Science and Technology in Theological Perspective

Most of the time, my posts address the latest developments in key areas of science and technology.

Occasionally, it’s helpful to stand back and ask whether it is possible to put these developments together into a broader picture. The speed of scientific discovery can make our heads spin. Can we put things together? Is it possible to offer a theologically coherent view of science and technology today?

One of the boldest attempts along this line is the “Pastoral Letter” released by the United Church of Christ early in 2008. The full title of the Letter is "A New Voice Arising: A Pastoral Letter on Faith Engaging Science and Technology."

When the Letter first appeared, one person to recommend it was Alan Leshner, Executive at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He wrote:

I am delighted to see the United Church of Christ's clear support of science. I believe that science and religion are complementary to each other, and should not be seen as competing ways of looking at the world; they are concerned with different questions. In an era of such rapid science and technology advances – advances that bring benefits as well as, at times, risks -- and when science and technology are becoming ever-more imbedded in every aspect of modern life, it is essential that we maintain an active dialogue among scientists, ethicists, and religious communities. In the same way that UCC states that it cannot ignore the context in which it functions, neither can the scientific community ignore its societal context. For this reason, we see a dialogue between science and religion as vital.

While science and technology have continued to advance rapidly since 2008, the themes expressed in the Letter remain current. Church groups have used it as a study document. Clergy have used it for sermons. My guess is that they will continue to do so.

Seminaries and Science

How can seminaries do a better job in helping future clergy become more aware of developments in science and technology?

That was the focus of a panel last week at the American Academy of Religion Meeting in San Francisco. Lead-off speakers were Dan Aleshire, Director of the Association of Theological Schools and Jennifer Wiseman, who directs the program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Then it was my turn. I pointed out the obvious. There’s no room in the theological curriculum to add anything. Faculty wouldn’t know what to add if they had the time. Students would be able integrate it into what they are already learning. So why bother?

I suggested that seminaries need to remember that their job is to teach theology. Doing our job well today, I argued, means that we have to take science and technology into account. One reason why this is so is because theological ideas or doctrines come mixed with outdated philosophical notions of nature.

For Christianity, this is a real challenge. Our core idea—redemption—is built on a myth of an original human nature that is lost and then restored. Unless students are minimally aware of how science challenges this thinking, seminaries aren’t doing their job.

I also suggested that for today’s students, my classroom references to current science almost always brought the subject matter to life. Students today are not so familiar with philosophy or other sources of criticism of theology. They have an easier time understanding how science challenges traditional ideas and forces them to think. They welcome the challenge. After all, they like to think that their education is relevant to the world in which they will serve.

Seminaries today need to focus on the basics—like theology—and teach it the right way right from the beginning, starting with introductory courses.

Sure, advanced electives are fine. I teach them myself, everything from “Christianity and Evolution” to “Ethics and the Technologies of Human Enhancement.” But the real key for seminaries, I believe, is to teach the core of the curriculum in a way that is appropriate for the clergy of today.

Here's where you'll find more about the AAAS program on seminary education, including recent news about an earlier program.