Folk religion

Maggi has a useful discussion of one response to recent criticisms of Christianity - that if most people misunderstand theology then the majority understanding must be the "true" Christianity. As a result, perhaps we should reject Christianity on the basis of that majority understanding. Not so, suggests Maggi.

Is the fact that most of the population has a very inaccurate grasp of science a good reason for suggesting that carefully thought out science is not "real" science? Should we say that "real" science is actually what the majority think, and not what experts tell us? Should we stop believing in the credibility of science because lots of people have an inaccurate view of science? Should we insist that no-one should pursues science at all, because lots of people believe things that aren't true? I don't think so. I think we should go right on doing science.
Theology, like science, is sometimes obscured by layers of folk ideas. That doesn't mean there isn't anything worth knowing, and it certainly shouldn't stop anyone pursuing it at a more rigorous level if they want to.

pax et bonum

Article posted at 2:01pm on 18 December 2006
Category: Faith, Science