Wednesday 11 February 2009

Here King looks at science and religion in this same discussion on soft-mindedness.

This has also led to a widespread belief that there is a conflict between science and religion. But this is not true. There may be a conflict between soft minded religionists and tough minded scientists, but not between science and religion. Their respective worlds are different and their methods are dissimilar. Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power; religion gives man wisdom which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals. They are complementary. Science keeps religion from sinking into the valley of crippling irrationalism and paralyzing obscurantism. Religion prevents science from falling in the march of obsolete materialism and moral nihilism.

"They are complementary." We need to hear that more often. Let science be science and let religion be religion. In the meantime, the two can have a meaningful and vital discussion about where we are going and who we are being called to be. Often, fundamentalism is the religious side that is not willing to let itself be the gift that it is. Instead, soft-minded people must have religion be the all-in-all. When that is the case, religious people can lose so much of the beauty of scientific progress and science loses the beauty of prophetic vision within the religious community. In faithful conversations in the church, it is necessary that we not fear the gift of science and what it can bring into our world view as we use the lens of faith to look more deeply into the meaning and value of that which is discovered or uncovered through science.

Connection: There are many parts of our modern day lives that are a part of the ongoing history of scientific research. How has this journey engaged the storytelling of your faith tradition?

You oversee all things, O God. You encourage us to learn about this creation that embraces us and calls us to be all that we are called to be by you. Remind us to stay fluid and open to what is presented to us as new and focused on what are the gifts of the vision of your Reign that you have handed to us through the years. Amen.