The tension between science and religion: are these mutually hostile disciplines?

Abstract

First, I wish to thank the organizers of The 15th ICCE for the kind invitation to present a plenary lecture on such a delicate theme as I have chosen. At the 14th ICCE, in Brisbane, Australia, we heard Sister Mary Virginia Orna discuss the Shroud of Turin. This year I intend to go a little further and make some comments regarding the relation between the educational process of science and religion, especially Christianity. I hope to introduce you to three writers who have guided my thinking. The ®rst is Karen Armstrong [1], who evolved from a shy nun into an authoritative writer and communicator on religious issues. The second is a gifted physicist, Arie van den Beukel [2], who did much research into very thin metal ®lms, but never forgot that he was a Christian which brought him into opposition with fashionable atheists in the scienti®c camp. The third writer I want to introduce is Willem Drees, who after three PhD degrees in physics, theology, and philosophy has attempted to reconcile these diverse branches of his advanced studies. Being a Protestant Presbyterian Christian, I shall not try to discuss how other religions address the issues I raise here. I shall, however, have occasion to refer to Jewish or Muslim thought, but not with any authority.