Science and Religion
Science and religion are two of the principal
influences on Western civilization. Examining each and their interaction is
crucial for
understanding the Western world. But, not only does each have an
impact, but science and religion mutually interact as well.
This seminar examines how the scientific (or post-modern) understanding of
reality and epistemology affects the character of our religious beliefs.
Regarding theology as an attempt to make intelligible a religious
understanding of human experience and science as an attempt to make nature
intelligible, the seminar asks how these understandings affect each other. The
seminar revisits the Judeo-Christian tradition
wearing the glasses of the post-modern paradigm. Theodicy and eschatology
particularly are of interest to post-modern science.
The purpose of this seminar is: to make the student
sensitive to the problem of relating science and religion,
to develop the critical ability to
raise the right questions and to stimulate additional reading in this
developing dialogue .
The student is required to read and be prepared to discuss about
100 pages of assigned material for each class meeting.
Three or four five page papers are
assigned, one after each unit of the discussion outlined above. These papers
are critiqued
and should be revised in
preparation for the final course paper. A final paper of more than 25 pages is
assigned on the
relation of science and religion.
The student is evaluated primarily on the final paper--erudition
and critical understanding of the issues. Attendance,
participation in the seminar and
creative questioning contribute in part to the final grade.
· The four components of the discussion :
Introduction
to the main themes and issues in the study of religion and the natural
sciences. Text: When Science Meets
Religion:Enemies, Strangers or Partners? Ian Barbour, Harper
An attempt to establish epistemological foundations for the interaction of science and religion. Text: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas Kuhn, University of Chicago Press, 1970 and Justification of Science and the Rationality of Religious Belief, Michael Banner, Oxford University, 1990.
The intellectual history of the problem and construction of a possible postmodern paradign for integrating science and religion. Texts: Does God Exist? Hans Kung, Crossroad, 1978.
New challenges which come from taking seriously postmodern science and religion. Texts: Church:The Human Story of God, Edward Schillebeeckx, Crossroad,1991 and The Fabric of Reality, David Deutsch, Penguim, 1997
There is an online discussion of the Science
andReligion seminar. Anyone may examine the current discussion by
clicking on current discussion . Students enrolled in the
class may add to the current discussion by clicking on add comments .