Theology, Science and Technology

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444). This special issue belongs to the section "Religions and Theologies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 11470

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: science and religion; cosmology; astrophysics; theology; the philosophy of science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The relationship between science, technology and theology is a hot topic in academic study. Many issues in natural theology, such as Deism and theistic evolution, are controversial topics in the study of science and theology. Moreover, technological advancements in the 21st century have made drastic changes to our daily life. In particular, many recent technologies, such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, have provided some challenges and theological implications to different religions. On the other hand, theology can also provide some guidelines or ethical considerations to the advancement of science and technology. This Special Issue will collect papers which discuss the intriguing relationship or mutual implications between science, technology and theology. The area of theology can be related to any religions.

Dr. Man Ho Chan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • science and religion
  • natural theology
  • technology and theology
  • ethics in science and technology
  • theistic arguments

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 269 KiB  
Article
On God and the Beginning of the Universe: An Evaluation of Recent Discussions
by Andrew Ter Ern Loke
Religions 2023, 14(3), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14030290 - 21 Feb 2023
Viewed by 3686
Abstract
Philosophical analysis is of vital importance for addressing the controversies in science and theology. This article evaluates the analyses concerning God and the beginning of the universe offered by a number of philosophers. It is shown that, while Linford is correct in that [...] Read more.
Philosophical analysis is of vital importance for addressing the controversies in science and theology. This article evaluates the analyses concerning God and the beginning of the universe offered by a number of philosophers. It is shown that, while Linford is correct in that establishing that physical reality has a finite past is not sufficient for establishing that physical reality had a beginning, the objections which Linford, Schmid, Oberle, and Wielenberg have offered against the Cosmological Argument for the existence of God can be rebutted. The examination of the objections and rebuttals demonstrates how a more careful philosophical analyses of the issues concerning the argument against infinite causal regress, personal identity, timelessness, the definition and reducibility of time, and the causal principle can contribute to the interaction between science and theology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theology, Science and Technology)
22 pages, 345 KiB  
Article
An Atheistic Argument from Naturalistic Explanations of Religious Belief: A Preliminary Reply to Robert Nola
by Kai-man Kwan
Religions 2022, 13(11), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13111084 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2461
Abstract
Robert Nola has recently defended an argument against the existence of God on the basis of naturalistic explanations of religious belief. I will critically evaluate his argument in this paper. Nola’s argument takes the form of an inference to the best explanation: since [...] Read more.
Robert Nola has recently defended an argument against the existence of God on the basis of naturalistic explanations of religious belief. I will critically evaluate his argument in this paper. Nola’s argument takes the form of an inference to the best explanation: since the naturalistic stance offers a better explanation of religious belief relative to the theistic explanation, the ontology of God(s) is eliminated. I rebut Nola’s major assumption that naturalistic explanations and theistic explanations of religion are incompatible. I go on to criticize Nola’s proposed naturalistic explanations: Freudianism, a Hypersensitive Agency Detection Device, and a Moralising Mind-Policing God. I find these inadequate as actual explanations of religious belief. Even if they are correct, they will not show that theism is false. So Nola’s argument fails to convince. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theology, Science and Technology)
6 pages, 246 KiB  
Article
How Does Multiverse Proposal Affect the Design Argument?
by Man Ho Chan
Religions 2022, 13(10), 948; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13100948 - 10 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1721
Abstract
Recent observations suggest that many fundamental physical constants and conditions in our universe are fine-tuned for life to exist. This provides an important piece of evidence to support the Design Argument and the existence of God in the philosophy of religion. However, the [...] Read more.
Recent observations suggest that many fundamental physical constants and conditions in our universe are fine-tuned for life to exist. This provides an important piece of evidence to support the Design Argument and the existence of God in the philosophy of religion. However, the proposal of multiverse provides a naturalistic account of the fine-tuning phenomena which apparently challenges the Design Argument. In general, most of the multiverse models have specific features and they have to satisfy empirical and logical constraints. Therefore, they may be intrinsically dependent on theistic proposal under the probabilistic Bayesian framework. In this article, I present a Bayesian framework to show how multiverse proposal affects the Design Argument. I show that there exist two specific scenarios in which the inclusion of multiverse proposal can indirectly increase the credence of the Design Argument. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theology, Science and Technology)
15 pages, 285 KiB  
Article
The Theological Structure of Evolutionary Theory
by Cornelius G. Hunter
Religions 2022, 13(9), 774; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13090774 - 24 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2448
Abstract
Evolutionary theory has greatly influenced science and technology, but in recent decades contemporary scholarship has demonstrated religious influence in evolutionary thought. Religious premises do not merely provide insight; they underwrite evolutionary theory both by mandating strictly naturalistic origins and by providing key arguments [...] Read more.
Evolutionary theory has greatly influenced science and technology, but in recent decades contemporary scholarship has demonstrated religious influence in evolutionary thought. Religious premises do not merely provide insight; they underwrite evolutionary theory both by mandating strictly naturalistic origins and by providing key arguments for evolution. These arguments are common in the evolution literature, but what are the theological traditions and doctrines underlying these arguments? This paper presents a survey of the historical context of five theological traditions that have been important in the evolution literature. This is a step toward a better understanding of this highly influential theory. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theology, Science and Technology)
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