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Science vs Faith

Science vs Faith. Overview. The new science posed a potential challenge to religion, certain theories/discoveries didn’t agree with biblical statements question arose of authority of the Church vs. natural philosophers.

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Science vs Faith

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  1. Science vs Faith

  2. Overview • The new science posed a potential challenge to religion, • certain theories/discoveries didn’t agree with biblical statements • question arose of authority of the Church vs. natural philosophers. • New science offered a materialistic universe replacing one of spiritual meaning. • Yet most nat. philosophers saw their work as contributing to a deeper knowledge of the divine. Their efforts allowed the new science to reconcile faith and constituted a fundamental factor in the spread of science and widespread acceptance.

  3. Aristotelian World View • Recall the world view of Aristotle • Geocentrism • Planets/sun orbit the earth.

  4. Reactions to the Copernican System • Martin Luther – “…new astrologer who wants to prove that the earth moves and goes round….The fool wants to turn the whole art of astronomy upside down.” • “….as the Holy Scripture tells us, so did Joshua bid the sun stand still and not the earth.” • “The Sun must be held over Gideon” • “The sun ariseth and the sun go down and hasteth to the place where he arose.”

  5. The Case of Galileo • Condemnation of Galileo by RCC is the single most famous incident of conflict b/t modern science and religious institutions • Condemnation of Copernicanism and Galileo occurred at a difficult moment for the RCC - The Council of Trent (1545-1563) stated only the RCC possessed the authority to interpret the Bible • RCC adopted a more literalist mode of reading the Bible • Galileo’s actions of presenting his views about how scripture should be interpreted to accommodate the new science resembled that of a Protestant who looked to himself • Copernican theory rejected by RCC in 1616. Galileo tried for heresy in 1633.

  6. Blaise Pascal: Reason and Faith • French mathematician and physical scientist • Aspired to refute both dogmatism and skepticism • Allied himself with Jansenists-17th century opponents to the Jesuits who epitomized dogmatism • Believed God exists, but humans are unworthy • Made a famous wager with the skeptics: Pascal’s Wager • Sought to counter false optimism of the new rationalism and science

  7. English Approach to Science and Religion • Bacon argued there were 2 books of divine revelation: the Bible and nature • Natural theology based on scientific understanding of the natural order would thus support theology derived from scripture • Scientists saw science and religion as mutually supportive • Natural universe became a realm of law and regularity, which supported a Creator that was rational • Physico-theology-religious thought associated w/ deducing of religious conclusions from nature, allowed new physics and astronomy to spread rapidly.

  8. English Approach to Science and Religion • New science provided the basis for a view of God that might lead away from irrational disputes and wars over religious doctrine • New science and innovations associated with its culture came to be interpreted as part of a divine plan • This outlook provided a religious justification for the processes of economic improvement that would characterize much of 18th century western Europe

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