The Centre for Ethics Newsletter Volume 86 | Term 3, 2017 WILLIAM BLAKE THE MIND from studying Anglican theology, he became interested in the natural At a recent Senior School Assembly we Blake was not the only romantic artist theology of William Paley who presented had our annual acknowledgement of Poetry to criticise scientists. He was part of the argument from divine design in nature Week. This always includes an explanation a movement which saw science as to explain adaptation: God acting through of William Blake’s work Jerusalem. We dangerous because of its elevation of the laws of nature. Eventually, Darwin then sing this much loved Anglican hymn the mind. Some artists believed that became highly critical of the Bible as with its celebration of England’s ‘green and this inevitably devalued creativity and history. He put forward the idea that all pleasant land.’ imagination. These artists felt threatened. religions were equally valid. Though he Others on the defensive were members of moved away from faith, he conducted SATANIC MILLS churches. discussions about Christianity with Emma Wedgewood to whom he was married. He The boys are reminded that Blake saw the ON THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES was an active member of his local Anglican process of industrialisation as the work of parish. the devil. He made itclear in that line about Two years after the death of William Blake, ‘satanic mills’, mills which he believed were Charles Darwin published his theory of A RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION contributing to an unrestrained pollution. evolution with its compelling evidence in According to Blake, scientific progress was On the Origin of the Species. The Over the years, some Anglican clergy have to blame. disastrous split between science and worked hard to overcome the mutual religion became even more pronounced hostility that has marred relations between A HORROR OF MODERNITY in the early twentieth century with the science and so much of Christianity. One of creation-evolution controversy in the the leaders in this respectful conversation Blake had a horror of modernity and has United States. In many parts of that was the Reverend Canon Arthur Peacocke often been described as being opposed to country, little progress has been made. who lectured in biochemistry at the science. He wrestled with a set of ideas University of Oxford and then taught which had gained momentum from the DARWIN AND THEOLOGY Theology at Cambridge. time of the Enlightenment, in particular, the notion that the world could be explained It is not often mentioned that Darwin had rationally and thatthe pursuit of rationality a religious upbringing and that he attended would necessarily lead to the the University of Cambridge with the aim displacement of religion. of becoming an Anglican clergyman. Apart This newsletter is produced by the Centre for Ethics at Christ Church Grammar School. It is a quarterly publication informing the community of forthcoming speakers and events. The Centre for Ethics Newsletter A SATISFYING ACCOUNT RICHARD DAWKINS bestseller and has now been translated into 24 different languages. His newest Far from being threatened by Darwin’s McGrath’s interests include notions of book, The Greatest Story Ever Told … ideas, Arthur Peacocke suggested rationality and explanations in science So Far, is the story about how humanity that evolutionary history was a full and and religion; the role of natural sciences reached its current understanding of the satisfying account of God’s creativity. in sustaining the ideology of the ‘New universe, one that is far removed from He was not at all impressed by scientific Atheism’, especially in the writings of the realm of everyday experience. To the creationists and was critical of accounts Richard Dawkins; the concept of natural delight of overflow audiences, Krauss and which include ad hoc special acts of theology; the notion of scientifically- the Australian astrophysicist Alan Duffy creation. In an essay included in the book engaged theology; and the role of theory in were in conversation at the Sydney Writers Darwin and Divinity: Essays on Evolution both science and Christian theology. Festival in May. and Religious Belief, Peacocke considered evolutionary accounts to be “infinitely INTELLECTUALLY ROBUST NO IDEA IS SACRED more Christian than the theory of ‘special CHRISTIANITY creation.” Darwin and Divinity came out Krauss is more than ready to confront of a series of papers presented at a McGrath went up to Wadham College, religious claims. In an article for the New gathering sponsored by the British History Oxford, in 1971 and gained First Class Yorker in 2015, he wrote “Because science of Science Society in 1982, marking the Honours in Chemistry in 1975. He then holds that no idea is sacred, it’s inevitable centenary of Darwin’s death. began research in Molecular Biophysics in that it draws people away from religion. the Oxford Department of Biochemistry. The more we learn about the workings JOHN