Faith vs. Fact: Why Science and Religion are Incompatible

Faith versus fact : why science and religion are incompatible
Author Jerry A Coyne
Publisher Viking (a division of Penguin Random House)
Publication date
 2015
Pages 311
ISBN 978-0-670-02653-1
OCLC 919481537

Faith Versus Fact: Why Science and Religion are Incompatible is a 2015 book by biologist Jerry Coyne concerning the relationship between science and religion. Coyne argues that religion and science are incompatible, by surveying the history of science and stating that both religion and science make claims about the universe, yet only science is open to the fact that it may be wrong.[1]

Coyne was astonished that after having published his book, Why Evolution is True, the proportion of creationists in America still remained between 40-46%. He felt that faith was the reason that kept them from accepting the facts and evidence for evolution.[2]

Synopsis

Coyne defines science as "a collection of methods" which yield knowledge which may be rejected or confirmed via testing. With this definition in hand, he went on to argue that religion and science were inherently incompatible "because they have different methods of getting knowledge about reality, different ways of assessing the reliability of that knowledge, and, in the end, arrive at conflicting conclusions about the universe."[3] He believes that theistic religions make claims which conflict with science in three ways: methodology, outcomes, and philosophy.[3] A substantial portion of his book criticizes theistic evolution, arguing that if God were to use evolution as a method of creation the evolutionary process should show signs of directionality.[4]

Reception

Kirkus Reviews lauded the book as "important...[it] deserves an open-minded readership." They add, "although he makes a clear and cogent argument, he may find that, once again, he is preaching to his own choir."[2]

Rau Olson of Booklist Online wrote, "none of [the New atheists] makes the case for the final divorce of religion and science, with permanent restraining orders against harassment and stalking of science by religion, better than Coyne".[5]

Some reviewers felt the book did not make a very strong case for why religion and science could not co-exist. Biologist Austin L. Hughes wrote for conservative magazine The New Atlantis: "what Coyne is attempting in Faith Versus Fact falls under the general heading of philosophy. But his philosophical training seems inadequate to the task, since he fails to develop a consistent terminology and to construct arguments with any degree of rigor." He feels that Coyne's arguments attempting to show that doubt is necessary, or endemic, to science eventually fall on themselves, writing, "but if we push our doubt far enough, won't we eventually end up doubting even science?"[6]

Science writer John Horgan wrote a highly critical review of the book in Scientific American stating that, "Mr. Coyne repeatedly reminds us that science, unlike religion, promotes self-criticism, but he is remarkably lacking in this virtue himself. He rejects complaints that some modern scientists are guilty of 'scientism,' which I would define as excessive trust—faith!—in science. Actually, Faith vs. Fact serves as a splendid specimen of scientism. Mr. Coyne disparages not only religion but also other human ways of engaging with reality. The arts, he argues, 'cannot ascertain truth or knowledge,' and the humanities do so only to the extent that they emulate the sciences. This sort of arrogance and certitude is the essence of scientism."[7]

References

  1. ↑ Tayler, Jeffrey. "Can Religion and Science Coexist?". TheAtlantic.Com. The Atlantic. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Faith Versus Fact". www.kirkusreviews.com. Viking. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  3. 1 2 Coyne, Jerry (2015). Faith versus Fact: Why Science are Incompatible. New York: Penguin Books. p. 64. ISBN 9780698195516. :64
  4. ↑ Schloss, Jeffrey. "'Faith vs. Fact:' why religion and science are mutually incompatible". TheWashingtonPost. WashingtonPost. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  5. ↑ Olson, Ray. "Faith vs. Fact: Why Science and Religion Are Incompatible". www.booklistonline.com. American Library Association. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  6. ↑ Hughes, Austin L. (2015). "Faith, Fact, and False Dichotomies". The New Atlantis. 45: 111–117. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  7. ↑ Horgan, John. "Book by Biologist Jerry Coyne Goes Too Far in Denouncing Religion, Defending Science". Scientific American. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.