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Research, Religion

Science and Religious beliefs (SRP 420) Science and Religion–two disciplines that in the beginning seem to be completely separate settings of believed. After even more careful exam one comes to realize that they bump in each other typically. Indeed, research and faith seem to have got a complex record involving the two conflict and resolution.

Many theologians, philosophers, and researchers have developed theories on how scientific research and religion can coexist. One such gentleman is Steve Polkinghorne a scientist and philosopher, he has developed his own theory on the relationship between research and faith.

In the 1st chapter of his publication Quarks, Chaos, and Christianity Polkinghorne lays out his theory pertaining to the cohabitation of science and faith. He begins by discussing the impressiveness of science and its many accomplishments. Following he goes on to discuss the facts of religion and challenges what he claims that faith is simply a personal truth or an opinion, although science is definitely fact. He quickly says this assertion is bogus, because creating this conclusion is a, “fundamental oversight of the most catastrophic kind” (Polkinghorne, 2).

This kind of faulty realization about the integration of science and religion, according to Polkinghorne, provides is often made because of two mistakes: regarding the basis of scientific expertise and the additional about spiritual belief. The overall mistake that is made about science is that it is a simple process where a prediction is definitely formulated, an experiment is performed, and dispuesto a new breakthrough discovery is made. In most cases there is much more involved in the artwork of technological discovery. For instance, scientists often do not have genuine facts, but rather they are dealing with knowledge that they have to interpret on their own.

To understand knowledge, in respect to Polkinghorne, is often quite difficult and requires someone to formulate a spot of view or an impression in order to reach a conclusion. Choosing a perspective or having an opinion requires people to end up being bold and brave since they are betting issues happen within a certain way. Therefore in science fact and thoughts and opinions are constantly mixed up with each other. The major problem people produce in religious beliefs is that is the fact it involves a kind of “leap into the dark” (Polkinghorne, 10). While faith does require faith and faith truly does sometimes demand a leap, it can be in no way a leap in the dark.

Polkinghorne criticizes this theory simply by asking various questions such as: what could be the purpose of religious beliefs if this were accurate? Why would anyone always be religious whether it involved this sort of blind trust? (Polkinghorne, 2) Therefore , he concludes religious beliefs must be a leap of faith, but it is a leap in to the light. The true secret Polkinghorne can be making here is that faith can only be of real value if it is truly true, otherwise he claims religion would merely only be a, “technique for whistling in the dark to keep the spirits up” (Polkinghorne, 14).

The conclusion reached at the end of the argument is that science and religion are “intellectual friends, ” (Polkinghorne, 11) in that they are both trying to find truth, although neither know that they have achieved it and each must base the conclusions on an interaction among interpretation, knowledge, and opinion. They both equally also must always be open to corrections in the event that mistakes are located, because they are element of a kind of fantastic human quest to understand and stay in synchronize with the physical and psychic world around us.

Even so, there are key differences between science and religion that cannot be forgotten, and Polikinghorne points out these differences. Essentially science is usually dealing with a physical world that people are able to stick and push even if all of us cannot always see exactly what is happening. Yet , religion can not be put to a great experimental test out in the same way that science may. Although research and religious beliefs are different in this manner they are nonetheless both endeavors to understand whether or not they go regarding in different ways. Overall, I do think Polkinghorne offered a solid argument for the coexistence of science and religion.

As a science main I really we appreciate the fact that Polkinghorne is a great inhabitant of both the clinical and spiritual community. Just like Polkinghorne I agree with the disagreement that neither science nor religion may offer an ultimate understanding of the world around us, but if that they work together in harmony it is also possible that they will at some point be able to achieve a greater understanding. In looking at science and religion 1 must realize that neither will be able to tell you anything and believing that one sort of knowing can tell you everything forces a person to take a very lessened view of life.

In summary, Polkinghorne offers a simple and argument intended for how research and faith can exist together with out contradiction. Even though the argument if perhaps fairly simple also, it is effective and the main point is that scientific research and religion are just diverse attempts to reply to the same queries. Neither can answer these types of questions automatically to achieve increased understanding of the physical and spiritual globe around us, both science and religious beliefs must be considered. Works Offered Polikinghorne, John. Quarks, Chaos, & Christianity. NY: Crossroads, 1994.