Controversy Re-Examined

New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 929, 31 May 1957, Page 21

Controversy Re-Examined

[N the judgment of some the issue between science and religion was closed for good and all three generations ago, comments Dr John McIntyre, Professor of Theology at Edinburgh University, in the first of two talks on Science and Religion, to be heard next week. But there are at least three good reasons now why a fresh look should be.taken at the question, and continuing Progress in science suggests that there will be others to come. aes "One reason," says Dr McIntyre, "is that since the classic form was given to the controversy of science with religion in the 19th century . .. there has been a greater advance in human knowledge than in any period of equal length in human history. It is very probable that some of this new knowledge has altered the terms of the old controversy, altered them even to the extent of making it absurd to go on calling it a ‘controversy.’" Another reason is the widespread belief that in some ways the dangers that confront modern civilisation through the possible misuse of atomic energy are due to the divofce of science from re-ligion-or at least from the moral and ethical sanctions associated with religion. And, finally, there is the secular character of modern ecucation, which has apparently no place for religion, and where the trend appears to be more and more towards the sciences. Science and Religion will be heard from 4YA and 4YZ at 7.15 p.m., Wednesday, June 5, from 2YA at 7.15 p.m. the next day, June 6, and later from other YA stations.