“Though faith is
above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason.
Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the
light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever
contradict truth. Consequently, methodical research in all branches of
knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not
override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of
the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and
persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by
the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all
things, who made them what they are.” Catechism of the Catholic Church
, par 159.
RI Can faith exist in a world where
science is demonstrating ever more details of creation and the evolution of
human life? Is there a place for science among those who believe that the Book
of Genesis is God’s inspired revelation?
anchored “Modern Science/Ancient Faith,” a conference sponsored by the Benedictine-run
Portsmouth Institute, housed in Rhode Island’s Portsmouth Abbey School, on June
22-24. The event brought together some ninety scientists, theologians, philosophers,
clergy, lay faithful, and skepticsor some mix of the aboveto explore the
dialogue between the natural sciences and Christianity.
While few participants
expressed difficulties with the coexistence of faith and reason, the how of this coexistence wasn’t always in agreement. Some
demanded a decidedly scientific approach to questions of beginnings. Others
championed a more literal understanding of Genesis. This made for polite but
fiery discussions that began in the early summer’s heat of the Abbey’s grounds
and now continue online.
with Adoration and the Rosary, the first talk was a review of the Galileo
affair by Rev. Dom Paschal Scotti, O.S.B. His presentation set an amicable tone
for the conference by demonstrating Christianity’s affinity for the natural
sciences. The priest made clear that the driving issue at play in Galileo’s
run-in with the Church was not an inherent fear of science. Rather, most
Catholic theologians and scientists working with Galileo fought with the
astronomer to keep scientific observations in their proper arena.
And as in the
modern debates about issues such as evolution or climate change, what further
inflamed the Galileo saga were the nuances of human sin, politics, and egos.
According to Fr. Paschal, relations between Galileo and the Church were
complicated by issues such as tensions between the Dominican and Jesuit orders;
secular pressures on Pope Urban VIII; Galileo’s often aggressive approach and
sometimes sarcastic writings; and the effects of Protestantism’s demands for sola
Fr. Paschal noted
that, human failings notwithstanding, an incarnational faith by its nature
intersects with the natural world and, thus, the sciencesand this may explain
why Christianity was the fertile ground from which the natural sciences could
“The respected historian of science,
Edward Grant ... sees Christianity as supportive of science and the Christian
Middles Ages as laying the foundations for the Scientific Revolution,” wrote
Fr. Paschal. Later, the priest noted that the conference was an important one
since there remains an unfortunate metaphor of “warfare” between Christianity
and science by many outside of academic circles, most especially in the media.
Mindful that the
faith-reason link remains a tough sell even within academic circlesespecially among fundamentalist
Christians and atheistsDr. John F. Haught, Senior Fellow of Science &
Religion at Georgetown University, offered a “dramatic” or “narrative” appreciation
of how the universe is not idle, but remains in a formative, evolving state.
Haught said that
we can better appreciate the meaning of creation, and better know our creator,
by acknowledging that because the story of the universe is not complete,
neither the natural or theological sciences can, on their own, truly explain
“what it’s all about.” Haught made his points with references to traditions found
in St. Augustine and St. Bonaventure. He also lamented “an often third-grade
understanding of theology” held by both atheists and some who demand a literal
reading of Sacred Scripture.
University’s Dr. Michael Ruse, a specialist in the history and philosophy of
science, agreed that sound science is being impeded by animosity between the
“new atheists,” such as the English scientist Richard Dawkins, and biblical fundamentalists.
He also applauded the Catholic predisposition that holds faith and science in
relation. A self-described “religious skeptic,” Ruse sought to foster a “middle
way” to bring order to faith-reason debates.
conference speakersBrown University’s Dr. Kenneth Miller and Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary’s Dr. William A. Dembskidemonstrated that such
debates are very much alive.
Miller is a
well-known defender of evolutionary science while Dembski defends Intelligent Design,
which has been described by some as an exploration of a less “materialist”
explanation for how humans came to exist than most evolutionists allow. Others
see Intelligent Design as just another form of biblically literal creationism.
Both Miller and Dembski have been on opposing sides of legal disputes between
citizens and public school districts over how to teach the origins and
development of life.
conference, Miller, a Catholic molecular biologist, gave an overview of
findings from fossil records and genome studies that show adaptations and
intermediary steps in the evolution of life. Miller also championed his faith’s
allowance to let science be sciencein particular quoting Pope Benedict XVI. but to emphasize the role that
reason in general, and scientific reason in particular, should play in the
lives of the faithful.
When asked about
the many questions that evolutionary sciences have not answered, Miller responded
that “to say ‘nobody really knows’ is not the same as ‘we know nothing.’”
Miller urged his fellow Catholicsand all religious believersto not look for
God in areas of science that have not yet been explained, because someday
scientists may answer those questions, too.
Dembski, a mathematician
and professor of philosophy, spoke in agreement with much of what evolutionary
sciences have demonstrated. But he noted that in areas such as the development
of life, its increasing complexity, and its self-awareness, science has much
more to explain than it hasor can. Dembski made a critical distinction between
matter and information and he asked if there is something “outside” of matter
that is informing it, guiding the cosmos and life to develop as it has.
selection is the method that evolution uses, that’s fine,” Dembski said after
his talk. “But where does the information needed for this process come from?”
Miller later said
that Dembski was being “disingenuous” in stating acceptance of specific elements
of evolution, such as natural selection, “and the record proves this.” He added
that science has in fact demonstrated that life has an innate ability to
“harvest” from its environment the information needed for adaptation. Miller
said that he and Dembski “are oceans apart” in their views.
since wrote in evolutionnew.org that “Miller
devoted about twenty minutes of [his] talk to going after me personally,
lifting dated (2005 and 2006) and out-of-context quotes from the UncommonDescent.com
blog and trying to discredit me with some outright fabrications.”
nature of such debates is why conference planners ended with Fr. Nicanor Pier
O.P., a professor of biology at Providence College. The Dominican priest
showcased the long Catholic tradition that weds faith and reason and proposed
ways to reconcile science with the Book of Genesis.
Motherway of Wickford, RI, the conference helped her understand how faith and
reason inform each other, and how faith must remain in society for the common
good. “I’m old enough to remember the ‘love’ of the 1960s and the past few
years we’ve tried ‘hope,’” Motherway said. “Maybe it’s time we focus more on
faithespecially since faith and reason are not antithetical.”
was the latest summer gathering by the Portsmouth Institute. The institute’s executive
director Jamie MacGuire, a 1970 graduate of Portsmouth Abbey, hopes that the
relaxed June conferences will make growing contributions to Catholic thought
“in the spirit of the Benedictine tradition.”
that this year’s theme was proposed because the school will soon break ground
on a replacement for its science center. “As an educational institution we
truly seek to build our students faith while developing their love of reason,”
he said. “This conference is really an example of who we are.”