Science And Religion Don’t Have To Clash, Says World-Renowned Theologian Oxford’s Alister McGrath – Forbes

The world-renowned Christian theologian, Alister McGrath, believes science and religion can work ... [+] together in helping us deal with life.

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has triggered conflicting responses, and some groups have grounded their resistance to public-health guidelines in religion. While a religious mindset is driven by trust in a higher power, a science-based outlook leans on knowledge based on empirical evidence to understand life. Some may say the two are incompatible, though according to the world-renowned theologian, Alister McGrath, they inform each other.

McGrath is an old friend from when I taught at Oxford. I cant remember how it happened, what was over 20 years ago, but I ended teaching what I taught at the Said Business School, Leadership and Change to ministers of the Church of England with him.So, in the midst of the crisis, I thought of asking him some deeper questions to see what he might pitch up with.

Science can give us answers which don't necessarily solve things but provide us with a way out of some of the worst aspects of the pandemic, said McGrath, the Andreas Idreos professor of Science and Religion at the University of Oxford.

Known as one of the worlds leading apologists for Christianity and esteemed Christian theologians, McGrath was once an atheist. Born in Belfast in Northern Ireland, he grew up in the town of Downpatrick and majored in pure and applied mathematics, physics and chemistry at the Methodist College. He later joined Wadham College at Oxford University to study natural science before turning to theology. Noted for his work in historical and systematic theology, much of his research advances the dialogue between science and religion.

McGrath stresses the importance of scientific research and discovery. After all, the health care system is deeply rooted in religious institutions.

If you look at medieval monasteries, they always had a hospital because that was part of their faith, said McGrath. Medicine was seen very much as a means of grace, a way of actually using human knowledge and God's Earth to develop treatments.

Some would still say that science and religion are inconsistent with each other, he added. They are indeed different, but so are science and ethics, and every scientist I've met wants to be an ethical person.

By the logic that science and religion are incompatible, we would have to assume that scientists cant be religious, yet an awful lot of them are, added McGrath.

According to the Christian theologian, we are thus confronted to find a way to bring our scientific, ethical, and religious understandings together to make sense of our lives.

Scientific knowledge can lead to practical explanations, whereas religion can bring much-needed hope, especially during a time of crisis.

One of the big questions we're facing with Covid-19 is sheer exhaustion, said McGrath. We need something to animate us and give a sense of direction in what seems to be darkness and uncertainty.

In response to vaccine hesitancy, McGrath shared that although he understands the apprehension, the pandemic has reminded us that human existence is more precarious than we might think and requires us to protect ourselves and each other.

There's a logically continuous argument from taking an aspirin for your headache to getting vaccinated, he said. The question is where you draw the line.

He describes the coronavirus vaccination program asa necessary extension of the medical program which has been ongoing for the last 2,000 years. According to McGrath, Christians must then share a sense of responsibility towards the global health crisis and serve God through serving others an important principle of Christianity.

We have no idea what's around the next corner, and the whole vaccine agenda has given heightened importance to preparing for whatever may come next, he said. It's a very natural, very obvious thing for me as a Christian to do.

Earlier this month, McGrath publishedReturn from a Distant Country, a pocket-sized book in which he presents his vision of Christian theology.

I try to explain why I'm really interested in science and religion, but I'm also interested in historical theology, looking at the emergence of ideas, and why public engagement is so important to me as a theologian.

In the book, McGrath further advances the need for religion and science to work together to address contemporary social matters and urges theologians to voice their views in public debates.

There are some wonderful opportunities for discussion for showing how Christianity plays into leading cultural issues, gives good answers," he said. "Those answers are not being heard because people are not speaking up.

Watch the full interview with Alister McGrath below.

Stephanie Ricci contributed to this story.

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Science And Religion Don't Have To Clash, Says World-Renowned Theologian Oxford's Alister McGrath - Forbes