It has become the prevalent view among sociologists, historians, and
some theistic scientists that religion and science have never been in
serious conflict. Some even claim that Christianity was responsible for
the development of science. In God and the Folly of Faith, physicist Victor J. Stenger shows that this conclusion flies in the face of the historical facts.
In
a sweeping historical survey that begins with ancient Greek science and
proceeds through the Renaissance and Enlightenment to contemporary
advances in physics and cosmology, Stenger makes a convincing case that
Christianity held back the progress of science for one thousand years.
It is significant, he notes, that the scientific revolution of the
seventeenth century occurred only after the revolts against established
ecclesiastic authorities in the Renaissance and Reformation opened up
new avenues of thought.
The author goes on to detail how religion
and science are fundamentally incompatible in several areas: the origin
of the universe and its physical parameters, the origin of complexity,
holism versus reductionism, the nature of mind and consciousness, and
the source of morality.
The reader is treated to the history of the conflict between science and religion where Stenger argues there is a fundamental conflict between
the two. “Science” he writes, “has earned our trust by its proven
success. Religion has destroyed our trust by its repeated failures.
Using the empirical method, science has eliminated smallpox, flown men
to the moon, and discovered DNA. If science did not work, we wouldn’t do
it. Relying on faith, religion has brought us inquisitions, holy wars,
and intolerance. Religion does not work, but we still do it.” (p. 15)
Title: God and the Folly of Faith: The incompatibility of Science and Religion
Author: Victor J. Stenger
Paperback: 375 pages
Publisher: Prometheus Books (April 24, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616145994
ISBN-13: 978-1616145996
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