Ideology, Science and Religion
Ideology and religion
- GIDDENS: Religion involves “shared beliefs and rituals that provide a sense of
ultimate meaning and purpose by creating an idea of reality that is sacred, all-
encompassing and supernatural.”
- 3 main aspects to religion:
1. Belief in spiritual and supernatural;
2. Faith on the part of believers
3. A body of unchanging truth
- Religion differs from ideology in that ideologies are not necessarily based on faith in
supernatural beliefs but on the interest of social groups
- However, religion may be part of an ideology, as a social group may seek to use
religion for its own ends
- Example: Fundamentalist Christians in USA have transformed some religious beliefs
into a campaigning ideology called Intelligence Design- religious belief that the
universe and living things are not products of scientifically accepted process of
natural evolution but were created by an intelligent force (God)
- This religious-based ideology is aligned to conservative American politicians, who
seek to have Intelligence Design taught in schools alongside or in the place of the
scientific theory of evolution
Important definitions
- RATIONALIST: DAWKINS would take a rationalist view- belief that science is based
on fact and is therefore true, while religion relies on faith so can not be said to be
true
- RELATIVIST: LYOTARD takes a relativist view- To understand religion and science you
have to look at both perspectives- they are inextricably linked and both are
important in aiding are understanding of the world
- CIRCULARITY OF BELIEFS (POLYANI): each idea within a belief system is explained
with relation to others. If one is challenged or fails it is defended by reference to
another, to avoid changing the belief system. This can be applied to BOTH science
and religion
NOMA
- Non-overlapping magisterial is the view advocated by GOULD that science and
religion each represent different areas of inquiry.
- GOULD emphasised the legitimacy of each field of endeavour only within its own
area of inquiry
- “If religion ca no longer dictate the nature of factual conclusions residing properly
within the magesterium of science, then scientists cannot claim higher insight into
moral truth from any superior knowledge of the world’s empirical constitution”
- According to GOULD, science and religion cannot provide all the answers
- Even Stephen Hawkings concedes, “God still has a view tricks up his sleeve.”
Scientism
- Belief system or ideology which suggests that the scientific method is the only
means of gaining true knowledge about the world
- Strict commitment to only empirical evidence
Ideology and religion
- GIDDENS: Religion involves “shared beliefs and rituals that provide a sense of
ultimate meaning and purpose by creating an idea of reality that is sacred, all-
encompassing and supernatural.”
- 3 main aspects to religion:
1. Belief in spiritual and supernatural;
2. Faith on the part of believers
3. A body of unchanging truth
- Religion differs from ideology in that ideologies are not necessarily based on faith in
supernatural beliefs but on the interest of social groups
- However, religion may be part of an ideology, as a social group may seek to use
religion for its own ends
- Example: Fundamentalist Christians in USA have transformed some religious beliefs
into a campaigning ideology called Intelligence Design- religious belief that the
universe and living things are not products of scientifically accepted process of
natural evolution but were created by an intelligent force (God)
- This religious-based ideology is aligned to conservative American politicians, who
seek to have Intelligence Design taught in schools alongside or in the place of the
scientific theory of evolution
Important definitions
- RATIONALIST: DAWKINS would take a rationalist view- belief that science is based
on fact and is therefore true, while religion relies on faith so can not be said to be
true
- RELATIVIST: LYOTARD takes a relativist view- To understand religion and science you
have to look at both perspectives- they are inextricably linked and both are
important in aiding are understanding of the world
- CIRCULARITY OF BELIEFS (POLYANI): each idea within a belief system is explained
with relation to others. If one is challenged or fails it is defended by reference to
another, to avoid changing the belief system. This can be applied to BOTH science
and religion
NOMA
- Non-overlapping magisterial is the view advocated by GOULD that science and
religion each represent different areas of inquiry.
- GOULD emphasised the legitimacy of each field of endeavour only within its own
area of inquiry
- “If religion ca no longer dictate the nature of factual conclusions residing properly
within the magesterium of science, then scientists cannot claim higher insight into
moral truth from any superior knowledge of the world’s empirical constitution”
- According to GOULD, science and religion cannot provide all the answers
- Even Stephen Hawkings concedes, “God still has a view tricks up his sleeve.”
Scientism
- Belief system or ideology which suggests that the scientific method is the only
means of gaining true knowledge about the world
- Strict commitment to only empirical evidence
