Summary: Avery Dulles, The Craft of Theology, ch. 9. Theology and the Physical sciences

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Summary: Avery Dulles, The Craft of Theology, ch. 9. Theology and the Physical sciences

This chapter basically treats the relationship between theology and science from the perspective of the modern time. There is a somewhat battle that is being experienced between the fundamentalist Christians and scientists, this battles spurs the questions of systematic theology’s relation to physical sciences.
According to Blondel, citing Vatican I, the two types of cognition which are faith and reason cannot be at odds, there is a somewhat complementarity that exist between them. Reason can assist faith by providing the tools for the construction of an apologetic arguments and theological systems. Faith, in the other hand assist reason by extending its’ scope into the supernatural realm of mysteries and by delivering reason from errors, through the sure light of revelation. Aside from faith, reason can also with the help of grace, lead people to God.
Again, science is considered as a structure of symbols devised for the purpose of accomplishing certain practical tasks, which makes it incapable of making any metaphysical claims, hence its’ fruitfulness becomes its only criterion. This clearly marks a distinct indifference between science and faith. Another view held about this relationship is from the classical concept of science. These scientific concepts and theories are controlled by their objects and are intended to reproduce the structures of external reality, in which case science can confirm or collide directly with philosophy and faith.
Blondel was not at home with these two positions, for science the autonomy of science is to the extent that it was concerned with formal coherence, logical force and inner consistency. Science must insert itself into the real order insofar as it aims at serving the human life.
Vatican I posits that science and faith must cooperate, even while following their distinct domain. There is also a possibility of conflict which may be as a result of falsely reducing faith to exterior formulations or when people look for literal agreement with scientific statements. Another conflict from the side of science, it can bring conflict when it usurps the competence of faith.  Although there is an inevitability of friction occurring between these two discourses but Blondel opines that such frictions can lead to progress. Hence science and reason both come from God and both should not contradict each other.
Nonetheless, faith cannot do the work of science and religious tools cannot be used as instrument for science. Theologian should not be afraid of new theories from science and should not barricade the progress of any scientific invention all in the name of religion. According to Pope John Paul, interaction is necessary for the proper function of both science and religion, else science can become destructive and religion sterile.


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