Gould on science & religion ~ slide 1

Gould on the relationship between science & religion

For an expanded version of this argument, see Stephen Jay Gould. Rocks of Ages: Science & Religion in the Fullness of Life. New York: Ballantine, 1999.

Story about a gathering in Rome in 1984 sponsored by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on nuclear winter. The French & Jesuit Italian priests staying

at the same hotel as Gould were puzzled by “scientific creationism.”

Gould’s answer: a home grown phenomenon growing out of fundamentalism -- biblical literalism.

Gould on science & religion ~ slide 2

Gould on the relationship between science & religion

Gould points out that neither Catholicism nor Judaism has an “extensive tradition” of reading the Bible as literal truth (500).

Most Protestant groups take the same position.

Gould assumes is lack of conflict between evolution and Christianity.

He generalizes: Is lack of conflict on all issues between science and religion.

Why?

Gould on science & religion ~ slide 3

Gould on the relationship between science & religion

Gould’s NOMA Lack of conflict between science &

religion is based on lack of overlap between their respective domains (500).

Science -- concerned with the empirical domain

Religion -- concerned with meaning & values (502)

But matters are not quite this clean; religion & science bump up against each other along the borders.

Gould on science & religion ~ slide 4

Gould on the relationship between science & religion

Discussion of Pope John Paul II’s statement in 1996 on evolution Evolution as well-confirmed as any

scientific theory Compatible with Christianity as long as

distinctiveness of humans is maintained Re-affirms Pius XII’s statement about

special creation of soul

Gould on science & religion ~ slide 5

Gould on the relationship between science & religion

Why was this papal statement news? Because of Pope Pius XII statement of 1950 Evolution is a scientific hypothesis which

should be studied; but it has not been proven.

But human soul is specially created by God. Evolution explains body but not soul.

Statement of 1996 was news because John Paul II said evolution had now been proven.

Gould on science & religion ~ slide 6

Gould on the relationship between science & religion

Gould takes the 1996 statement as an endorsement of NOMA

Gould closes with a personal statement about religion States he is an agnostic Jew Notes that religion has fostered both

unspeakable horrors & dramatic examples of human goodness (506).

Gould on science & religion ~ slide 7

Gould on the relationship between science & religion

Gould says he defends NOMA not only for diplomatic reasons, but for moral and intellectual reasons.

Is important to emphasize that NOMA places restrictions on both science & religion. Religious authorities should not make

statements about truth or falsity of scientific claims.

Scientists qua scientists should not make statements about meaning & values.

Gould on science & religion ~ slide 8

Gould on the relationship between science & religion

Need for mutual humility. Comments

Problems with NOMA Five areas of overlap

1. Theories of origins 2. Human nature 3. Ethics 4. Historical claims 5. Divine providence