Seduced by Science: How American Religion Has Lost Its Way

by Steven Goldberg

Book Overview

American religion, Steven Goldberg claims, has fallen into a trap. Just at the moment when it has amassed the political strength and won the legal right to participate effectively in public debate, it has lost its distinctive voice. Instead of speaking of human values, goals, and limits, it speaks in the language of science.
In the United States, science has extraordinary influence and respect. American religious leaders seeking prestige for...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814731058
• ISBN13: 9780814731055
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: New York University Press
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Goldberg is one of the few who understands the problem facing religion in the 21st Century.

"Seduced by Science" is authored by Steven Goldverg, Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law Center, so he is well-versed in the depths of legal implications when science and religion come into conflict in the court system. I claim boldly that Goldberg is unique, owing to the fact that in the realm of social activity where people make a claim the moral values, the religious realm, they often end up merely "cheerleading" and often for the wrong reasons. Such reasons often subvert faith, rather than reinforce it; but relgious people are slow to realize this, and when the logic comes full circle, BOOM!!!... they have undermined their own philosophical and rational foundation. In my experience, there are two great conflicts being fought today. The first is Abortion, the second is that regarding Evolutionary Theory. Goldberg expands the list further, including Bio-Genetic research as another point of conflict. "Seduced by Science" is Goldberg's account of the legal conflicts encountered in genetic research, in public schools, and how religion fails when it endorses the Bible as a kind of "science textbook", a very foolhardy and self-destructive approach to promoting spiritual and moral values in our society. Religion is not finished, but it is undergoing critical transformation. Key to the problem, Goldberg tells us, is that FAITH, in religion, is being replaced by science. It seems that religious people are often ignorant of the fundamental philosophical distinctions between TRUTH and SCIENTIFIC LAW (and scientific theory). Indeed, if religion is supported by scientific PROOF, then FAITH, by its Pauline definition, and truly, by other religious understandings of the meaning of FAITH, is lost. If the Holy Bible is merely a science text, the scientific community is going to eat it for lunch. Moreover, if we are truly going to consider religious views in depth, vis a vis Science, we must go beyond blind assumptions that CHRISTIANITY is the only religious voice. There is a Muslim voice, a Hindu voice, a Buddhist voice. All of these religious voices must be considered, when Religion and Science are in conflict. Goldberg tells us, and I am quite in agreement with him, that "efforts at empirical validation (scientific proof/evidence) do not elevate religion, ..." (but) "rather, trivializes it." The problem is the trend in science toward Metaphysical Materialism, the idea that only physical matter is real. In this scenario, only empirical and measureable evidence is valid. When religion starts playing up to science, claiming "scientific credentials" it is denying and giving up its own fundamental, and subjective core tenet, that of Spirit, of Faith, of the primary assumption that God IS. Of course you cannot "prove" the existence of GOD empirically, objectively. It can only be "proven" subjectively, individually, through di

Important book on religion-science debate

"Seduced by Science" is an important contribution to the science vs. relgion debate. The author states and re-states his position many times with good effect, which is that we are better served by keeping religion and science separate. Science is effective because it is narrow; its methods give excellent results when they can be empirically validated. Religion, Godlberg argues, needs to stress its core message: humility, faith, and values. The author takes on scientific hubris very directly and challenges some of the leading physicists of our time, who claim that they can understand the "mind of God" if only enough money is spent on multi-billion dollar projects such as the supercollider. He also argues with clarity and simplicity that there are limits to the claims that we are nothing more than our physical components, our genes, DNA, etc. As well Professor Goldberg argues effectively that religious leaders should not jump on the scientific bandwagon to prove that the Bible is a scientific text, or that the Big Bang proves some point in the Creation story. He simply repeats that religion and religious leaders should stick to religions' core values, which I stated above. My only real disaagreement with the author is that it is somewhat simplistic to say that religions must stress their core teachings. There are so many religions, and so many sub-groups within religions, that religion is not a unity. The various religions send mixed signals about their core teachings, often promote fear of God, and God Itself is so difficult to define, especially as defined by organized religions. Science has capitalized on these disagreements by putting on a united front, where at times scientists claim that they can explain everything, even to the point of meaning in life. In fact, there are wide disagreements among scientists on many issues, such as interpretations of quantum mechanics. What I liked most about this book are the excellent references in the footnotes. I have learned about many fine books on the science vs. religion debate, such as "Pythagoras' Trousers," "Higher Superstition," and several John Polkinghorne's most recent books.