Public Theology and Scientific Method

URL:

http://ibri.org/DVD-1/Papers/Public_Theology/PubTheoMethod.pdf

Keywords:

Worldviews; Science and Religion; Theology; Logic

Abstract:

Scientific thinking is generally considered admissible in public discourse because it employs methods and reaches conclusions that are worldview neutral. On the other hand, theology is generally considered out of order in public discourse because it has methods, presuppositions, and conclusions that are worldview distinctive. To the contrary, this paper argues that this dichotomy between science and religion is wrongheaded on two counts. First, the worldview-neutral premises in scientific or empirical inquiries can support worldview-distinctive conclusions. Second, some theological inquiries involve empirical data, and in particular data on Biblical predictions and their outcomes can provide a powerful and public test of naturalism and Christianity. Thus, public theology is possible. The conclusion, “there is a God,” can have the same logical status as, “there are elephants in Africa.”