POLKINGHORNE As an undergraduate he became more of the universe, the more purposeless interested in religious questions and it seems. Scientists have an obligation An Anglican priest to make the case for questioned his own atheism. In his book, not to lie about the natural world. Even friendship between science and religion Mere Theology (2010), he wrote “I was so, to avoid offense, they sometimes is the theoretical physicist, theologian discovering that Christianity was far misleadingly imply that today’s discoveries and writer, the Reverend Canon John more intellectually robust than I had ever exist in easy harmony with pre-existing Polkinghorne, who was professor of imagined. I had some major rethinking to religious doctrines, or remain silent rather Mathematical Physics at the University of do, and by the end of November (1971), than pointing out contradictions between Cambridge before studying for priesthood. my decision was made: I turned my back on science and religious doctrine. It’s a He was later the president of Queens’ one faith and embraced another.” strange inconsistency, since scientists College Cambridge. John Polkinghorne often happily disagree with other kinds wrote more than twenty books on the WRITING AND DEBATING of beliefs. Astronomers have no problem relationship between science and religion ridiculing the claims of astrologists, even including The Quantum World (1989), Alister McGrath has turned his though a significant fraction of the public Quantum Physics and Theology: An considerable intellect and energy into believe these claims. Doctors have no Unexpected Kinship (2005) and Exploring writing and debating about science and problem condemning the actions of anti- Reality: The Intertwining of Science and religion. Among his best known books vaccine activists who endanger children. Religion (2007). are The Twilight of Atheism, The Dawkins And yet, for reasons of decorum, many Delusion, Dawkins’ God: Genes, Memes, scientists worry that ridiculing certain ALISTER MCGRATH and the Meaning of Life, and A Scientific religious claims alienates the public from Theology. science. When they do so, they are being Another Anglican priest to engage with condescending at best and hypocritical these questions is Alister McGrath. CHALLENGING QUESTIONS FOR at worst.” On Radio National some weeks McGrath is the Andreas Idreos Professor of THEOLOGIANS ago, Professor Krauss noted that one of Science and Religion at Oxford University. his colleagues at Arizona State University He is also the Director of the Ian Ramsey One of those to ask challenging questions was the English physicist Paul Davies. Centre for Science and Religion at Oxford of theologians who make claims about Some readers will recall that Paul Davies and a senior member of the Oxford Faculty science and religion is Lawrence M. Krauss, wrote God and the New Physics. Close to of Theology and Religion. His doctorates a theoretical physicist whose studies 30 years ago, Davies spoke in our Chapel from Oxford include a DPhil in molecular and research interests include the early about this book. Writing in The Guardian, biophysics for his research on biological universe, the nature of dark matter, and Tim Radford commented “Davies is membranes; a DD from the Faculty of the origins of consciousness and culture. interested in all the questions raised 3000 Theology for his work in systematic and Lawrence has written hundreds of articles years ago by the Pentateuch; and in the a DLitt from the Division of Humanities along with 10 popular books, including increasingly intractable questions of how for his research in the history of ideas, the international bestseller The Physics the universe began, how life began and especially relating to science and religion. of Star Trek and A Universe from Nothing, how we came to be.” which immediately became New York Times The Centre for Ethics Newsletter CHRIS MULHERIN And so, with encouragement and discouragement on all sides, there are people who want the dialogue to continue. An interesting development is to be found in the work of Chris Mulherin, an Anglican minister based in Melbourne. Chris’s background is in engineering, philosophy and theology, and he recently finished a doctorate at the University of Divinity (CTC). He tutors and lectures in climate change, history of science, philosophy, and theology at various Melbourne universities. Screenagers Chris has published articles about science and religion in a variety of journals and has Screenagers is about the impact of the digital age on children and how to help families produced ABC Radio National programs. minimise harmful effects and find balance. After seeing the film, people tell us that He has also blogged on the Global Atheist they feel more confident and better equipped to establish balance around screen time. Convention for ABC Radio National. He currently teaches and tutors in philosophy, A free community screening of Screenagers will be held in the Chapel on history of science, Christian apologetics, Monday 14 August.