On “the growing convergence of science and religion”

Last updated on: February 24, 2019 at 12:28 am by Dan Peterson

On “the growing convergence of science and religion” 2019-02-24T00:28:53-07:00 Dan Peterson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Mt. Saint Helens, on 18 May 1980 (Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

I was surprised and pleased on Wednesday to find a book in my box: Jeff Wynn and Louise Wynn, Everyone is a Believer: The Growing Convergence of Science and Religion (2019).

On Jeff Wynn:

https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/jeff-wynn?qt-staff_profile_science_products=3#qt-staff_profile_science_products

Jeffrey C. (“Jeff”) Wynn

A bit about Louise Wynn:

https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/55760674_Louise_Wynn

From the back jacket blurb:

This book is aimed at people who subscribe to science as a path to truth, whether or not they subscribe to a faith tradition. It is also aimed at people who are religious — and refuse to accept the false dichotomy that science and religion are mutually exclusive. We show that it is not only possible to be a scientist and a believer in God — but that you can’t honestly separate the two. We show how science and religion both start with unprovable fundamental assumptions; and that science and religion depend heavily on inspiration and both require faith. We believe that true religion holds in common with good science the ability — the requirement — that it can be tested. We note that in both religious and scientific spheres most knowledge is acquired by indirect means.

We separate science from technology, with which it is often conflated, and from bad statistics, from pseudoscience, and from how science is often reported in the popular press — and we give you the tools to do this yourself. We also point out the crucial contributions from philosophy and history that enforce honesty in modern scientific research.

We examine the very human flaws of scientism, and discuss how blindered science and blindered religion (closed-mindedness and “cherry-picking”) are equally self-crippling approaches to the truth. We do NOT try to “prove” scientifically that God exists or that a particular religion is true — science doesn’t have the tools for this. Nevertheless, we review some startling hints, including things unknown in 1830 when the Book of Mormon was published, such as the Frankincense Trail, Uto-Aztecan linguistic links to central Arabia, and volcano-tectonic events in Central America, among others. We even identify a likely “smoking gun” for 3 Nephi 8. Recent discoveries in cosmology — information already available in a hymn written in 1835 — show how rare (but not unique) are the chances for life as we know it elsewhere in the universe, along with the implications.

We are encouraged by growing evidence that science and religion are rapidly converging on a larger truth, a Truth which will stand the test of time and all the fashionable trends and evolving prejudices. This convergence is actually accelerating towards that one great whole that we are all seeking, something much greater than our current understanding in either realm. A young man with a 3rd grade education first opened the door for us in 1828.

I look forward to reading this new book.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 22, 2019

Some recent not-so-recent movies

Next Post

February 23, 2019 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him Google!”

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 March 2014 August 2013 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian group traditionally worships in silence?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Anglicans Baptists Quakers