Where is the Warfare? The Impact of Sola Scriptura on Science and Religion Dialogue

Author

William James Richardson

Date of Award

Winter 12-15-2015

Degree Type

Thesis

Department

Biological Sciences

Director of Thesis

James Cutsinger

First Reader

Daniel Buxhoeveden

Second Reader

Daniel Buxhoeveden

Abstract

I have two aims with the publication of this thesis. The first is to contribute to the recent scholarly work that seeks to discredit the popular, yet fallacious, warfare model of science and religion. A nuanced investigation shows that the warfare evident in popular discourse cannot easily be attributed to a conflict between the essence of science and religion. Rather “science” and “religion” are interpreted as something else entirely. The New Atheists equate science with scientism, and religion is often associated with the Biblical inerrantism of many Protestant Christians. Both ideologies are grounded in an empiricist epistemological framework founded by Luther’s declaration of sola scriptura. The resulting fundamentalist feedback loop is the heart of the true warfare, a conflict between scientism and inerrantism.

First Page

1

Last Page

33

Recommended Citation

Richardson, William James, "Where is the Warfare? The Impact of Sola Scriptura on Science and Religion Dialogue" (2015). Senior Theses. 38.
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/senior_theses/38

Rights

© 2015, William James Richardson