![]() ![]() Now, some will quibble with the word “normally.” This, they suggest, “smuggles God into science.” But to think this is a mistake. As Christian philosopher of science Del Ratzsch defines science, it is the attempted objective study of the natural world and natural phenomena whose theories and explanations do not normally depart from the natural world. To do so, we should distinguish between science and scientism. ![]() SCIENCE, SCIENTISM, AND KNOWLEDGEįirst, let us clear away some confusions about science and knowledge. What do we mean by science? What is knowledge? What is the difference between an atheist and an agnostic? We should also get clear on “the rules of engagement” so that we can fair-mindedly converse about such topics. ![]() In response to such challenges, it is wise to sort out and define our terms. But is that the proper protocol demanded by rationality and other appropriate considerations? And if nothing is forthcoming or if it is not sufficiently strong evidence to their mind, then they typically think themselves properly justified in their rejection of God. All the while, atheists may be sitting back and assessing whatever the theist can come up with. Such critics assume that Christians and other theists have a special burden of proof to bear to show that God exists. Richard Dawkins, for example, writes “Scientific beliefs are supported by evidence, and they get results. Since the 9/11 attacks, this “enlightened” modern criterion for knowing has been reinforced by the “New Atheists”-Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and (the late) Christopher Hitchens. We have come to expect such challenges in an age of scientism-the belief that science, and thus “scientific proof”-can alone yield knowledge. Usually, when skeptics ask us Christians for “proof,” they are usually calling for “ scientific proof” for God’s existence, objective moral values, the soul, or life after death. The student paused and eventually responded, “I guess I haven’t even thought about that.” The conversation, which turned out to be cordial enough, died out shortly thereafter. I asked him, “What would you take as an acceptable level of proof?” College of Education & Behavioral SciencesĪfter speaking to the Philomathean Society-a debate club-at Union College in Schenectady, New York, a student approached me and demanded: “Prove to me that God exists.”.Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness. ![]()
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