DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

ARE 2221: RELIGION AND SCIENCE IN AFRICA

Instructor: Daniel Lagat

LECTURE 2: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELIGION AND SCIENCE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The following section attempts to explain the relationship between religion and science. It
starts by explaining the meaning of science and its principles, the meaning of religion, the
difference between religion and science as sources of knowledge, problems of faith as a
source of knowledge and the harmonious approach between religion and science.

1.1 Science
Science is the study of physical and natural world phenomena especially by using systematic
observation and experimentation. It refers to a system of acquiring knowledge which uses
observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena.

The term science is derived from the Latin word scire which means to know which means
knowledge. According to Webster’s new Collegiate dictionary, science means knowledge
attained through study or practice or knowledge covering general truths of the operator
ofgeneral laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific methods concerned with
the physical world. Thus, science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge, which uses
observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena. It is the
systematic study of anything that can be examined, tested and verified.

Scientific investigations use some form of scientific method. The scientific method is a
methodof designing a research with a logical and rational order of steps by which scientists
come to conclusions about the world around them. Cletus Chukwu in his book Introduction
to Philosophyin an African Perspective presents the nature of scientific inquiry as presented
in the scientific method as one, which is based on evidence, and in turn, one which
generates evidence. Hewrites:
1
Page

1. Scientific method involves some analysis that is not supported with

 evidence tobuttress its claims.
2. In science, truth is not based on popular belief but on evidence. Science
ensures thatits propositions are based on logically adequate grounds
(Chukwu, 2002, p.106).
It helps us to organize thoughts and procedures so that scientists can be confident in the
answersthey find. Scientists applying the method use observations, hypothesis and
deductions to make conclusions. It involves the following steps:

Observation / Research

Hypothesis

Experimentation

Conclusion

Table 1. A chart showing the scientific method

In summary, the scientific method seeks evidential knowledge, which is based on the
collected facts, which have been classified and then carefully studied.
1.1.1 Observation: In this stage, one has to understand the problem chosen. Afterwards, you
can decide on your area of science and the specific question you want to ask. Here, one
researches oneverything about the problem. One notes the problem, and then goes to the field
to gather data. Data can be gathered from the internet, books, and interviews among others.
For instance, if one wants to find out why tomatoes are produced in different sizes, he or she
starts with observation.
1.1.2 Hypothesis: It is a simple statement that predicts the outcome of a desired experiment.
Hypothesis means “a possible solution to a problem based on knowledge and research.” An
experiment is done in order to test the hypothesis. For example, if one intends to do research
on why tomatoes are produced in different sizes he may hypothesize that, the size of tomatoes
is influenced by the amount of sunlight.
1.1.3 Experiment: It’s the part of scientific method which tests your hypothesis. An
2

experiment is a tool designed to find out if your ideas about a given topic are right or wrong.
Page

It is the most important part of the scientific method. It is the logical process that enhances
 scientist tounderstand the world.
1.1.4 Conclusion: It is the final step of a scientific method. This is a summary of
experiments, results and how these results match up to your hypothesis.
1.2 Principles of science
D.W.Y. Kwok (1965, pp.21-22) has succinctly summarized the method of science as
follows: The scientific method operates on fundamental principles. First, the need
for observation; the empirical principle. Second, to achieve exactitude in
measurement…..he
must employ quantitative means; the quantitative principle. Third, he deals with
causal
relations and often uses abstractions to represent them. For this end, he must locate meaningful
recurrences of behavior and then formulate general laws or equations, whichdescribe and
explain such behavior: of all scientists which may be called an attitude of mind, a principle
inherent in the concept of research: the principle of progress through scientific co-operation for
non personal ends, a co-operation in which all scientists of thepast, present and the future have a
part.
Kwok holds that a scientist operates on four fundamental principles. First, the need for
observation/empirical principle, quantitative principle, mechanical principle and the
cooperative principle. We proceed to deal with them in that order.
1.2.1 Empirical principle holds that knowledge must be verified by the five human senses
which include sense of sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell. Anything which doesn’t meet
these principles is not a science. For example, is a desk is true since it can be detected by the
five senses.
1.2.2 Quantitative principle: For anything to qualify as a science, it should be measured.
Magnitude of its variables should be determined. The quantitative principles employs
measurement through which a scientist arrives at quantitative estimates of the variable and
magnitude considered in their hypotheses. Measurement is crucial as it reduces vagueness.
For instance if one was studying on particular trees, the number and size of trees can be
determined.
1.2.3 Mechanical principle: For something to be a science, it should be able to repeat itself.
Laws of nature in science should be uniform. The mechanical principle can be summed up as
the search for laws of nature, which govern uniformities in the universe. Scientific
conclusions should be uniform throughout the world. For example all irons rusts when
exposed to aireverywhere in the world if exposed to the same natural conditions. It implies
that, scientific laws of nature should apply to all places at all times.
1.2. 4. The co-operative principle: Colleagues of a scientist should be able to repeat
experiments under various conditions. Scientists report their findings to scientific
publications and to a union of Scientists (Onkware, 2002). This is to reduce individuals
misleading the public. The co-operative principle is where in the attempt to overcome
prejudice and to gain objectivity, members of the scientific community set fourth varied and
competing hypotheses and then wait for the confirmations or rejection if these hypotheses by
3
Page

others.
 1.3 Theology and the scientific principles
Many theologians claim that theology is a science. They define theology as a science of the
studyof God. A question arises is theology a science? Can theology meet the foregoing
scientific principles? Let us go through these principles one by one.

