The scientific theology is a new branch of contemporary Christian theology that defends the rationality and believability of theology by resorting to science. Nancy Murphy is one of the theologians pioneering in this arena. She has made great efforts to this end and it is advisable to get benefits from the results of such studies. The main issue in this article is to find out the features of the scientific theology in Murphy’s view and the critiques one can pose on it. To answer, using a descriptive-analytical method, we will first explain Murphy’s approach and, then, evaluate it. By referring to Murphy’s works, it is revealed that in offering her model of scientific theology, she has made use of hypothetical-deductive method of science and Lakatos’ scientific research program, placing theology in the hierarchy of other sciences. While enjoying some strong points, Murphy’s model suffers from serious weaknesses. Some of them are as follows: placing fundamental Christian beliefs in opposition to suppositional theories and hypotheses, temporary nature of theology due to its reliance on transient methods of science, not offering any reason for using science, relying on philosophy of science instead of science itself, and not following a certain rule of theology implementation of Lakatos’ scientific research program.
Aliseda, A. (2006) Reasoning Abductive: Logical Investigations into Discovery and Explanation. Netherlands: Springer.
Atocha, A. (2008). Abductive Reasoning, Logical Investigations into Discovery and Explanation, National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Barbour, I. (1997). Religion and Science: Historical and Contemporary Issues (Trans: Fotourchi, P., 1st). Tehran: Research Center of Culture and Thought.
Barbour, I. G. (1990). Religion and Science: Historical and Contemporary Issues. San Francisco: Harper Collins Publishers.
Chalmers, A. (2013). What is This Thing Called Science? (4th). Australia: McPherson’s Printing Group.
Clyton, P. (1999). Sharing the Field of Theology and Science: a Critique of Nancy Murphy. in Zygon, 34(4), pp. 609-618.
George F. R. E. (1999). «Nancy Murphy’s Work» in Zygon, 34(4), pp. 601-607.
Grenz, S. J. & Olson, R. (1992) The Century Theology: God and the World in a Transitional Age (Trans. Asariyan, R. & Aqamaliyan, M., 1st). Tehran: Mahi Publications.
Harman, G., H. (1965). »The Inference to the Best Explanation« in The Philosophical Review, 74(1), pp. 88-95.
Kuhn, T. S. (1962). The Structures of Scientific Revolutions (Trans. Aram. A., 1st). Tehran: IRIB Publications.
Ladyman, J. (2002). Understanding Philosophy of Science (Karami, H., 1st). Tehran: Hekmat Publications.
Lakatos, I. (1970). Falsification and the Methodology of Scientific Research Programs. in Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge, Lakatos, Imre & Musgrave, Alan (ed.s). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lakatos, I. (1989). The Methodology of Scientific Research Programs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lindberg, D. C. (2010). The Fate of Science in Patristic and Medieval Christendom. in Cambridge Companion to Science and Religion, Peter Harrison (ed.), New York: Cambridge University Press.
McCain, K. & Poston, T. (2017). »Best Explanations: An Introduction« in Best Explanations: New Essays on Inference to the Best Explanation, Kevin McCain and Ted Poston (eds). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
McGrath, A. (2001). Christian Theology: an Introduction (3rd, Vol. 1). Qom: University of Religions and Denominations.
Mcgrath, A. E. (2001). Scientific Theology, Vol. 1, London & New York: T&T Clark International.
McGrath, A. E. (2004). The Science of God. London: T&T Clark.
Murphy, N. (2006). Bodies and Souls or the Spirited Bodies (Trans: Shahbazi A. & Islami, M.). Qom: University of Religions and Denominations Publications, 1st
Murphy, N. C. & George F. R. E. (1996). On the Moral Nature of the Universe: Theology, Cosmology, and Ethics. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
Murphy, N. C. & Warren S. B. (2007). Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press.
Murphy, N. C. (1993). Theology in the Age of Scientific Reasoning, Ithaca & London: Cornell University Press.
Murphy, N. C. (1997). Reconciling Theology and Science: A Radical Reformation Perspective. Kitchener: Pandora Press.
Nasiri, M. (1382 SH). Rawish-shināsī ‘Ilm wa Ilāhiyāt (2nd).Qom: Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute.
Peacocke, A. R. (2001). Paths from Science towards God: The end of All Our Exploring. Oxford & New York: One World Publications.
Popper, K. R. (2002). Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge. London and New York:
Smith, P. G. (2003). Theory and Reality: an Introduction to the Philosophy of Science. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Stenmark, M. (2010). Ways of Relating Science and Religion. in Cambridge Companion to Science and Religion, Edited by Peter Harrison, New York: Cambridge University Press.
Wainwright, W. J. (2009). Philosophy of Religion (Trans: Kermani, A.). Qom: Imam Khomeini Research and Educational Institute.
Gholipour, J. (2022). Investigating the Scientific Theology from Nancy Murphy’s Viewpoint. Theosophia Islamica, 2(2), 60-87. doi: 10.22081/jti.2022.75519
MLA
Javad Gholipour. "Investigating the Scientific Theology from Nancy Murphy’s Viewpoint", Theosophia Islamica, 2, 2, 2022, 60-87. doi: 10.22081/jti.2022.75519
HARVARD
Gholipour, J. (2022). 'Investigating the Scientific Theology from Nancy Murphy’s Viewpoint', Theosophia Islamica, 2(2), pp. 60-87. doi: 10.22081/jti.2022.75519
VANCOUVER
Gholipour, J. Investigating the Scientific Theology from Nancy Murphy’s Viewpoint. Theosophia Islamica, 2022; 2(2): 60-87. doi: 10.22081/jti.2022.75519
)