In 1959 C P Snow published a lecture entitled The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. The two cultures were science and literary humanities. Over the years the barrier between them has to some degree been broken down. To what extent is it true today that a scientist who didn't know Shakespeare's plays would be seen as ignorant, whereas a professor of humanities who didn't know the second law of thermodynamics would not?
Sadly it seems there are still two cultures between scientists and theologians. I don't mean creationists who fabricate science to fit their particular reading of scripture, but the generality of theology does not seem to need science.
This has led to a public perception of Christians as old-fashioned and anti-science. Recent statements by church leaders about stem cell research for example, have displayed ignorance of what the research involves. Although, it has to be said the quality of understanding of science in the media generally leaves something to be desired. This is no excuse for serious theologians who need to make the effort to find out about science; a subscription to the New Scientist would do the trick.
People like Dawkins exploit this weakness, a weakness that is in principle easily remedied. Where are the people with the confidence to preach and teach themes that will counteract this lack of understanding?
The development of competent theological responses to science is something the Christian traditions must do together. The antics of fundamentalists who propagate nonsensical science in the name of the Christian faith are not doing any of the mainstream traditions any good. It is far to easy to smear everyone with the eccentricities of the few.
We need to understand that for the last 80 years or so science has become a much more friendly place for the Christian faith. Newtonian cosmology tended to undermine the Christian faith, particularly during the twentieth century. Before science became professionalised, it was the preserve of gentlemen of leisure, many of whom were clergy. Today it has lost its roots in the faith.
Fundamentalist Christianity and materialist science seem to have grown up together over the last 80 years. Paradoxically, they have grown up together at the same time as mainstream science has moved to a position much more accommodating to faith.
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