Science & Christian Faith - South Dakota School of Mines...
Transcript of Science & Christian Faith - South Dakota School of Mines...
Science & Christian FaithPersonal Reflections from a Christian Physicist
Dr. Luke A. CorwinAssistant Professor of Physics
South Dakota School of Mines & TechnologyUnited Campus Ministries
Thursday Forum
Apr. 2, 2015
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 1 / 22
Outline
1 IntroductionWho am I?What is Science?What is Christian Faith?The Overlap
2 Naturalism/Atheism/Materialism
3 Nonoverlapping magisteria
4 ID, YEC
5 Collaborative Interaction
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 2 / 22
Introduction Who am I?
Who Am I?
Born Dec. 20, 1980 in Wisconsin
Follower of Christ since Dec. 20, 1997
Husband of Kelly since Dec. 12, 2009
Assistant Prof. of Physics at SDSM&T since Aug. 22, 2013
Amateur tuba player
This means I am not:
A theologian
A climatologist, biologist, or any other kind of scientist
An engineer or engineering student
Why Am I Here?
Kathleen Batchelder invited me. I seem to be gaining areputation around here for these talks.
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 3 / 22
Introduction Who am I?
What have I to add?
Question
Throughout this talk, I will refer to many people who have dealtwith these questions far better than I could. What could Ipossibly have to add to their contributions?
Answer
My story and experience are unique.
I am here.
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 4 / 22
Introduction Who am I?
What have I to add?
Question
Throughout this talk, I will refer to many people who have dealtwith these questions far better than I could. What could Ipossibly have to add to their contributions?
Answer
My story and experience are unique.
I am here.
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 4 / 22
Introduction What is Science?
What is Science?
Science
Definition from The OxfordEnglish Dictionary Online
scientific method n. a methodof procedure that hascharacterized natural sciencesince the 17th century, consistingin systematic observation,measurement, and experiment,and the formulation, testing, andmodification of hypotheses.
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 5 / 22
Introduction What is Science?
Scientific Method
Ask a question
Formulate a hypothesis(testable answer)
Make a prediction
Test the prediction
Verify, Modify, or RejectHypothesis
Repeat
Questions Addressed
Who is most likely to win an election?
What makes apples fall, oceans have tides, and planets orbitthe sun?
When did Supernova 1987A occur?
Where is Malaysia Airlines Flight 370?
Why is the sky blue?
How does DNA replicate during mitosis?
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 6 / 22
Introduction What is Christian Faith?
What is Christian Faith?
Christianity
Definition from Webster’s 3rd
christianity n. the religionstemming from the the life,teachings and death of JesusChrist
Wikipedia
. . . an Abrahamic, monotheisticreligion based on the life and oralteachings of Jesus of Nazareth aspresented in the New Testament.
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 7 / 22
Introduction What is Christian Faith?
Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed
“the profession of the Christian Faith common to the CatholicChurch, to all the Eastern Churches . . . and to most of theProtestant denominations.”a
aCatholic Encyclopedia (1913), Vol. 11
Questions Addressed
Who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29)
What must I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 18:18)
When is divorce lawful? (Matthew 19:3–12; Mark 10:2–12)
Where do we go after we die? (Matthew 25)
Why do bad things happen to good people? (Job; Luke 13)
Which commandment is the first of all? (Mark 12:28-34)
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 8 / 22
Introduction The Overlap
We might conclude that since these sets of questions are verydifferent, Christianity and Science do not come into conflict.
?
What if they offer different answers to the same questions?Of course, from evolution to global climate change tovaccines we see conflict all around us.One can approach this area of overlap in several ways.1
1If I omit or misrepresent yours, I apologizeL. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 9 / 22
Introduction The Overlap
We might conclude that since these sets of questions are verydifferent, Christianity and Science do not come into conflict.
?
What if they offer different answers to the same questions?Of course, from evolution to global climate change tovaccines we see conflict all around us.
One can approach this area of overlap in several ways.1
1If I omit or misrepresent yours, I apologizeL. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 9 / 22
Introduction The Overlap
We might conclude that since these sets of questions are verydifferent, Christianity and Science do not come into conflict.
?
What if they offer different answers to the same questions?Of course, from evolution to global climate change tovaccines we see conflict all around us.One can approach this area of overlap in several ways.1
1If I omit or misrepresent yours, I apologizeL. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 9 / 22
Naturalism/Atheism/Materialism
Naturalism/Atheism/Materialism
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 10 / 22
Naturalism/Atheism/Materialism
Definition
“the belief that all phenomena are covered by laws of scienceand that all teleological explanations are therefore withoutvalue.”2
“The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be.”3
Four Horsemen of the New Atheism: Richard Dawkins, SamHarris, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens
2http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/naturalism3Carl Sagan, Cosmos
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 11 / 22
Naturalism/Atheism/Materialism
Attractive Features
Science can know everything.
