Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Maverick Scientists and a Spiritual Worldview

Maverick Scientists and a Spiritual Worldview

Last updated on: January 27, 2023 at 9:39 am by Roger E. Olson

0 Comments

Maverick Scientists and a Spiritual Worldview 2023-01-27T09:39:06-05:00 Roger E. Olson

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.

Recently here I recommended that my readers listen to an episode of “Science Friday” featuring a physicist who openly called himself (several times) a “materialist” and said that all that exists are things made up of atoms and molecules. I objected that this is metaphysics, not science as such. The two get confused often. I also recommended that my readers watch a Youtube video by scientist Rupert Sheldrake about “morphic resonance” that contradicted certain “dogmas of modern science” and especially naturalism and materialism that reduce the mind to the brain.

Okay, that reminder is over now. My response to many responses is that many who did respond clearly did NOT listen to the interview or watch the Youtube video, so they ended up arguing against straw men. My plea to everyone is not to respond to one of my blog posts without reading THE WHOLE POST and without watching and/or listening to the recommended material on which the post is based.

Okay, that request of everyone is over now.

Rupert Sheldrake’s philosophy of “morphic resonance” interested me although I never said I agree with all of it. I think he may be “on to something.” Some of my own experiences seemed better explained by some of that than by materialism or strict naturalism.

But studying Sheldrake’s theory of morphic resonance reminded me of Fritjof Capra, a physicist who wrote many popular books about a “new paradigm” of science back in the 1970s through the 1990s. I put their two pictures above and I am surprised by how much they resemble each other.

Their thoughts about reality also resemble each other. (Note: I am NOT saying they are identical!) Both, as scientists, believe much of modern Western science is too bound to materialism and naturalism. Both believe in some kind of spiritual-like phenomenon that cannot be explained by standard modern science. Both found/find some ideas of Eastern and Asian spiritualities and philosophies helpful. Both have been identified especially by critics as pseudo-scientists (although both have Ph.D degrees in science) and as “New Age” thinkers, although neither one ever dabbled in crystals or taught reincarnation or worshiped nature.

I am far from embracing all of Capra’s ideas or Sheldrake’s ideas. However, that they, as scientists, believe in something “more” than matter (Capra believed matter is a form of energy) interests me and encourages me. I am not against science, but I want science to restrict itself from teaching naturalistic metaphysics (“nothing buttery”) and leave that to philosophers and not interfere with spirituality and theology except when they undeniably contradict something that has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt intersubjectively.

Obviously, as an evangelical Christian (there are those who would argue that I am not one but I have all the credentials), I believe, together with all real Christians, that there exists a spiritual reality that science cannot study because it is unpredictable. The “fathers” of modern science also believe it. Sir Isaac Newton spent much of his adult life studying the Bible and, while he may not have been perfectly orthodoxy in his beliefs (some say he did not believe in the Trinity), he did not allow his discoveries in physics to undermine his belief in God and a spiritual reality.

Some of you have responded that Sheldrake’s “dogmas of science” cannot be real dogmas of science because you know of Christians who are scientists. Of course. I know them, too. I have worked alongside them for forty years! But I have heard from many of them how difficult it is for them to function as scientists in many science professional societies that view believers in a non-material, spiritual world as still caught in superstition.

*Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative) and devoid of pictures and links. Know that this is a safe place for evangelical Christians of all denominations to discuss theology and related topics (which includes almost everything!) and it is not a place for non-Christians or non-evangelical Christians to promote their own alternative worldviews or theologies.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 25, 2023

The Mind and the Brain: “Morphic Resonance” and Other Thoughts

Next Post

January 30, 2023 What Is Gravity? A Theologian Learns about Physics

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"No doubt Lewis was inspired by earlier thinkers. Ironically (or perhaps serendipitously) I am now ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"I am sure Lewis would agree. After all, as a Christian he believed in original ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"If I’m not mistaken, the quote from Lewis is his interpretation of the “Conditioners’” own ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"Thank you! It's been a great re-read of a thought provoking, but somewhat dense, little ..."

Øyvind J. Karstad

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology 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 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I wanted a vineyard so badly that my wife arranged the owner's death through false witnesses. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

David Ahab Jezebel Naboth