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


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.


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.


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.


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?


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.


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)


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



?

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




?

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


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


http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/naturalism


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?


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


http://www.aaas.org/news/majority-evangelical-christians-survey-see-no-conflict-between-science-and-religion

http://www.aaas.org/news/majority-evangelical-christians-survey-see-no-conflict-between-science-and-religion


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)



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


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


http://ncse.com/creationism/general/creationevolution-continuum

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?


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


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/


http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1988/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_19880601_padre-coyne.html

http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1988/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_19880601_padre-coyne.html

http://biologos.org/questions/science-and-religion

http://biologos.org/


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



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


http://esn.intervarsity.org/

http://network.asa3.org/

http://biologos.org/

http://www.aaas.org/DoSER

[email protected]

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