Any supernatural or spiritual explanation can beautomatically discarded.
We decide our own meaning and ethics.
Rigorously demands evidence.
Difficulties
Questions of ethics have no “bedrock” answers.
Death is the end
Hard to avoid determinism
Leaves many questions unanswered
Why does the universe obey natural laws?Why are those laws what they are?Why is there something rather than nothing?
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 12 / 22
Nonoverlapping magisteria
Nonoverlapping magisteria
21% of evangelicals4
4Elaine Howard Ecklund, Perceptions Project, http://www.aaas.org/news/majority-evangelical-christians-survey-see-no-conflict-between-science-and-religion
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 13 / 22
Nonoverlapping magisteria
Definition
“The net of science covers the empirical universe: what is itmade of (fact) and why does it work this way (theory). Thenet of religion extends over questions of moral meaning andvalue. These two magisteria do not overlap, nor do theyencompass all inquiry (consider, for starters, the magisteriumof art and the meaning of beauty).”5
Name inspired by an encyclical of Pope Piux XII6
5Stephen J. Gould,“Nonoverlapping magisteria,” Natural History Magazine 106 (1997).6Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Humani generis, Vatican City (1950)
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 14 / 22
Nonoverlapping magisteria
Attractive Features
Removes all the conflicts
Clearly tells you from which source to seek the answers towhich questions
Requires humility from both scientists and believers
Difficulties
“the two magisteria bump right up against each other,interdigitating in wondrously complex ways along their jointborder. Many of our deepest questions call upon aspects ofboth for different parts of a full answer–and the sorting oflegitimate domains can become quite complex and difficult.”
Who decides where they are or which magisterium hasauthority? (e.g. Pope Pius XII vs. Polygenism)
Miracles are either very problematic or excluded
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 15 / 22
ID, YEC
Intelligent Design/Young-Earth Creationism
29% of evangelicals7
7Elaine Howard Ecklund, Perceptions ProjectL. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 16 / 22
ID, YEC
NCSE http://ncse.com/creationism/general/creationevolution-continuum
Common theme: either the Bible contradicts modern scienceor “real” science vindicates the Biblical Creation account.YEC: Answers in Genesis, Institute for Creation ResearchOld Earth: Reasons to BelieveID: Discovery Institute
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 17 / 22
ID, YEC
Attractive Features
Brooks no compromise or slippery slope
Clear, direct, and simple answers
By far the best public relations and marketing prowess
Strongly opposes the overreach of science into themagisterium of ethics and morality.
Difficulties
Many findings of modern science are false as a result of fraud,bias, or incompotence.
Often in opposition to seemingly overwhelming empiricalevidence.
How did trout survive the flood?
Where on the spectrum do you choose?
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 18 / 22
Collaborative Interaction
Collaborative Interaction
48% of evangelicals see “them as complementary, capable ofoffering support for each other.”8
8Elaine Howard Ecklund, Perceptions ProjectL. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 19 / 22
Collaborative Interaction
Definition
“. . . science develops best when its concepts and conclusionsare integrated into the broader human culture and itsconcerns for ultimate meaning and value.”9
“For topics like evolution, medical ethics, and climate change,we need to consider both science and faith when seeking outGods truth.”10
With regard to biological evolution, Evolutionary Creation is“The view that all life on earth came about by theGod-ordained process of evolution with common descent.Evolution is a means by which God providentially achieveshis purposes in creation.”11
9Pope John Paul II http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1988/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_19880601_padre-coyne.html
10http://biologos.org/questions/science-and-religion11http://biologos.org/
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 20 / 22
Collaborative Interaction
Attractive Features
We can accept scientific results without fear.
“Science can purify religion from error and superstition;religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.”a
Many good examples: Fracis Collins, Deborah Haarsma,Katharine Hayhoe, John Polkinghorne, Jennifer Wiseman
Interact with people rather than stereotypes
aJohn Paul II, ibid.
Difficulties
Requires the most intellectual work
Answers are not often easy or clear
Arguing that Evolution 6= Atheism
Often not the loudest voice
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 21 / 22
Collaborative Interaction
Going ForwardAs you may have guessed, I favor collaborative interaction.Almost by definition, taking this path requires muchcommunity support.
Helpful Organizations
InterVarsity, which has been invaluable to my growth as afollower of Christ.
Emerging Scholars Network:http://esn.intervarsity.org/
American Scientific Affiliation http://network.asa3.org/
BioLogos http://biologos.org/
AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religionhttp://www.aaas.org/DoSER
Me: [email protected], EEP 120
L. Corwin (UCM Thu. Forum) Science & Christian Faith Apr. 2, 2015 22 / 22