What is the Conflict Thesis? The Conflict Thesis, was popularized in the 19th century by John William Draper and Andrew Dickson White. It holds that religion and science have been in conflict continuously throughout history. While before this no one had pitted science against religion or vice versa, though occasional complex interactions had been expressed before the 19th century. Most contemporary historians of science now reject the conflict thesis in its original form and no longer support it. Instead, it has been superseded by subsequent historical research which has resulted in a more nuanced understanding: Historian of science, Gary Ferngren, has stated Although popular images of controversy continue to exemplify the supposed hostility of Christianity to new scientific theories, studies have shown that Christianity has often nurtured and encouraged scientific endeavour, while at other times the two have co-existed without either tension or attempts at harmonization. If Galileo and the Scopes trial come to mind as examples of conflict, they were the exceptions rather than the rule. Science historian Ronald Numbers suggests the conflict theory lingers in a popular belief, inclusive of scientists and clerics alike, that history reflects an intrinsic and inevitable anti-intellectual conflict between religion and science, a misconception perpetuated by the polemics surrounding controversies like creation–evolution, stem cells, and birth control. Some scholars, such as Brian Stanley and Denis Alexander propose that mass media is partly responsible for popularizing conflict theory, most notably the Flat-earth myth that prior to Columbus people believed the Earth was flat. David C. Lindberg and Numbers point out that there was scarcely a Christian scholar of the Middle Ages who did not acknowledge Earths sphericity and even knew its approximate circumference. Ronald Numbers gives the following as mistakes arising from conflict theory that have gained widespread currency: the Church prohibited autopsies and dissections during the Middle Ages, the rise of Christianity killed off ancient science, and the medieval Christian church suppressed the growth of the natural sciences The fact is historians today have moved on from a conflict model, which is based mainly on two historical episodes (Galileo and Darwin) for a complexity model. Furthermore vast majority of the leadership of the worlds biggest religions, along with their adherents have no issue with science. But facts be damned because the likes of Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss have books to sell, and the reactionary American Christian Right need something to feel persecuted about so they to can make money as well.
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 03:39:30 +0000
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