The Myth of Science vs Religion

Has Christianity been at war with science? Many think so. Science historian-philosopher Michael Keas exposes the false religion-bashing narratives of leading science popularizers such as Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye “The Science Guy.” The impression that Christianity is typically at war with science has been perpetuated by many specific myths, including this one: “That Church-induced ignorance caused medieval European intellectuals to believe in a flat earth.”

Keas also explores how these historical myths support scientism today. Scientism is the view that only the sciences generate knowledge or rational belief. Reliable belief about God is impossible, scientism typically assumes. Keas argues that Christianity has opposed scientism, not science. This is good news for Christians because (generally) science is reasonable, while scientism is not (as he shows).

Atheist biologist Jerry Coyne once wrote: “Had there been no Christianity, if after the fall of Rome atheism had pervaded the Western world, science would have developed earlier and be far more advanced than it is now.” Theological realism infused in culture inhibits the growth of science, Coyne believes. Coyne admits he “can’t prove this,” but he “maintains” it nonetheless. Coyne’s assertion about the history of science is weaker than he admits. There is no way to directly test his statement by the methods of historical scholarship or any other discipline.

At first glance, scientism and Coyne’s historical-sounding assertion seem to reinforce each other. If you want to be on the right side of history, then distance yourself from traditional religions that corrode responsible thinking.