Some Perspectives on Science and Christian Theology

Professor Andrew Loke, Associate Professor at the Department of Religion and Philosophy of the Hong Kong Baptist University

Abstract: This paper focuses on two important incidents: the visit to China by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century, and the visit by British philosopher Bertrand Russell in the early 20th century. In the first instance, the integration of science and Christian theology by the Jesuit Matteo Ricci (1552–1610) had a significant impact on the conversions of leading Chinese Confucian scholars such as Xu Guangqi (1562–1633). In the second instance, Russell’s arguments that science and Christianity are fundamentally in conflict in their epistemologies and attitudes had a crucial impact on the anti-Christianity movement involving the young Mao Zedong in the 1920s, and remain influential in China to this day. This paper will provide an in-depth theological and philosophical reflection on the two incidents mentioned above. It will be shown that the Chinese Christians and foreign missionaries in the 1920s did not respond adequately to Russell's arguments that failed to consider (among other things) the historical interaction between the Jesuits and Confucians in the 16th century. It will also be shown that the analyses of the “Territories of Science and Religion” by some contemporary scholars such as Peter Harrison are inadequate for accounting for the historical interaction and the issues raised in both incidents. This paper will propose a better way forward by explaining the lessons learned from the mistakes of the past and their relevance for overcoming the impasses in Science and Theology discussions today.

Further information on Professor Loke's biography and research output, please visit https://scholars.hkbu.edu.hk/en/persons/ANDYLOKE/.