Episode25: Science and Religion

Science is the product of human intellect, creativity and
imagination. It helps answers the profoundest of all questions.
Where did life come from? How old is the Earth? What is the
structure of the universe? How did humans come to be? As the
history of science shows, as it progresses so does the nature,
accuracy and reliability the answers to such questions. The
scientific picture of the physical world is a provisional and an
ever changing one. Science is not the only way to understand the
world and our place within it.  Majority of the time humans
have existed most of them have been equally content and secure with
different answers to the same fundamental questions. For them
ancient holly texts provide unambiguous solutions. Science is not
needed because it is not required. The debate between science and
religion is as intriguing and contentious today in the 21st century
as it has always been. Science progresses by actively challenging
its core tenants through the rational exercise of reason. On the
other hand religious beliefs have divine origins, don’t require
changing and are thus inherently stronger. There are surprising
large number of high profile scientist who are also committed to a
particular faith. Perhaps they can shed some light on how they
reconcile this apparent contradiction. Dr Allan Chapman who is not
a scientist but a historian of science and a practising Christian
with a particular interest in the history of astronomy talks about
science and religion.  He is the author of several books
including biographies on Mary Summerville and Robert Hook. Perhaps
he is better known  for  “Gods in the Sky”  and as
the presenter the  of the three part series of the same name
on channel4.