Abstract
In this paper, after discussing how scientific culture shapes the way of thinking of great part of contemporary society, I briefly investigate the relationship between science and non-believing, showing that the latter cannot be presented as a direct consequence of the former. Rather, this is an ideologically-clothed popularization of science, which presents scientific culture as opposed to Christian faith. In order to evangelize a society that is highly shaped by the rationality of science, when addressing the relationship between faith/theology and science, a number of clichés must be overcome. At the same time, however, specific and positive aspects of scientific culture, mainly the humanistic and spiritual dimensions associated with research work, have to be highlighted. In order to foster a New Evangelization in the world of science, I suggest developing five leading ideas on the nature of scientific activity as such, and I single out four proposed tasks for scientists that are also believers and for pastors and theologians.
To be published in the Proceedings of the Vatican Observatory 80th Anniversary Symposium, Springer 2017.
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Notes
- 1.
Danielou (1972).
- 2.
J.-F. Lyotard, The postmodern condition: a report on knowledge, translation from the French by G. Bennington and B. Massumi; foreword by F. Jameson (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1994), xxiv. Original French edition: La condition postmoderne (1979), Italian translation: La condizione postmoderna. Rapporto sul sapere (Milano: Feltrinelli, 1991), 6.
- 3.
Cf. Vatican Council II, Gaudium et spes, nn. 5, 33.
- 4.
Cf. John Paul II, Redemptor hominis, March 4, 1979, n. 1.
- 5.
Secretary of The Synod for the New Evangelization, 2012, Lineamenta, n. 6.
- 6.
Pope Francis, Evangelii gaudium, November 24, 2013, n. 132.
- 7.
De Lubac (1985).
References
Danielou, J. (1972). La secolarizzazione e la non credenza. In Caporale & Grumelli (Ed.), Religione e ateismo nelle società secolarizzate (p. 76). Bologna: Il Mulino.
De Lubac, H. (1985). Confronto con l’ateismo contemporaneo. In La rivelazione divina e il senso dell’uomo (p. 223), Milano: Jaca Book.
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Tanzella-Nitti, G. (2018). Some Reflections on the Influence and Role of Scientific Thought in the Context of the New Evangelization. In: Gionti, S. J., G., Kikwaya Eluo, S.J., JB. (eds) The Vatican Observatory, Castel Gandolfo: 80th Anniversary Celebration. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, vol 51. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67205-2_17
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