THE INTERFACE OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION

Ecofeminist Theology of Rosemary Ruether

Abstract

In his book, When Science Meets Religion, Ian Barbour enumerates four typologies that demonstrate "the ways in which people have related science and religion."} The following are the fourfold typology: (1) conflict typology argues that science and religion are two distinct fields that are incompatible and hostile (rhetoric of warfare) with one another. Hence, in this typology, scientific materialism (scientific knowledge alone is true knowledge and matter alone is the fundamental stuff of life) is irreconcilable with biblical literalism (the Word of God alone is the source of inerrant truth since it is God's own words). As a consequence, scientific evolution is considered diametrically opposed to Biblical creation accounts; (2) independence typology holds that science and religion represent two different methods of inquiry, each with its own corresponding language and function in life yet at times they offer complementary views of the world. Both are autonomous field of inquiry and function independently to respond to particular sets of questions in life.