending time with my wife and our dog, and in the winter playing around in my small home biology & chemistry lab.
Beyond what I have written in past profiles, in the early 1980’s I was an EMT with the Boone Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Squad (BVARS) which fit in nicely with my science training and teaching. I also enjoy public speaking and made frequent scholarship presentations to graduating seniors and outstanding middle school students through the former Belvidere Y’ Men’s Club. I also made power point presentations of the RiverWatch program. But I most enjoyed making presentations at my high school reunions. Thanks guys for allowing me to do this.