Explain fully, what is meant by the scientific method. 6KU
Scientific method based on evidence and experiment Based on a
desire to challenge and evaluate all truth claims. Presupposes that
the world is intelligible and orderly Observation, hypothesis,
experiment, verification. Basis of scientific method is empirical
evidence Use of inductive reasoning Use of deductive reasoning
Scientific method affirms no theory can be proven, alternative
theories.
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In what ways are revelation and the scientific method similar?
4KU both subjective both have an element of personal commitment to
a belief both try to make sense of the universe around us both are
fallible both can be modified in light of experience
Slide 4
Explain two ways in which scientific method might be considered
more reliable than revelation. 4KU Empirical. Observable. Not based
on faith. Objective. Flexible. Physical verification. No
absolutes.
Slide 5
Try on your own - The Scientific Method is a more reliable
source of knowledge than Christian Revelation Do you agree? Give
four reasons for your answer (A/E 4)
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Slide 7
What is a world-view? A world-view is the way in which the
structure of the world is understood, based on beliefs and/or
science. A world-view often includes ideas about the worlds place
in the universe. Science and religion both discuss ideas about how
we understand the world, how traditional religious beliefs relate
to scientific understanding and how the contributions of
philosophers, scientists and believers can contribute to the
welfare of humans.
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Religion and science werent always at each others throats! It
was out of the work of scientists and philosophers that science was
born. Until the 16 th century philosophers and theologians were the
scientists. They asked questions like: How was the world made? What
holds the world up? Why does the Moon not fall down?
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The two got on so well together because the scientific
explanations included reference to God. Things began to change in
the 16 th century as the way in which we understood Gods place in
the universe and His relationship with humans began to change.
Science and religion began to drift apart and scientific principles
began to be accepted without reference to God.
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The Middle Ages Scientific Knowledge Expands
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Profound change in the European world-view in the late 16 th
and 17 th centuries Primary cause was the Scientific Revolution
(1543- present) The most profound change in human history? New
intellectual climate differed from medieval & early modern
world-view: Rejection of authority e.g. bible and church - without
reason Best knowledge was practical Demystification of the universe
Scientists of this era differed from predecessors in combining
mathematics and experiment previous just Observation
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Introduction Roots science & technology from: Ancient Egypt
pyramids, mathematics China movable type, paper, astronomy Islam
medicine, ancient Greek texts, astronomy, mathematics
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The Aristotelian/Ptolemaic Universe Geocentric 10 separate,
transparent, crystal spheres First 8 held the moon, sun, planets,
stars 2 added during Middle Ages Heaven lay beyond the 10 th sphere
Angels kept the spheres moving Sublunar world Earth, water; fire,
air Uniform force moved objects until something stopped it The
Church invested greatly in this world-view man was at the center of
the universe, most important part of Creation The Scientific
Revolution
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The Geocentric Universe The Geocentric (Ptolemaic)
Universe
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Why Earth centred? The sun appeared as if moving. Earth felt
stationary If earth moved round surely wind would sweep everything
off the earth. Distant stars did not seem to change position A
spinning earth would be expected to fling off everything that was
not fixed to it. A cannonball, fired straight up would be expected
to fall to the west of firing point as the earth moved (same with
birds and clouds.)
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Some people were studying the stars and noticed that they
moved. Eventually, scientists started discussions that the world
was round and went round the sun.
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Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish monk Observed patterns
of star and planet movement On the Revolutions of Celestial Bodies
(1543) Heliocentric Called into question the literal truth of the
Scriptures Copernicus waited until he was near death to publish his
findings
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The Heliocentric (Copernican) Universe
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Galileo (1564 1642) then published his own work based on
Copernicus and his work was widely read.
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Italian scientist Improved the telescope Made observations that
proved the Copernican view of the universe Moon Planets Stars Wrote
in the vernacular 1633 Church forced Galileo to recant; placed
under house arrest
Slide 21
Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany (1615) Written
to address the conflict between the Bible and heliocentric theory
Argued that the Bible must be interpreted in light of scientific
knowledge Argued for a non-literal interpretation of the Bible
Galileo declared the Bible teaches how to go to heaven, not how the
heavens go The letter began Galileos troubles with the Catholic
Church
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The Catholic Church confronts Galileo and asks him to back
down
Slide 23
Galileo believed in God so why did the Catholic Church declare
him a heretic? Why did his books remain banned until the second
half of the 20 th century?
Slide 24
Real issue for the church was, Who interprets the Bible? The
Church wanted to and if they allowed the scientists to it would
mean a danger to the literal interpretation of the Bible.
