John C. Polkinghorne and Chen Ning Yang on the Dialogue between Science and Religion

Abstract

John C. Polkinghorne (1930–2021) (FRS 1974) was an English theoretical particle physicist, theologian, and Anglican priest. Professor Chen Ning Yang (ForMemRS 1992) is a theoretical physicist. Polkinghorne visited the Hong Kong Baptist University in November 2006. The present article gives an account of his visit, in particular his public lecture, a dialogue with Yang, and their responses to questions from the audience. Polkinghorne’s trip to Hong Kong introduced the interdisciplinary field of science and religion to the people of Hong Kong and mainland China, and opened an East-West dialogue on this topic. Polkinghorne’s view that “Science and religion are basically friends and not foes because they are both concerned with the search for the truth” is an inspiration for many. The same goes for Yang’s point that “Science and religion belong to one family from the beginning.”