christianity and science Flashcards
Empirical approach (enlightenment period)
Refers to evidence and observation based approach
Rationalist approach (enlightenment period)
Refers to an approach that uses reasoned thought
Deism
God created the universe but does not intervene in its ongoing operation - he set things off through the big bang and left without acting on it any further
Immanence
Related to God’s presence and involvement in the universe. It depicts God’s nature as personal
Existentialism
The view that humans define their own meaning in life; their choices make them what they are
Darwins theory of evolution is based on…
Inductive reasoning
What is natural selection?
Natural selection is the process by which organisms with advantageous traits for their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the gradual adaptation and evolution of species over time
Charles Darwin book
on the origin of Species
1859
fundamentalist christians on theory of evolution
dismissed it as human error since it conflicted with the word of God to be found in the Bible
which christians welcomed the theory of evolution
liberal christians as they had long rejected any literalist interpretation of the Genesis creation stories
Many in the church of england ridicules the theory of evolution, who
Bishop wilberforce asked whether his descent from a monkey came through his grandmother or grandfather
who rejects the theory of evolution totally
YEC OLC as it is incompatible with the genesis creation stories, which are the infallible word of God
why do some OLC accept the theory in diluted form
Evolution explains the development of simpler life forms but humanity is the result of special creation by God
big bang theory
The Big Bang theory is the scientific explanation that the universe originated from a hot and dense initial state and has been expanding and evolving over the course of approximately 13.8 billion years.
The god of the gaps approach
Christians attribute anything they cannot explain scientifically to God
Critique of God of the gaps
Becomes increasingly irrelevant as scientific understanding advances
The Catholic Church on the big bang theory
Fully accepts it
Pope Francis Big bang theory quote
“The Big Bang, which today we hold go be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it
John Polkinghorn says that the __________ principle needs explaining
Anthropic
Anthropic principle
Refers to the incredibly precise fine-tuning of the elements in the universe that are absolutely essential at that particular degree or point for human life to exist
John Polkinghorn on the relationship between science and religion
John Polkinghorne, a physicist and theologian, advocated for a constructive relationship between science and religion, emphasizing that they are complementary ways of understanding reality. He argued that both disciplines explore different aspects of the world, with science addressing the “how” questions while religion delves into the “why” questions, allowing for a fruitful dialogue between the two domains. Polkinghorne highlighted the importance of maintaining intellectual integrity in both science and theology, acknowledging their distinct methodologies while recognizing their shared pursuit of truth.
John Polkinghorne quote
God “is at work within the flexibility of its process”
what is genetic engineering
Genetic engineering in simple terms, refers to the deliberate modification of an organism’s genetic material (DNA) to introduce specific desirable traits or make changes to its characteristics
what is a danger of genetic engineering
Modifying an organism’s genetic code can have unpredictable outcomes, and there is a risk of unintended changes or impacts on other aspects of the organism’s biology
This could lead to unexpected health issues, ecological disruptions, or unintended effects on biodiversity
Additionally, there are ethical concerns surrounding genetic engineering, including the potential for misuse, unequal access to genetic modifications, and the potential for unintended long-term consequences on future generations or the environment
what are some currently incurable diseases
Alzheimer’s disease, down syndrome, cystic fibrosis
Transhumans
Transhumans refer to individuals who have undergone significant enhancements or modifications to their physical, intellectual, or psychological capacities through the integration of advanced technologies or biological interventions
somatic cell therapy and germline therapy
intended to correct genetic disorders and only affects the individual being
this affects not only the one being treated but their descendants as it genetically modified the sex cells
enhancement therapy
social not medical purpose aimed at “improving” the human race
catholics and protestants on genetically modified crops
some support given their potential in relation to global hunger, but there is also concern about possibly reducing biodiversity
enhancement therapy would promote …
idolatry
humans no longer in image of god
children a commodity not a gift
