Jitse presents a strong case for methodological pluralism in
science. Those who are methodological naturalists have some work
to do if they wish to defend their position.
The warnings directed to Christians are very strong:
"Therefore, Christian methodological materialists appear to have
no choice, but to be dualists. That is, to accommodate God on
a second supernatural floor added to the ground floor of material
reality."
"However, religious beliefs have made a difference in science.
Moreover, there are reasons to believe that religious beliefs
ought to make a difference in science. If this is correct, and
I believe it is, then the preference of a majority of christian
scientists for a dualistic separation of religion and science is
a bad omen for christian scholarship. Thus the question whether
one can be both a Christian and a methodological materialist is
pressing."
There is one specific area where I think that discussion can help
clarify the issues: the nature of "facts". Many people think
"facts" are objective and theory-free. Others think that "facts
are theory-laden". If the latter is correct, the role of beliefs
and presuppositions in science is much easier to explain.
Paraphrasing Jitse's conclusion, we need a reformation in our
understanding of science. His paper, in my view, helps to
clarify thinking as to what this reformation is all about.
I also appreciated this section:
"As a result, there is no relation between science and religion.
This is problematic because many Christians also believe that
their faith ought to affect all the dimensions of their life and
this includes scholarship. For many this relation has become
limited to exemplifying Christ in how one deals with ethical
issues such as the environment, abortion, or euthanasia.
Excluded from consideration is how one deals with theory choice,
let alone with the influence religious beliefs may have on the
content of theories".
How often are Christians absorbed in "issues" - when the
development of a Christian mind is neglected?
Best wishes,
*** From David J. Tyler, CDT Department, Hollings Faculty,
Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
Telephone: 0161-247-2636 ***