Analysis Of Ian Babour's Thoughts Of 'Four Classifications'

The relation between science and religion is one of hot spots that western scholars pay close attention to. It is not surprise if we notice the fact that the Christian religious traditions encounter the Greek scientific philosophy in Europe. They never stop this research even in the divined society in middle age. It is on this focus that the modern science appears in the divined matrix, at the end of the middle age. From then on, science gets rid of its subordinate position. Therefore, scientific theories and science get more freedom. Besides, the relation between science and religion changes gradually. Because of the rapid development of scientific technology, this relation becomes more and more complicated in the complex social background. Series of revolutions, especially the astronomy revolution represented by Copernicus'heliocentric theory in the 16th and 17th century, the establishment of Newtonian mechanics in the 17th century and Darwinian evolution in the 19th century, make people pay more attention to research the relation between science and religion. After kinds of experiences, the two great world wars in particular, give people hold the scientific optimism a head-on blow. People begin to revalue this relation. On this aspect, professor Ian Babour, as a influential American scholar, does well, and his research is of great meaningful. He, as a scientist, a theologian and a philosopher, concentrates his research on cognitive field to support the independence and integration of Christian. He neglects the extreme conflict between science and religion, and divides it into four classes: conflict, independence, dialogue and integration. Conflict is mainly represented by entire competing on central concepts and the whole system of thoughts. independence, however, attempts to protect individual independent by separating, and meanwhile, avoiding conflict; but the complete separation is impossible, and so dialogue tries to intensify the communication and drawing lessons from each other by the commons of both sides. Of course, Bobour advocates a certain form of integration on the base of dialoguebetween science and religion. On the base of the religious independent in scientific age, this integration seeks for the whole integrating both on central concepts and systematic thoughts. This thesis mainly discusses Bobuor's four divisions. And then by the explanation can help us understand the relation between science and religion, and most importantly, it can help us understand the nature of science on different aspects.