Area 1 – Sources of Understanding

Aims and Objectives

By the end of this section you should be able to: 

• describe the nature and importance of revelation in the Christian Tradition• describe the methods of scientific enquiry• describe answers to specific questions about human origins which arise from Christian revelation and scientific enquiry.

What is Revelation?

Latin –’revelare : to remove the veil’

Dictionary Definition : when something is made known that was secret, or a fact that is made

known

Revelation within Religion

• Facts or information which can be communicated about God;

• God being made known, uncovered

• ‘Truths’ about who God is and what his will is

God ‘reveals’ himself (self-revelation)

God reveals himself to the world in an ongoing process (general revelation) therefore Creation is not a one off but an ‘ongoing process’

Revelation within ReligionPersonal manner of revelation

Revelation within History

• Christians believe God reveals himself more specifically, through the history and experience of the nation of Israel (Jews)

• Key OT Figures : Abraham, Moses, David, Prophets• Climax is life of Jesus : God’s ultimate revelation• Brought together in written form – The Bible (The

Word of God)

What is the ‘Bible’?

• Collection of 66 books (OT 39 / NT 27)• Written in a variety of socio-political and

cultural eras over a period of 3000 years• Gathered by the religious elite to reflect their

understanding of their communities experience• OT – Jewish community / NT - Christian

What does the Bible contain?

• Written over a period of 2000 years +

• Dynamic nature of material – open to reinterpretation by different user groups means it remains relevant even today

The Bible

Revelation within the Bible(identify different interpretations)

• Literal vs Critical views of the Bible

• Literal fundementalist views on Word of God

• Historical Criticism : role of context in writings – who what where why?

Literal Interpretations

• Eg. Adam and Eve were real people, world WAS created in 6 days

• Eg. Jonah really was swallowed by a whale

• Eg. Jesus did rise BODILY from the tomb

Non-literal Interpretations

• Eg. Adam and Eve symbolic characters representing whole of humanity

• Eg. Jonah contains much irony and humour, nevertheless makes a valid point

• Eg. Jesus’ spirit was alive with his disciples, not his real body

The Role of Tradition

• Where the Bible does not speak specifically on an issue (eg. medical ethics, abortion and other modern problems we face) the Catholic Church believes it has the authority to define a response, because of its links with the first disciples who continued the teaching of Jesus and developed it.

Scientific Enquiry

• ‘Science’ (Latin ‘scientia’ – knowledge)Variety of types of knowledge and areas of study eg :

Biology – study of the body;Mathematics – study of numbers and

formulae;Art – study of colours and shapes;Theology – study of god.

Today we tend to associate a narrower range of certain subjects with the term ‘science’

Eg. Biology; Chemistry; Maths; Physics.

These types of subjects are perceived as sciences because they rely on aspects such as observation, analysis and experimentation.

However the original ‘scientists’ were philosophers and theologians

Development of Science

• Originally science came about as people sought explainations regarding the wonders of God’s universe;

• Science fitted with the Biblical view that earth was the centre of the universe, supported by the physics and philosophy of Plato and Aristotle (early thinkers and writers)

Copernicus

• A Catholic priest and astronomer• Challenges ‘geo-centric’ view of universe;• ‘De Revolutionibus Orbuim’ (1543) proposed that the

sun was centre of universe;• Churches view challenged by mathematical

calculations and observations – religious view seen for first time as fallible

• Ideas taken up by Galileo

Galileo

• Often called the father of modern scientific enquiry;

• Developed and refined telescope;• Not anti-Christian but views challenged that

on which Church’s world view was based;• Tried and found guilty of heresy, works

banned;

• Though Galileo believed that discovering more about universe led to greater understanding of God his methods showed knowledge of the universe did not need to rely on religion or God.

• Moreover, religion was only needed for answers which science could not provide, or the ‘God of the gaps’ (in scientific knowledge) notion

Modern Science• It became established among thinkers that knowledge

could be acquired through measuring, testing and observing.

• The authority of religion had been eroded.

• Bacon and Newton – on basis of observation of world human mind can establish laws of nature (empiricism) – leads to 2 specific approaches to knowledge : deduction and induction

Deduction

• Requires a knowledge of ‘rules’;

• Like rules in a game of chess, you can deduce (work out and predict) what is likely to happen;

• Depends on certain assumptions (for example that the rules are correct!)

Induction

• Gathers information, ensures relevance;• Draws conclusions in form of hypothesis (to

propose or suppose)• A hypothesis is an assumption put under an

argument to support it;• Scientists propose theories on how things

behave – if it works out it is regarded as scientific law (eg the law of gravity)

Logical Positivism

• Widely held philosophical view of science today;

• Observation, testing, measuring – conclusions reached are based on what is experienced;

• Only knowledge which can be verified (proven) is valid;

• Therefore as God cannot be verified it does not exist.

Science vs Religion• Despite the first scientists being religious we

now have a situation where science and religion seem incompatible:

• Religious views are seen as antiquated;• Scientific views are seen as godless;

• Is there some kind of middle ground or are both worldviews exclusive?

Revelation – Strengths vs Weaknesses

• Strengths• Personal Experience• Infallible (perfect)• Provides meaning value

and purpose• Gives comfort and

inspiration

• Limitations• No set method• Not always rational• Based on Faith – not as

secure as reason• Religious Experience not

open to observation and experimentation

• Subjective - not impartial / could be biased

• Can be misinterpreted• Science gives alternative

and rational explainations

Science – Strengths vs Weaknesses• Strengths• Relies on FACT• Empircal evidence –

proof and verification• Reason not faith• Objective / impartial• Can be tested by others

• Limitations• Provisional – can

change• Fallible – human error• Scientists not totally

objective always!• Often uses models and

analogies – not always real thing

• Sometimes a ‘best guess’ is taken as truth

The Case Against Religion• It is irrational• It is escapist• It is backward and prevents progress• It is divisive

The Case For Religion

• Religion has the majority• Western culture rooted in Christianity• Religion asks deeper questions• Religion is the mother of science• Science is also based on faith