Hermeneutics 12: St. Augustine's Pastoral Perspective regarding Science & Religion

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Science & Religion 101

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University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101

33 classificações

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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Astronomy & the Galileo Affair

This is the first of three weeks examining historical events related to Science and Religion in order to draw lessons for today. Beginning with the famed astronomer Galileo, we will discover that he was a devout Christian and that he fully embraced the Two Divine Books (Book of God’s Word & Book of God’s Works) relationship of Science and Religion. His “Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina” (1615) is a rich source of insights on how to interpret Scripture and how to relate science and Christianity. We will then apply lessons from the Galileo Affair to the debate over biological evolution in ordered to assist people struggling with this science today. This week also begins an extensive series of Hermeneutical Principles demonstrating that the Bible has an ancient understanding of the structure of the world known as the “3-tier universe.”

Episode 98: Key Thoughts. Brief History of Astronomy5:12

Episode 99: Brief History of Astronomy (Continued)4:34

Episode 100: Copernicus. On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (1543)5:14

Episode 101: Conclusion: Brief History of Astronomy. Brief History of Galileo Galilei (1564-1585)5:09

Episode 102: Brief History of Galileo Galilei (1589-1609)4:28

Episode 103: Brief History of Galileo Galilei (1610-1613)4:34

Episode 104: Brief History of Galileo Galilei (1615-1624)4:06

Episode 105: Brief History of Galileo Galilei (1631-1642)3:42

Episode 106: Conclusion: Brief History of Galileo Galilei3:54

Episode 107: Galileo’s Hermeneutics and Science & Religion Relationship. (1) Foundational Principle: The Two Divine Books5:47

Episode 108: (2) Nature: The Book of God’s Works4:43

Episode 109: (3) Scripture: The Book of God’s Words4:07

Episode 110: Scripture: The Book of God’s Words (Continued). (4) Conflict between Galileo & His Critics5:19

Episode 111: Conflict between Galileo & His Critics (Continued)4:25

Episode 112: Conclusion: Galileo’s Hermeneutics and Science & Religion Relationship3:32

Episode 113: Galileo’s Hermeneutical Gaffe: Literalism & Concordism5:09

Episode 114: The “Apology to Galileo”4:36

Episode 115: Conclusion: Astronomy & the Galileo Affair3:29

Episode 116: Conclusion: Astronomy & the Galileo Affair (Continued)2:45

Hermeneutics 12: St. Augustine's Pastoral Perspective regarding Science & Religion3:53

Hermeneutics 13: Phenomenological Perspective of Nature: The 3-Tier Universe3:13

Hermeneutics 13A: The Earth & Ancient Geography14:06

Conheça os instrutores

Denis Lamoureux
Associate Professor
St. Joseph's College

Hermeneutical principal number 12: St.

Augustine's pastoral advice on science and religion.

As we noted previously,

St. Augustine is one of the most important theologians in the history of the church.

He was also a priest,

and he offers us some pastoral advice that's applicable today.

In science-religion debates, Augustine reminds us:

never lose perspective on what is most important to Christianity,

our faith, not science.

In a fascinating passage,

from his book on the early chapters of Genesis, St. Augustine writes,

"It is also frequently asked what our belief must be

about the form and shape of heaven according to Sacred Scripture.

Many scholars engage in lengthy discussions on these matters,

but the sacred writers,

that is the biblical writers,

with their deeper wisdom, have omitted them.

Such subjects are of no profit for those who seek beatitude.

And, what is worse,

they take up precious time that ought to be given to what is spiritually beneficial."

And then, Augustine asks,

"What concern is it of mine whether, number one,

heaven is like a sphere and the Earth is enclosed

by it and suspended in the middle of the universe," which,

of course, this is the Greek geocentric world.

Continuing, Augustine then asks,

"Or whether, number two,

heaven, like a disk above the Earth,

covers it over on one side."

And this is referring to the ancient 3-Tier Universe.

Augustine then concludes, "The Spirit of God who spoke through them,

that is the sacred writers,

did not wish to teach men these facts that would be of no avail to their salvation.".

A couple of comments.

First, Christianity concerns spirituality, not science.

It deals with beatitude,

which means things that are spiritually beneficial and,

in particular, dealing with salvation.

Also note that scientific concordism was entrenched in the early Church.

There were debates over the form and shape of heaven according to Sacred Scripture.

And these debates involved many scholars,

and they were frequently asked and led to lengthy discussions.

In contrast to the debate over evolution today,

the science-scripture debate in Augustine's day was over astronomy.

He identifies that there were two main views,

the geocentric universe, with heaven as a sphere which was, for the most part,

the science-of-the-day in the fifth century,

and the other view was the ancient three-tier universe,

with heaven being a disk above the earth.

And of course, this was the first conception of the structure of the universe.

But notably, no one today holds either view of the structure of the universe.

And the lesson to be learnt from this,

is that debates over concordism in Augustine's day,

were a waste of time.

Let's apply Augustine's pastoral advice to Genesis 1-11.

Do lengthy and frequent discussions today on scientific concordism in Genesis 1-11,

do they take up precious time,

and are they of no profit spiritually?

Or to put this question more bluntly,

are debates over scientific concordism in

Genesis 1-11 a waste of time? What do you think?

End of episode.

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