Theology does not meet the empirical principle. This is because God cannot be observed.
He can not be detected by the five senses which include hearing, sight, taste, touch and
smell. It also does not meet the quantitative principle because we cannot measure God.

The mechanical principle cannot be met by theology since most issues in theology do not
repeat themselves. For example, miracles do not repeat themselves. Jesus was born out of a
virgin woman; such an incident cannot repeat itself.

Theology does not also meet the cooperative principle because various religions have
different theologies. Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and African religions have different
theologies. In all we can claim that theology is not a science basing on the foregoing
principlesof science.

1.4 RELIGION
Religion means beliefs and opinions concerning the existence of nature and worship
of a deity or deities and divine involvement in the universe and human life. It means a set of
strongly held beliefs, values, attitudes that somebody lives by. The term comes from
a Latin wordmeaning obligation or reverence. It also means faith, belief, creed or conviction.
1.1 Scientific versus religious worldview
A world view is a set of fundamental beliefs, acts and values determining or constituting a
comprehensive outlook of life and the universe. It is a comprehensive conception of the image
ofthe universe and the relationship of humanity towards it. It describes a sense of existence
and a framework for sustaining and applying knowledge to the universe when trying to define
a world view there are six questions addressed. First, where do we come from? Where are
we? Where arewe going? What is good and what is evil? How shall we act? What is true or
false? We shall explain the fore going questions with cases from Christianity as a religion
and science.

Case 1. Christian worldview

1. Where do we come from? Christians answer this question by explaining that humans
were created by God. This world view is shaped by Genesis 1 and 2 where everything in
the world isbelieved to have come from God.
2. Where are we?
Christians answer this question by saying that; we are in the world which was created
by Godand everything in it.
3. Where are we going?
4
Page

Christians claim that they are going to the world (heaven) next world where they belong.
 4. What is good and what is evil?
According to Christians, good is obeying the 10 commandments and doing the will of
God.To them, evil is breaking the 10 commandments and acting against the will of
God.
5. How shall we act?
Christians claim that they should act by obeying the 10 commandments and doing the
will ofGod
6. What is true and what is false?
To Christians what is true is found in the Bible. What is false is what is not found
in thescriptures. Anything done minus the Bible is false.

Case 2. Scientific worldview

Scientists interpret their world view as follows:
1. Where do we come from?
Scientist claim that humans come from nowhere. They have gone ahead to formulate a
numberof theories of the origin of man and the world. For example:
Evolution of species by Charles Darwin.
a) Big Bang Theory which claims that the universe was a large mass which broke
intoelements.
b) Passing star theory which claims that a star with greater force of gravity passed
next tothe sun and pulled gases from the sun. These gases cooled to form the nine
planets theearth included.
2. Where are we?
Scientists claim that we are on earth, which has minerals, we need to exploit. The idea is
that it iseither we benefit from it now, or we lose it forever. This leads to negative no
conservation.
3. Where are we going?
Science is about observation, experimentation and conclusion about what is natural. There
is noknowledge about the future of humanity. Once a person dies, that’s the end of life.
4. What is good and what is evil?
According to scientists, what benefits an individual is good. What destroys life is bad. To
themthe end justifies the means. Human beings are in the world of survival for the fittest.
5. How shall we act?
We should react by following the rules of human rights and gain privileges one is supposed
to get as a human being e.g. right to life, speech, expression. We should struggle to attain
what is good for an individual and not what benefits the society. What satisfies an
individual is good andwhat doesn’t is bad.
6. What is true or false?
What is true is what can be verified by science through the five
principles i.e.quantitative, empirical, qualitative and co-operative principle.

1.6 Difference between religion and science as sources of knowledge

Both religion and science are sources of knowledge. Following are differences between
religionand science.
Knowledge in Science Knowledge in Religion
5
Page
 1. Science deals with pragmatic 1. Religion relies on revealed knowledge
knowledge 2. It does not the four principles i.e.
2. It must meet the four principles i.e. quantitative, empirical, co-operative and
quantitative, empirical, co-operative mechanical
and mechanical
3. Science relies on experiments 3. Religion relies on beliefs
4. Knowledge in science is uniform 4. Knowledge in religion is not uniform it
5. Science does not beliefs in existence has a variety of beliefs
of a Supernatural Being 5. The belief in Supreme Beings is the basis
6. Scientific knowledge deals with of knowledge in religion
natural phenomena 6. Religious knowledge deals with
7. Scientific knowledge explains how metaphysical issues
things happens in nature 7. Religious knowledge explains why things
8. Scientific knowledge needs tangible happen the way they do
evidence 8. Religious knowledge does not need
9. Scientific knowledge deals with tangible evidence
soluble problems 9. Religious knowledge deals with unsolved
mysteries

Table 2. Differences between religion and science

6
Page