Science and Christian Spirituality

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the great divide among scientists, philosophers and theologians regarding the precise relationship between Christian spirituality and biological evolution. The writer explains that, whereas scientific creationists reject evolution because of a literal reading of scripture, scientific materialists reject all forms of spirituality because they regard the scientific method as the only way of obtaining objective truth. Other thinkers regard science and faith as occupying distinct domains that must be approached in different manners, while some scientists and thinkers believe that perhaps the current paradigm of biological evolution may not be the whole truth and needs to be seriously revised. If their hypothesis is correct it may permit a new type of dialogue between faith and science.

Outline:
Introduction
Barbour's First Typology: Conflict
Biblical Literalism
Scientific Materialism
Barbour's Second Typology: Independence
Contrasting Domains and Methods
Primary and Secondary Causality
Barbour's Third Typology: Integration
Evolutionary Design
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The relationship between science and spirituality is important because of a shift in our Western worldviews. Before the age of enlightenment, the relationship between science and Christian spirituality seemed much more obvious than it is now. In many instances science does the work of science and has nothing to say about Christian spirituality. This is especially true when science deals with metaphysically neutral questions such as the number of elements in the periodic table or how nature behaves under a set of given parameters. However, when dealing with questions of origins such, as cosmological or biological origins, the relationship is not so clear."

Sample of Sources Used:

• The World of Richard Dawkins: Online. <<http://www.simonyi.ox.ac.uk/dawkins/WorldOfDawkinsarchive/Dawkins/Work/Articles/alabama/1996-04-01alabama.shtml>> Accessed March 23 ,2007.
• Scientists in Biological Sciences: Online: Institute for Creation Research. <<http://www.icr.org/research/index/research_biosci/>> Accessed March 23, 2007.
• Resolution of the Council of the National Academy of Sciences (1981), cited in Science and Creationism: A View from the National Academy of Sciences Washington. DC: National Academy Press, 1984.
• Ashton, F. ed. In Six Days: Why Fifty Scientists Choose to Believe in Creation. Green Forest: Master Books, 2001.
• Barbour, Ian G. When Science Meets Religion: Enemies, Strangers, or Partners? New York: Harper Collins, 2000.

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• Book Review # 108943 : "Psychology and Christianity"
• Research Paper # 98710 : "The Church and Human Sexuality"
• Comparison Essay # 61582 : "Faith, Theology, Belief and Spirituality"

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