Science and Religious Experience: Are They Similar Forms of Knowledge?

by Grahame Miles

Overview

Many people believe that science provides facts while religion is just opinions or beliefs. This book explores the structure and value of science and religious experience, and demonstrates how similar they are and how equally valuable and valid they are. After defining different forms of knowledge - biological, personal, moral, religious, etc. - the author explains how the structures of both the humanities and the sciences involve what we grasp through our senses, and how we interpret those impressions first by description, then by evidence collected, then by reason and understanding, all based on the foundation of basic beliefs. One can no more prove scientific theory or that Moses heard God's call, for each is upheld by a believing community. Factual claims are interpretations in both science and religion. In this work, objective science is examined against the subjective world of personal relations, the humanities, and religion. Many scientists and religionists acknowledge a hierarchy of different forms of knowledge - empirical, chemical, personal, and religious. Some fundamentalists - both scientific and religious - focus on one form of knowledge, when a range of forms of knowledge would provide a more balanced multi-focal perspective.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781845191177
Publisher:	Sussex Academic Press
Publication date:	04/01/2007
Pages:	429
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.60(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Grahame Miles taught Religious Education in Grammar and Comprehensive Schools, in selective and open-access Sixth Form Colleges, and in Primary Schools. He was Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at Homerton College in the University of Cambridge from 1968 to 1997. Two research projects focused on the development of religious concepts, attitudes and understanding in students aged 15–18, and one project with pupils aged 6–11years.

Editorial Reviews

A very reader-friendly and comprehensive defence of the cognitive value of religious experience, and its relation to scientific knowledge. It gives a very good exposition of the state of intelligent discussion in this area.”  —Keith Ward, FBA, Christ Church, Oxford

“Miles explores empirically, and through a review of recent literature, the question of the relationship of religious experience and scientific knowledge. Commencing with a brief examination of transcendental experiences, he looks at historical and contemporary theories of knowledge in detail from a broad, interdisciplinary perspective. A similar exploration of religious and mystical experience leads finally to the author’s effort to answer the question posed in his title. Miles rejects alike reductionistically conceived science and scientifically naïve theology as no longer viable in light of contemporary theories of knowledge. On the other hand, he believes that scientific and religious forms of knowledge are actually very similar and may complement one another. Also affirmed on the basis of his study of the nature of religious knowledge is the existence of fundamental values and beliefs shared by humanists (whether atheist or religionist) and by all faith communities that permit dialogue, peace, and harmony among them. This will be a critical text for all students of religious education, and may be read with profit by anyone interested in epistemology. Highly recommended.”  —Choice

From the Publisher