INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND SCIENCE: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND SCIENCE: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

Summary/Abstract: I would like to suggest that one of the more important conversations that should take place in the public life of Europe is one that engages the cultural forces of religion and science. The need for such a conversation should be apparent to everyone. The scientific and technological enterprise is arguably the most powerful and influential force in the world today. Its theoretical developments have transformed our image of the universe; the technological achievements that have grown out of these developments have transformed human society. Both raise important intellectual and moral issues. In particular, the modern scientific world view of big bang cosmology and biological evolution has raised questions for communities of faith about how they understand the nature of God, humanity and the creation. Here adherents of the Abrahamic traditions are challenged to both respond and evaluate. However, there are major factors that need to be considered if such a dialogue is to be advanced. One is the fact that Christian, Jewish and Muslim thinkers are presently at different degrees of engagement in a dialogue both about science and with science, and are approaching it from different perspectives. Another is the need to address a claim about the value of science and scientific theories that challenges the very core of belief among the Abrahamic traditions. During the past two decades some quite articulate persons have sought to convince a literate public that a materialistic philosophy based on a particular interpretation of science, and not religion, gives us final answers about the nature of the universe, of life, and of humanity. They have conflated science and scientism, evolution and evolutionism, and have built an ideology out of science. This scientistic model has become wide-spread, shaping popular presentations and perceptions about science.

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