Slide 25
The Catholic Church couldn't accept the idea that the Earth
(God's creation) wasn't the centre of the universe. Wouldnt that
imply that the world wasnt the pinnacle of Gods creation? As they
turned to the Bible, they found verses that seemed to support this
idea
Slide 26
Psalm 93:1 The Lord reigns.....The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.
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Ecclesiastes 1:5 The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries
back to where it rises.
Slide 28
In 1998 after an investigation set up by Pope John Paul ll the
Roman Catholic Church eventually admitted it had been wrong about
Galileo We kind of got it wrong. Sorry
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" Galileo, perhaps more than any other single person, was
responsible for the birth of modern science." Steven Hawking
Slide 30
Contributions of these scientists made the universe
comprehensible for the first time The individual became much more
important; collective authority was not the source of
wisdomindividual intellect was After the Revolution, God was viewed
by many as either a remote master mechanic, or his existence began
to be doubted Began long perceived adversarial relationship between
science and religion The Revolution laid the foundation for the
Enlightenment of the 18 th century
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The Enlightenment Intellectual movement of the late 17 th and
18 th centuriesa product of the Scientific Revolution Key
principles of the Enlightenment: Belief in human reason Belief in
the scientific method Progress, or easing mans estate Enlightenment
ideals often came into conflict with religion Blossomed in 18 th
century France
Slide 32
French mathematician and philosopher A transitional figure
between the medieval past and modern science A rationalist Appealed
to reason Promoter of deductive reasoning, predicting particular
results from general principles
Slide 33
Discourse on Method (1637) Descartes wished to develop a method
that could be used to yield scientific truth Argued that abstract
reasoning and math were a more reliable path to truth; our senses
could deceive us Cogito ergo sum (I think, therefore I am)
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Perceived Issues Science is right and religion is wrong There
is no God The only way to better our lives is through the
application of scientific discoveries Meaning in life comes from
human independence and endeavour Religion is a dangerous
superstition which we should have grown out of by now. Religion is
right and science is wrong God exists The only way to improve our
lives is through faith in God Meaning in life comes from faith and
living in a way that is pleasing to God Science is a dangerous
endeavour which makes US think we are Gods
Slide 35
Interestingly, both Copernicus and Galileo never gave up their
faith (even though they disagreed with the Church ) The Church
sometimes get it wrong. Just a bunch of Gods little helpers doing a
bad job Well said. Keep the faith in spite of the church!
Slide 36
Some of the best scientists we have known are actually people
of faith...
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Ah, gravity!
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I want to know how God created this world..... I want to know
his thoughts. The rest are details.
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"Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is
blind."
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Science = How Religion = Why
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But, they both have fundamentalists in their ranks who are
convinced that they need to remain arch enemies......
Slide 42
Fundamentalism: strict adherence to any set of basic ideas or
principles
Slide 43
Richard Dawkins Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to
evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in
spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence. Believer
in scientism
Slide 44
Bishop Ussher (17thC) The world began in 4004 BC. I know
because I did the sums from the Bible. I am right and you are all
wrong. Got it? Christian fundamentalist
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However, there are similarities in the two approaches....
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Similarities Both Science and Religion use symbols and
analogies
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Similarities Both Science and Religion use symbols and
analogies...for example
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God is like....
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Atoms are like Planets
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Similarities Both religion and science make assumptions, so
neither is objective
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There are of course key differences between the two as
well....
Slide 52
The Differences There are of course key differences between the
two as well. For example... Science is based on observation and
experiment Religion is based on faith
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The Differences Christianity is holistic. It gives answers and
meaning Science can give answers, but not meaning
Slide 54
The Differences Science is a method, Religion is commitment
Science: How? Religion: Why?
Slide 55
Science Challenges Religion Copernicus and Galileo
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Science Challenges Religion 6 day creation Vs Evolution
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Science Challenges Religion Made in God's Image Vs Dominant
earth species through natural selection
Slide 58
Science Challenges Religion As modern science develops, more
ethical dilemma are raised for Christians to answer. For example: -
Should we keep people in PVS alive? What about abortion? What about
organ donations? Is stem cell research ok?
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Science Challenges Religion The Theory of Evolution
Slide 60
The Atheist View Science and religion are opposites and cannot
exist side by side! Prof Richard Dawkins
Slide 61
The Compatible View Science and Religion complement each other
and provide us with different ways of making sense of the world we
live in. Rev Dr John Polkinghorne