There is scepticism about media, scepticism about science, scepticism about Christianity; but today we should see the opportunities when we as Christians can think about science in our lives.
Dara O'Brien and many other comedians, do sketches about science and religion, exploring the issues. Why? Because the conflict model is popular; we like the black and white of creation OR evolution.
Where dies the conflict hypotheses come from? It's only about one hundred years old started by Huxley and others in the late 19th century. They were interested in the status of science in culture, wishing to move the science profession away from the control of the church.
Huxley and others founded the x-club in 1864 discussing the conflict hypotheses between science and the church, it became very popular and was used by both aestheists and creationists. Both say one has to be right and one wrong; on opposite sides.
Conflict is only one way of discussing science and religion.
Others include:
Independence - they both explain the world in their own way but can not be compared because they have different bases.
Dialogue - the two ways of thinking allow dialogue although care in comparison is needed.
Integration - it is a bit of both.
In many ways the description of science is right, but doesn't go far enough. Just think about the scientific and romantic descriptions of "kissing".
Kay in 1995 researched how 11 to 16 year olds felt about science disproving religion. It found that 21% of boys seeing conflict and only 11% of girls; girls find holding juxtapositions easier at an earlier age.
If there are problems with understanding two views of life, perhaps there is a need to debate more, explain science methods and findings better, and get the churches to affirm and discuss the gift of science.
The media are interested in the "big questions", ever since Stephen Hawking there has been a fascination with how the world was formed and works. He allowed us to be interested in the unknowns, to expect to get to understand them and want reasons.
There's a problem though; at the very start of all time the known laws of physics break down. This is where much scientific research is now focussed, in an attempt to avoid the need for "God".
That's fine with us, as Christians we know that God has always and will always hold us in the palm of his hand. God has not just acted once at the big bang.
John Barrow said that "once upon a time there was no time"; and this is where Hawkins focusses his research. From this the 'M Theory' (range of theories) develops to look at the time difference at the start. If we think theologically then we are drawn towards theism, where as M theory might take us more towards daism.
The media are fascinated in the "new priesthood" for instance Professor Brian Cox. Science is once again cool and attracts people who are fascinating. Much like priests used to.
Hawking after his appearance in The Simpsons said "almost as many people know me from the Simpsons as from my science" - that is a new obsession with scientists.
Do these scientists influence popular culture? Certainly many, including Dawkins do to some extent. Dawkins says the God hypothesis should not stand on Christian images of God; so why does Dawkins feel the need to un-define the God hypothesis.
Of course not all celebrity scientists are aestheists. Many wish to bring together science and theology debate and allow discussion through the Grace of God.
Story and entertainment are good at getting across big issues and debates; through imagination and a sense of awe we can develop our understanding of the world. Science and religion are both in the business of a sense of awe, we should be able to hold that in both.
Science is not all fact; there is judgement, risk, modelling, theories and testing. Sounds pretty similar to sone of the requirements of Christian theology.
So how do we deal with the conflict? We need to:
- not fear the questions - God is a god of truth and we should not have fear despite our not understanding
- enjoy science - it's a gift from God; sometimes boring but also amazing
- be careful of the 'logical proof' - God is not about proof of God, but about His place in our world and Jesus and his resurrection for us
- remember the centrality of God and Jesus and his resurrection - this is our faith
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