Can Religious Faith Help Advance Science?
By Rev. Richard Randolph, PhD, Senior pastor, Christ United Methodist Church
In my last article for 55+ I explored how science and faith may relate to — or, interact with — each other through a dialogue process. In this essay, I would like to explore a much deeper engagement process called integration. This position goes a step beyond “dialogue” by maintaining that science and religion can make contributions to one another's ongoing research at a foundational level. In other words, integration occurs when science or religion proposes a research project for the other.
Integration can flow in either direction. Science may be used to critique and inform the foundational assumptions, building blocks, and paradigms of religion. An obvious illustration of the integrational flow from science to faith is the scientific discovery of evolution. Evolution forced most Christians to rethink how we interpret the creation stories in Genesis. Rather than thinking of these stories as explanations of how life emerged on earth, many Christians began to see these scriptures as focusing on humans’ responsibility to care for Creation and to be good stewards as part of God’s plan for all of Creation, including humans.
Conversely, integration can flow in the opposite direction, as well. Usually this opposite direction occurs when scientists realize that they are not properly prepared to address ethical questions which may arise from their research. Under these circumstances, religious faith may help advance science in a responsible manner.
Currently, this is happening in the field of genetics. Recent technological breakthroughs have given scientists cheap, powerful, and effective ways to manipulate DNA through a process called CRISPR. This new tool will allow geneticists to cure HIV, genetic diseases, and some cancers through genetic changes in human embryos. As this technology continues to develop, it has the potential to greatly benefit human life.
At the same time, the new CRISPR technology may be used negatively in ways that will harm people. For instance, if CRISPR is not widely available to everyone, it could be used to create a “super class” of children who have greatly enhanced physical and/or mental capabilities.
Geneticists are increasingly alarmed by the implications of this new technology. They believe that we should move forward only after carefully studying the ethics questions. Jennifer Doudna, who won a Nobel Prize as the co-discoverer of CRISPR, has called for a broad public discussion that intentionally includes religious leaders and religious perspectives.1
Have questions?
Contact Rev. Richard Randolph, PhD at Christ United Methodist Church by email at richard.randolph@christumclinc.org or by phone at 402-489-9618.
1 Jennifer A. Doudna and Samuel Sternberg, A Crack in Creation, Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution.