Modern Christian Thought and Criticism of Religion : Focusing on the Question of Rationality(<Special Issue>Criticism of Religion)

Abstract

Modern Christian thought has evolved out of the ineluctable interplay with modern rationalism. Confronted with a new strain of religious criticism birthed out of the European Enlightenment, Christian thought became newly encumbered with the popularization of modern empirical science and its emphasis on positivism. In particular, Darwin's theory of evolution served as the catalyst for the confrontation between science and religion in the 19th century. As a result of this challenge, one arm of Christendom countered by developing and advancing a movement known as Creationist Theory. These two opposing paradigms have constituted a highly visible and persistent touchstone in the protracted contest for popular acceptance. This essay focuses on Richard Dawkins's criticism of religion and attempts to elucidate the concept of rationality (empirical, evidentialist rationality) which underpins the paradigmatic conflict between science and religion. My thesis is that the above-mentioned paradigmatic imbroglio could be reconciled by a reexamination of the concept of rationality based on a broader interpretation.