Model And Paradigm: A Study Of Ian Barbour's Thought Of Relationship Between Science And Religion

The relationship between science and religion is always complex and important, and held people's attention. The concept of "Paradigm" is not only applied in describing scientific development but also in other fields, and used to understand and establish the concerning theories.American religious scholar Ian Barbour has devoted himself to exploring the relationship between science and religion, he thinks that, as in science, there are also paradigms in the development of religion .Models do exist in science and religion, through the model we can understand "paradigm" better, and the relationship between science and religion. Therefore, from the perspective of the models and the paradigms , this article attempts to make a research about the relationship between science and religion.Based on the consideration of model and paradigm, this article firstly discusses the types and functions of models in science and religion, then comparatively we can know similarities and differences between them. Secondly, from the perspective of "paradigm", we can know how Ian Barbour think about and the relationship between science and religion, From interpretation on experience, the commitment to paradigm and criteria of assessment in religion , this article discusses Ian Barbour's theory of paradigm; then this article discuss Ian Barbour's understand and application of paradigm. This article summarizes Ian Barbour's reflections on this problem, which aims at supporting Barbour's idea. In order to understand better , this article makes the subsequent Christian paradigm as an example to explain Barbour's understanding. To complete the integration between science and religion is what Barbour finally wants to accomplish.The unique of this article is studying firsthand material, choosing an appropriate stand point, and then from a new perspective discussing the relationship between science and religion, to reduce the possibility of entanglements in various relations, as far as possible to avoid the mis-understanding of Ian Barbour's thought. At last, this article discusses the relationship between model and paradigm.