Philosophy of Science and Religion: Knowledge and Beliefs

Epistemology is a branch of theology and philosophy which asks questions about knowledge claims and belief claims: (i) What kinds of knowledge claims are legitimate and what kinds are not? (ii) How do we adjudicate the acceptability of a knowledge claim; the acceptability of a belief claim? Epistemology is relevant to both science and religion, because both scientific and religious exercises involve making propositional claims about states of affairs in the world. A scientific method governs the search for knowledge of the natural world and the engineering of the world's materials. So, the importance of epistemology (method) in science and engineering is well understood. On the other hand, the importance of epistemology in religious life and modern faith traditions seems less clear or understood. In this class we ask the following questions: (i) How important is epistemology in religious life? (ii) Can we possess a "religious epistemology"? (iii) Are belief claims different from or similar to knowledge claims? In discussing and analyzing possible answers to these questions, we are better able to compare and contrast the human enterprises of science and religion and apply this learning toward theological work, scientific work, and human life.