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Scientism: A pejorative term for the concept that only the methods of natural science and related categories form the elements for any philosophical or other enquiry. Blackburn (1996: 344).
From Oxford
Scientism: 1 a a method or doctrine regarded as characteristic of scientists b the use of practice of this. 2 often derogatory, an excessive belief in or application of scientific method. Oxford (1995: 1236).
Briefly on Papal controversy
Catholic Herald UK October 31
Patrick Cusworth
Cited
'Pope Francis’s comments on the Big Bang are not revolutionary. Catholic teaching has long professed the likelihood of human evolution'
'Perhaps it was inevitable that Pope Francis’ comments on the Church’s position on scientific theories such as the Big Bang and evolution would cause a stir. In his address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope cautioned against the image of God the creator as “a magician, with a magic wand”, arguing that belief in both theories around the beginnings of the universe and the birth of humankind are consistent with the Catholic faith.'
'“The Big Bang, which is today posited as the origin of the world, does not contradict the divine act of creation; rather, it requires it”, he stated. Similarly, he argued, “evolution of nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation because evolution pre-supposes the creation of beings which evolve.”'
'Yet despite further murmurings that Pope Francis was beginning (yet another) revolution in Catholic doctrine, it must be pointed out – the Pope’s declaration on either theory has not broken with established Catholic belief in the slightest.'
'The Big Bang theory, originally hypothesised in 1927 by Jesuit priest and physicist Georges Lemaître, is based on the central proposition that the universe is continually expanding. As a preposition, the universe was originally contained within a single point, in a highly intense state of heat and density. As the universe began to expand it cooled, allowing the formation of subatomic particles, which began a series of physical cosmological processes, which led eventually to the known universe. While this has become the most commonly accepted explanation for the beginnings of the universe, many scientists have previously expressed an instinctive opposition to the notion of a beginning point, since this would represent a question which science could not answer – as Professor Stephen Hawking concluded in his autobiography, “One would have to appeal to religion and the hand of God to determine how the universe started off”.'
'Turning to Pope Francis’ comments on evolution, Catholic teaching has long professed the likelihood of human evolution – albeit with the proviso that this takes place under the guidance of the Creator, and that special creation of the human soul is performed directly by God.'
'While it is refreshing to see the Pope’s pronouncements upon matters scientific reaching and being welcomed by individuals not generally well disposed toward the Church, the implicit suggestion that Pope Francis has somehow brought about a radical change in the Vatican worldview is a misleading one. The Church has a centuries-long history of promoting scientific inquiry – long may it continue.'
End Citations
The Big Bang theory does seemingly allow, as presented above for the philosophical, deductive possibility of a first cause, that theologically parallels the Biblical God.
I have cited Hamilton below, a textbook source from my Columbia Bible College BA work, previously on this site:
I do not have a problem viewing Genesis as a religious and not scientific book and therefore reason that the majority of scientists could be inductively correct that the universe and earth are billions of years old. At the same time, I remain open to how old the Universe may be according to scientific inductive evidence that may change over time.
Biblical history provides insights but most Hebrew Bible, Old Testament scholars, including conservative, do not appear from my PhD research to dogmatically age the earth based on Scripture.
Scientists should not be blamed for holding an inductive position of 'old earth' and 'old Universe' if the evidence supports, even if theologically somehow, it can be deduced that the Universe was created to look older as were Adam and Eve.
I reason Adam and Eve were created to look older (Genesis 2-3), but am not subscribing to that position for the creation of the Universe, but can acknowledge the theological possibility.
Victor P. Hamilton in his commentary on the Pentateuch explains that although he reviews Genesis, he will leave the creation vs. evolution debate to the scientist rather than the Biblical scholar. Hamilton (1988: 12).
It should be noted that every human Church institution is fallible, including the Roman Catholic Church, and that I hold to Reformed views primarily and am not Roman Catholic.
I am evangelical, at least on essential doctrines.
A person holding to scientism may abandon the need for a contextual evaluation of Scripture and the revealed word of God in regard to origins and creation; instead embracing, for example, Darwinian evolution, with macro-evolution.
As a moderate conservative Christian, I agree with other Biblical Christians that macro-evolution is not compatible with the Genesis 1-3 account. Biblically, the Universe was created ex nihlio, out of nothing by God, and then human beings from matter in the Genesis account and not as other creatures that evolved into human beings.
There is a need for openness to scientific truths without holding to scientism, as in being open to inductive scientific evidences, but never at the expenses of Biblical revelation and theological and philosophical, deductive evidences which demonstrate Biblical truths and the gospel.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY (1995) Della Thompson (ed.), Oxford, Clarendon Press.
HAMILTON, VICTOR P. (1988) Handbook on the Pentateuch, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
