Theologian, atheist
debate God, science
Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/16/2010 10:26:29 PM PST
CLAREMONT - A debate Tuesday between
Daniel Dennett, a leading atheist, and local
theologian Philip Clayton managed to create
some common ground between their two
differing outlooks on God and religion.
Students and community members crowded
Claremont Graduate University's Albrecht
Auditorium to listen to the much-anticipated
duel moderated by John Fischer of UC Riverside.
"We agreed that one has to use reason to
defend his position and on taking the results of
science seriously," said Clayton, who teaches
religion and philosophy at the university as well
as the Claremont School of Theology. "But we
deeply disagree on what the whole package
looks like."
Dennett and Clayton met last summer at
Cambridge University's Darwin 2009 Festival.
Clayton gave a lecture on Darwin and theology,
after which Dennett "publicly expressed his
disappointment that such a topic would be on
the agenda at the Darwin Fest."
Clayton's repeated invitations for a public
debate were turned down by Dennett until
Tuesday, when he came to the city to deliver the
debate God, science
Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/16/2010 10:26:29 PM PST
CLAREMONT - A debate Tuesday between
Daniel Dennett, a leading atheist, and local
theologian Philip Clayton managed to create
some common ground between their two
differing outlooks on God and religion.
Students and community members crowded
Claremont Graduate University's Albrecht
Auditorium to listen to the much-anticipated
duel moderated by John Fischer of UC Riverside.
"We agreed that one has to use reason to
defend his position and on taking the results of
science seriously," said Clayton, who teaches
religion and philosophy at the university as well
as the Claremont School of Theology. "But we
deeply disagree on what the whole package
looks like."
Dennett and Clayton met last summer at
Cambridge University's Darwin 2009 Festival.
Clayton gave a lecture on Darwin and theology,
after which Dennett "publicly expressed his
disappointment that such a topic would be on
the agenda at the Darwin Fest."
Clayton's repeated invitations for a public
debate were turned down by Dennett until
Tuesday, when he came to the city to deliver the
annual
Merlan Lecture at the Scripps College.
Clayton, who considers himself a theist "who
endorses evolution and works extensively on
science-religion issues," pointed out that one of
the problems with religion today is a tendency to
"quote a scripture to get to the truth," leaving no
room for differing views.
Dennett, who teaches at Tufts University near
Boston, pointed out several good functions of
religion, including its ability to provide love and
support for people who cannot find it anywhere
else.
Dennett also argued that every religious group
has its own radical fundamentalists and that
people who go out and do "wonderful things" in
the name of the religion give cover to its
"malignant" components.
"Empirically, that is false," replied Clayton,
explaining that he and others in the religious
community often challenge such behaviors.
For Claremont School of Theology graduate
Chuck Schofield, the debate was a refreshing
break from the sniping he often sees in blog
discussions.
"In this digital age, it was a good example how
that type of dialogue should happen," he said.
Clayton, who considers himself a theist "who
endorses evolution and works extensively on
science-religion issues," pointed out that one of
the problems with religion today is a tendency to
"quote a scripture to get to the truth," leaving no
room for differing views.
Dennett, who teaches at Tufts University near
Boston, pointed out several good functions of
religion, including its ability to provide love and
support for people who cannot find it anywhere
else.
Dennett also argued that every religious group
has its own radical fundamentalists and that
people who go out and do "wonderful things" in
the name of the religion give cover to its
"malignant" components.
"Empirically, that is false," replied Clayton,
explaining that he and others in the religious
community often challenge such behaviors.
For Claremont School of Theology graduate
Chuck Schofield, the debate was a refreshing
break from the sniping he often sees in blog
discussions.
"In this digital age, it was a good example how
that type of dialogue should happen," he said.
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