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Science, faith, and reason

Delve into the complex relationships between religion, science, and reason. Discover differing perspectives on conflict, independence, and integration, and explore non-evidential views of faith and reason. Evaluate the concepts of Fideism, Pascal's Wager, and Reformed Epistemology in the context of religious belief justification. Engage in questions examining the accuracy of views on the relationship between religion and science, the reconciliation of evolution and creationism, the coexistence of faith and reason, and the validity of Pascal's Wager.

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Science, faith, and reason

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  1. Science, faith, and reason Intro to religion

  2. Defining terms • Religion: a system of beliefs and practices primarily centered around a transcendent reality, either personal or impersonal, which provides ultimate meaning and purpose to human life. • Science: the exploration, description, explanation, and prediction of occurrences in the natural world which can be checked and supported by empirical evidence.

  3. Understanding relationships • Conflict, independence or integration? • Science and religion are in conflict with each other • View points: scriptural literalists & scientific materialists • Challenges: scripture is not scientific textbook & scientific method cannot verify itself

  4. Independence • Science and religion are completely independent forms of thought and practice, which never come into contact. • View Points: protestant neo-orthodoxy & linguistic analysis. • Problems: religious engagement and disparate domains

  5. Integration • Science and religion are integrated in some way • Versions: natural theology & systematic synthesis • Positives: single unified worldview, without discrediting science or religion. • Exciting new prospects

  6. Religious belief and justification • Religious validation views of faith and reason • Non-evidential views of faith and reason • Fideism – Kierkegaard, evidence not needed, “leap of faith • The will to believe – James, deciding between hypotheses and believing even if evidence is lacking

  7. Non-evidential views cont. • Pascal’s wager: believing in God is a better bet than not believing. • If God exists and you believe - great gain • If God doesn’t exist and you believe  no great gain or loss • If God exists and you don’t believe  great loss • If God doesn’t exist and you don’t believe  no great loss and no great gain

  8. Non-evidential views cont. • Reformed epistemology • Plantinga • Belief in God can still be rational, even without evidence • Contradicts foundationalism • Belief in God is properly basic • Basic – but not ground;ess

  9. Questions for discussion • Which of the three views of the relationship between religion and science do you find to be most accurate? • Evolution and creationism are often considered to be diametrically opposed beliefs about the existence of God. Can they be reconciled? • Are faith and reason mutually exclusive? Can you have faith in something or someone while also having reasons for what you have faith in? • Does Pascal’s wager make sense or do you see anything wrong with his line of argument?

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