There was news this week that the Vatican is planning a collaboration with the Italian Space Agency to do a web-based study to examine the origins of the Universe “through science, theology, philosophy and art”.
This is happening at a time when Vatican observers are detecting an intentional movement toward a renewed conversation between faith and science.
But not all agree that this openness is going to bear much fruit.
“Priya Shetty is among those to note that the Vatican is hosting an Aids conference on 28 May, but wonders whether a forthcoming update on bioethics issues in stem cell research and reproductive technology will be as ‘pragmatic’ as its new stance on condom use.
Pragmatism is something of a deal breaker for the Vatican. It will not endorse or explore anything that contradicts church teaching, which is why it prefers stem cell research on adults and stops short of giving its wholehearted endorsement to evolution. As Peter Raven tells Science Magazine: ‘There is belief in a creator who existed before the big bang and set the universe in motion, which is something that cannot be proved or disproved by science.’
The official Vatican position on evolution tilts towards intelligent design. Its point man on the subject, Cardinal Schönborn, says: ‘Scientific theories that try to explain away the appearance of design as the result of ‘chance and necessity’ are not scientific at all, but, as John Paul put it, an abdication of human intelligence.’ Ouch.”
From here.
But maybe there’s something to all this. Much of the claimed gulf between scientific and theological thought is fueled by the American debate over Evolution, which is unique among certain protestant groups in the US (and some Islamic groups in the Middle East) and not really an issue among the vast majority of Christians in the world (Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and Lutherans). Maybe a willingness to talk is just that. A willingness to learn from each other’s experience of Creation. It doesn’t signify a great shift in position, because the majority of the religious community isn’t holding the position it’s so often painted as holding.