Episode 50: The Account of Origins in Oral Traditions: Is It Science? (Conclusion)

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Do curso por University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

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University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

25 ratings

This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary. Topics include: Science and Religion Categories and Foundational Principles, Definitions of Science and Religion, Science-Religion Models and Relationships, Intelligent Design and Natural Revelation, the Galileo Affair, Geology and Noah’s Flood, Evolution and Darwin’s Religious Beliefs, the Modern “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate, the Problem of Evil, and Interpretations of the Biblical Accounts of Origins in Genesis 1-11. The course employs a Constructive Teaching Style in order that students can develop their personal views on the relationship between science and religion and on each of the topics listed above. St. Joseph's College is a Catholic, undergraduate, liberal arts college on the University of Alberta campus. It is an independent institution that is affiliated with the University of Alberta.

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What Is Science?

In continuing with our exploration of the terms Science and Religion, this week we introduce five different definitions of science using historical examples—prehistoric science, Egyptian and Mesopotamian science, Greek science, modern science, and post-modern science. Notably, we will note that science has powerfully impacted religion throughout history. Like that of religion, the academic definition of science is wide. In particular, it has been intimately/inevitably connected to metaphysical beliefs. This section also outlines Critical Realism. This is philosophy of science embraced by a majority of Science and Religion scholars.

Episode 45: Key Thoughts5:05

Episode 46: Conceptions of Science: Ancient Space4:22

Episode 47: Prehistoric Science & Oral Tradition4:49

Episode 48: The Account of Origins in Oral Traditions: Is It Science?4:54

Episode 49: The Account of Origins in Oral Traditions: Is It Science? (Continued)4:25

Episode 50: The Account of Origins in Oral Traditions: Is It Science? (Conclusion)4:08

Episode 51: Oral Tradition & Genesis 1-114:24

Episode 52: Oral Tradition & Genesis I-II (Continued)5:11

Episode 53: Oral Tradition & Message-Incident Principle4:20

Episode 54: Egyptian & Mesopotamian Science5:48

Episode 55: Egyptian & Mesopotamian Science (Continued)8:04

Episode 56: Greek Science5:07

Episode 57: Conclusion: Ancient Science. Modern Science4:32

Episode 58: The Peak of Scientism5:20

Episode 59: The Peak of Scientism (Continued)4:48

Episode 60: The Peak of Scientism (Conclusion). Post-Modernity & Anti-Realism4:13

Episode 61: Early 20th Century Scientific Discoveries. Categories of Anti-Realism4:03

Episode 62: Critical Realism: Between Scientism & Anti-Realism4:40

Episode 63: Theory Laden Character of Science: Social & Personal Factors5:03

Episode 64: Excursus: Critical Realism - A New Philosophy of Science5:13

Episode 65: Conclusion: John Polkinghorne & Critical Realism5:06

Episode 66: Conclusion: What is Science? Toward a Working Definition of Science (Lamoureux)6:07

Hermeneutics 5: Dynamic Equivalent Translation4:52

Hermeneutics 6: Sufficiency & Proficiency2:47

Hermeneutics 7: Implicit Scientific Concepts6:08

Conheça os instrutores

Denis Lamoureux
Associate Professor
St. Joseph's College

Episode 50.

The last characteristic in oral traditions,

is that there is a lack of concern for strict coherence.

This is sometimes termed a primitive or pre-logical mentality,

because these accounts are contradictory at times.

Therefore, we should expect some contradictions.

A good example of contradictions appear with the conflicts in the order of

creation events between the first two chapters of the Bible.

In Genesis 1, God creates birds in the fifth day,

land animals on the sixth day, and man and woman at the end of the sixth day.

But in Genesis 2, God creates man then land animals and birds, and

finally the woman.

It's worth pointing out at this time that there is a simple solution to this problem

of contradictions between Genesis 1 and 2.

Most theologians think that we're two different creation

accounts that were edited together.

The first is known as the priestly account written roughly around 500 BC,

BCE and this is Genesis 1.

The second is the Jahwist account which was composed around 1000 BC,

BCE and this is Genesis 2.

Later in the course, we'll talk more about these original sources.

But for our present purpose, we can ask, isn't a lack of concern for

strict coherence part of science?

No, not at all, because science is hyper logical.

This lack of concern for strict coherence in oral traditions leads

to a critical question is there an ancient epistemology in oral traditions?

In other words, an epistemology that is different from ours and

one that is not obsessed with the foundational epistemological categories

of coherence, correspondence, and concealents.

The anser that David Lindberg offers to this question is a definite yes.

In quote six he writes, a cosmology, that is a view of nature,

exists within every oral tradition but

often beneath the surface seldom articulated and

almost never assembled into a coherent whole.

Therefore we need to be cautious not to read oral traditions

through our 21st century epistemological standards.

There is a significant implication for

hermeneutics with regard to ancient epistemology.

And it's this, don't read an ancient text like the Bible,

which features an ancient epistemology through modern,

hyperlogical 21st century epistemological categories.

In this way the problem of eisegesis can extend to epistemology.

This is my suggestion, we need to cut the Bible some epistemological slack.

If historians like Lindberg can recognize and respect ancient

epistemology in ancient text, then so too Christians with the Bible.

Now, don't be concerned Christians this is only a hallucinating of the incidental

features like the order of creative events in the biblical creation accounts.

This is not a loss of the message of faith.

In fact this will solve a lot of these so called contradictions in scripture.

To conclude, is the origins account in oral tradition science?

My answer is both yes and no.

In particular, oral traditions feature an ancient science.

End of episode.

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