The last 5-10 years have resulted in the proliferation of courses in science and religion at many tertiary institutions. These notes form the basis of one such course presented by Prof. Allan Day in the early 2000’s. They are also as much a recognition of the role Allan has played in exploring this area and contributed to thinking in Australia and world-wide on the various subjects and issues related to science and faith.

The notes cover briefly the historical background of the development of science and the interaction of such development with religious faith. They also address some of the philosophical issues with respect to religious and scientific knowledge and consider some of the positions that have been taken by various groups.

On this background they explore the implications for theology of discoveries in modern science - important among these are the recent developments in cosmology and biology. Some of the misconceptions commonly held with respect to the relationship between science and faith are also considered.

The approach to Science and Faith is presented in a way that is consistent with both scientific integrity and Biblical authority. These notes are designed for both science and theological students as well as teachers who encounter these issues. Indeed our hope is that they will be useful to any who have an interest in the rapidly growing interface between science and religion.

The notes are also very much a “work in progress”. We recognize the cryptic format of some material and also that thinking evolves as new issues emerge. It is our intention to review these notes regularly and update them as the opportunities permit and in response to feedback. Please send your comments to Dr Bruce Craven.

Dr Bruce Craven for ISCAST 2005

The introductory chapter gives a brief introduction to the relations between science and spirituality, and the diverse attitudes that some have taken. The following chapters explore these questions in detail.

Chapter 1 surveys the various ideas held, from ancient Greece to the 18th. century, concerning the natural world and its relation to theological ideas. Points of note are Galileo's exposition of the relation between the bible and the book of nature, ideas of a mechanistic universe from Newton onward, and questions of the age of earth, leading up to Lyell's uniformitarianism.

Chapter 2 continues the story, to Darwin's Origin of Species, and the various reactions to it. There was then no united opposition to evolution by Christian thinkers; attitudes varied. Only much later did the "young earth" viewpoint become an article of faith for many Christians.

Chapter 3 outlines various "world views" on the relation of the natural world to divinity, or to the belief that there is none. Of note here are "naturalism", the belief that the physical world is all there is, "deism", that set the world going and then left it alone, and "theism", that God is constantly active in the world.

Chapter 4 discusses the limitations of science and of theology. In particular, what is scientific knowledge, what are scientific theories? Science describes truth, and does not prescribe it; and scientific knowledge is not the only kind of knowledge. What is theology, and what is meant by verifying a theological theory? Theology of "motivated belief", not just "subjective perception".

Chapter 5 discusses ways to relate science and faith under the headings of conflict (scientism, creationism), separation, complementary, integration (assimilation) , and rejection (new age).

Chapter 6 discusses the biblical doctrine of creation in relation to the scientific picture of origins, as in modern physics and cosmology. Many recent viewpoints are surveyed, as well as the implications for God's continued activity, and some analysis of creation in Genesis.

Chapter 7 on evolution and creation, considers evolution by natural selection as a proposed mechanism, to be assessed on scientific grounds, whereas creation should be judged on theological and biblical grounds.

Chapter 8 discusses the use of biological knowledge to interpret the nature and meaning of human life.

Chapter 9 discusses genetics in relation to reproductive technology, and the consequent ethical questions.

Chapter 10 discusses the earth and its environment, with regard to the various understandings of the earth, and the several attitudes that may be taken to environmental questions (including utilitarian, conservation, sustainable development?), and a theology of stewardship.

Allan J. Day

Some portions were contributed by Jonathan D. A. Clarke, Ross Macmillan, and John R. Pilbrow. And Bruce Craven has done a little editing.