Some younger scientists seem more open to religious ideas
January 27, 2024
The intellectual (sometimes) struggle between science and religion is quite old, and so far neither side has surrendered. Indeed, there are plenty of examples of people on both sides of the divide working together and appreciating what each side brings to the table.
Maybe not intermarriage, but certainly some serious dating here and there.
For instance, as this Word on Fire piece explains, a Jesuit priest has written a new book (I haven't read it yet) in which he notes that quite a few younger scientists are suggesting that a lot of recent scientific thinking and discoveries increasingly point to the existence of a god.
In some ways, it's an unexpected development, considering a lot of conventional wisdom that insists many scientists have walked away from religion on the theory that it almost inevitably conflicts with science much more than it supports scientific thinking. For the most part, of course, science and religion are interested in different questions. To describe things over-simplistically, religion asks about purpose, for example, whereas science asks about facts and processes.
Fr. Robert Spitzer's new book is Science at the Doorstep to God, and the article to which I've linked you above contains an interview with Spitzer by Word on Fire’s Senior Publishing Director, Brandon Vogt.
Spitzer says there are at least five good reasons why young scientists are coming to think that the work they do shows evidence for a god.
"First, among young physicists, there is considerable awareness of the need for something like transcendent intelligence to explain the exceedingly improbable occurrence of the finely-tuned initial conditions and constants needed for the development of life.
"Second, few young scientists believe in the materialistic/physicalistic explanation of our universe. . .
"Third, among young physicians and neuroscientists, the awareness of evidence for a transphysical ground of consciousness, which can exist outside the body and survive clinical death, is widely known. . .
"Fourth, many young scientists have distanced themselves from old prejudices against religion, coming from incomplete or exaggerated accounts of the Galileo affair and early challenges of religion to science. . .
"Fifth, contemporary evidence showing the compatibility and complementarity of science and faith has opened the way for many religious students to study science. This has not only freed them from having to hide their religious beliefs among colleagues, but also to find probative scientific evidence corroborating their beliefs."
Well, no doubt there will continue to be scientists who dismiss religion and people of faith who continue to imagine that all the science they need can be found in sacred scripture.
But I find it encouraging when there's at least a willingness to have a bit of dialogue about all of this. Let me know if you get a chance to read Spitzer's book and what you think of it.
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NASHVILLE -- Because I'm here to celebrate the birthday of a grandson who is a first-year student at Belmont University and because from here I'm headed to Delavan, Ill., for the funeral Saturday of my late father's brother, there won't be the usual second item on this blog post. My Uncle Lawrence died this past Sunday just a couple of months shy of his 102nd birthday. Here is a link to a piece I wrote about him after attending his 100th birthday party in 2022. What a fabulous man. Proud to be part of his extended family. And here is a link to his obituary.
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P.S.: In my latest Flatland column, which posted this morning, I've got some ideas for the Mayor's Reparations Commission.
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