religion and science Flashcards
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
what is germline therapy
- a treatment intended to correct genetic disorders by genetically modifying the sex cells. this affects not only the person being treated but also their descendants
why do catholics and protestants reject enhancement therapy
- humans wouldnt be in Gods image
- it would promote idolatry
- children would be viewed as a commodity not a gift
- it would result in a two tier society and discrimination based on wealth
