Noetic Effects of Depravity on ScienceReligion Dialogue

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Noetic Effects of Depravity on Science-Religion
Dialogue

• Dr. Scott H. Hawley
• Center for Relativity
• Department of Physics
• University of Texas at Austin

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Observations on Sci-Rel Dialogue

• Topics
• Is there evidence for God?
• Resolving scientific religious data
• Since Galileo, largely a monologue
• Science in the driver's seat, and religion along
  for the ride (provided it doesn't touch
  anything). -anon HPS Ph.D.
• i.e., conducted on the terms of science
• e.g., AAAS program Science, Ethics and Religion
  educates the religious about science, not vice
  versa
• Notable exception Public policy re. evoloution,
  I.D.
• Often concerned with Christianity in particular

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Questions on Sci-Rel Dialogue

• Assumption that those involved really do want to
  know truth about God?
• Assumption that human reason is a reliable tool
  for discovering truth about God, and that human
  reason is the primary measure of all statements
  about science religion?
• Is any culpability or prohibitive inability on
  the part of the investigator considered?
• Are there claims of Christianity regarding the
  ability of persons to arrive at truth about God?

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Dual Claim in the Bible Sufficiency of Evidence,
Human Depravity

• The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven
  against all the godlessness and wickedness of
  men, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
  since what may be known about God is plain to
  them, because God has made it plain to them.
• They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and
  worshipped and served created things rather than
  the Creator -- who is forever praised. Amen.
• Furthermore, since they did not think it
  worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he
  gave them over to a depraved mind...
• -- Romans 118-19,25,28 (NIV)

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Claim of Depravity Specified

• A tendency to repress true knowledge of God
• A tendency to construct alternative
  worldview-systems in which God plays no
  worthwhile role
• Those affected, despite evidence to the contrary,
  do not really want to obtain knowledge of God,
  and are rather in flight from him
• Everyone is naturally subject to depravity,
  including scholars wishing to discuss science
  religion.
• The remedy for depravity is regeneration, i.e.
  The sovereign act of God in changing the nature
  and character of a person by renewing the heart
  (mind) and affecting a new set of beliefs and
  desires by which the person can relate to God in
  a personal manner. -- OnDoctrine.com Theological
  Dictionary

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A Theology of Depravity Repressed Knowledge

• Dutch Reformed Tradition Cornelius Van Til
• On account of sin man is blind with respect to
  truth wherever it appears. Christian
  Apologetics, p.42 (1976)
• Denied existence of neutral common ground on
  which to reason with unbelievers, e.g.
• Every fact in this world, the God of the Bible
  claims, has His stamp indelibly engraved upon it.
  How then could you be neutral with respect to
  such a God? - Why I am a Christian
• Method Transcendental Argument Show that
  unbeliever must presuppose Christian God in order
  to make his argument. (Presuppositional
  Apologetics)

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Effects of Depravity on Scientists, Philosophers,
Theologians

• Human depravity hampers the attempts of
  individuals to arrive at knowledge of God in at
  least two important ways
• Precludes their ability to comprehend truth about
  God
• Precludes their willingness to engage in honest
  inquiry regarding truth about God

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Effects on Sci-Rel Scholarship

• If the notion of depravity is entertained, it has
  the potential to call into question the veracity
  of much work on science-theology interface, i.e.
  work done by unregenerate investigators
• Claims of unregenerate academics may be less
  likely to be taken seriously

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Parallels in Other Fields

• Scholarly dialogue much like interpersonal
  dialogue
• Draw from parallels in other fields
• Psychology
• Natural Law
• Biblical Narrative

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Psychology of Denial/ Repressed Knowledge

• A denial reveals... (Ver Ecke, Denial, Negation
  the Forces of the Negative, 2006)
• A truth that patient can't yet accept
• Patient caught is a conflict and thus cannot see
  reality truthfully.
• (Repression active distraction)
• Steps to help patient (Freud, Negation, 1925)
• easiest - help patient intellectually accept
  the revelation hidden in the denial, e.g. provide
  evidence, etc.
• help patient emotionally accept...

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Natural Law

• The foundational moral principles are not only
  right for all, but at some level known to all.
• -- J. Budziszewski, What We Can't Not Know
• Method 1 Expose how repressed moral knowledge
  creeps out
• Guilt, shame, self-destructive behavior
• Fashioning new moral absolutes
• Method 2 Inquire as to what other principles are
  committed to which seem to preclude belief in
  instrinsic morality

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Biblical Narrative

• Israel post-Egypt Wealth of evidence for God
  (e.g., miracles, voice) did not produce faith
• Religious leaders of Jesus' day claimed to be
  seeking, yet were not
• Woe unto us, for the scepter has been taken from
  Judah, and the Messiah has not appeared! --
  Talmud, Bab., Sanhedrim, Chapter 4, fol. 37,
  recto).
• Woe to you...You diligently study the Scriptures
  because you think that by them you possess
  eternal life. These are the Scriptures that
  testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to
  have life. -- John 539-40, NIV
• Method Open confrontation!

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Ad HominemTrump Card?

• Can/should the notion of depravity be used to
  discount or dismiss the arguments of unregenerate
  scientists philosophers (since they are unable
  unwilling)?
• Doubtful.
• Unregenerate persons may still be capable of
  discovering some truth about God. Regenerate
  persons are not flawless, and require challenges
  to correct and refine their claims.
• Depravity rebellion may only manifest
  themselves in certain areas and at key points in
  debate
• Truth is truth. An ad hominem attack will not
  change the veracity of an argument.

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Ad Hominem Trump Card, contd

• But The notion of depravity suggests that there
  are (very) likely to be at least some flaws in
  certain arguments by unregenerate investigators.
• This may give confidence to those trying to
  identify and correct such flaws
• This may be good for the general public to be
  aware of, to remain skeptical of claims made by
  unregenerate investigators

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How to Diagnose?

• Are there any standards, by which to determine
  whether a body of work was conducted by a
  regenerate person, i.e. one capable and willing
  to arrive at truth about God?
• Probably e.g., Any person who makes a show of
  delighting in rebellion and blasphemy is likely
  to be unregenerate, and thus subject to the
  noetic effects of depravity.
• Also If regeneration precedes faith,
  pre-Christians may engage in sci/rel dialogue in
  a regenerate state, (shortly) before conversion.
  -- true seekers

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Suggestions for Dialogue

• For the truly seeking, Freud's approach
• Do need to marshall evidence!
• Van Til Pretend both parties are neutral, or
• Transcendental/Presuppositional Argument
• Don't be afraid to get personal, a la J. Budz.
• Point out bias, ask about values
• Point out how repressed beliefs leak out (e.g.
  Wheeler's search for ultimate reality)
• Note similar moral values of science and religion
• Humility, Cooperation, Integrity, Universality
• Caveat emptor!
• Note that scholarly work may be strongly biased
  via investigator's own depravity

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References

• Barbour, Ian G. Issues in Science and Religion,
  1966
• Ver Ecke, Wilfried. Denial, Negation, and the
  Forces of the Negative Freud, Hegel, Lacan,
  Spitz, Sophocles, 2006.
• Rofe', Yacov. Repression and Fear, 1989.
• Budziszewski, J. What We Can't Not Know, 2003,
  The Revenge of Conscience, 1999.
• Van Til, Cornelius. Defense of the Faith, 1955
  Christian Apologetics, Presby. Reformed, 1975.