Religion, Science, and Democracy

A Disputational Friendship

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Church, Church & State, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Government, Democracy
Cover of the book Religion, Science, and Democracy by Lisa L. Stenmark, Lexington Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Lisa L. Stenmark ISBN: 9780739142882
Publisher: Lexington Books Publication: March 8, 2013
Imprint: Lexington Books Language: English
Author: Lisa L. Stenmark
ISBN: 9780739142882
Publisher: Lexington Books
Publication: March 8, 2013
Imprint: Lexington Books
Language: English

Despite the increasing popularity of “religion and science” as an academic discourse, the intersection of science and religion remains a front line in an ongoing “culture war.” The reasons for this lie in an approach to discourse that closely resembles the model of discourse promoted by John Rawls, in which plural discourse —such as between religion and science— is based on a foundation of shared beliefs and established facts. This leads to a “doctrines and discoveries” approach to the relationship of religion and science, which focuses on their respective truth claims in an attempt to find areas of agreement. This framework inherently privileges scientific perspectives, which actually increases conflict between religion and science, and undermines public discourse by inserting absolutes into it. To the extent that the science and religion discourse adopts this approach, it inadvertently increases the conflict between religion and science and limits our ability to address matters of public concern.

This book suggests an alternative model for discourse, a disputational friendship, based on the work of Hannah Arendt. This approach recognizes the role that authorities —and thus religion and science— play in public life, but undermines any attempt to privilege a particular authority, because it promotes the position of the storyteller, who never settles on a single story but always seeks to incorporate many particular stories into her account. A disputational friendship promotes storytelling not by seeking agreement, but by exploring areas of disagreement in order to create the space for more conversations and to generate more stories and additional interpretations. Successful discourse between religion and science is not measured by its ability to determine “truth” or “fact,” but by its ability to continually expand the discourse and promote public life and public judgment.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Despite the increasing popularity of “religion and science” as an academic discourse, the intersection of science and religion remains a front line in an ongoing “culture war.” The reasons for this lie in an approach to discourse that closely resembles the model of discourse promoted by John Rawls, in which plural discourse —such as between religion and science— is based on a foundation of shared beliefs and established facts. This leads to a “doctrines and discoveries” approach to the relationship of religion and science, which focuses on their respective truth claims in an attempt to find areas of agreement. This framework inherently privileges scientific perspectives, which actually increases conflict between religion and science, and undermines public discourse by inserting absolutes into it. To the extent that the science and religion discourse adopts this approach, it inadvertently increases the conflict between religion and science and limits our ability to address matters of public concern.

This book suggests an alternative model for discourse, a disputational friendship, based on the work of Hannah Arendt. This approach recognizes the role that authorities —and thus religion and science— play in public life, but undermines any attempt to privilege a particular authority, because it promotes the position of the storyteller, who never settles on a single story but always seeks to incorporate many particular stories into her account. A disputational friendship promotes storytelling not by seeking agreement, but by exploring areas of disagreement in order to create the space for more conversations and to generate more stories and additional interpretations. Successful discourse between religion and science is not measured by its ability to determine “truth” or “fact,” but by its ability to continually expand the discourse and promote public life and public judgment.

More books from Lexington Books

Cover of the book Nikolai Bolkhovitinov and American Studies in the USSR by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book Atone by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book Educational Ecologies by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book The Hidden Life of the Sixth Dalai Lama by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book What Is Moderate Islam? by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book Natural Kinds and Genesis by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book Seeing through the Screen by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book Environmental Protection Policy and Experience in the U.S. and China's Western Regions by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book The Political Economy of International Trade by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book Conservatism and Crisis by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book The New Utopian Politics of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book The Principle of the Separation of Powers by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book Harvard and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs (WCFIA) by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book The Cool-Kawaii by Lisa L. Stenmark
Cover of the book Leading Millennial Faculty by Lisa L. Stenmark
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy