Religion and Science from a Postsecular Perspective
than appealing to the authority of tradition. Though different, such examples amplify the postsecular appeal to mutually informed parallel discourses.
One could argue that the postsecular perspective too conveniently glosses over the
fundamental differences that inform religion and science. Moreover, this oversight is
dangerous, according to critics, because it provides the illusion that they share enough
common (ontological and epistemological) ground to keep them on par with each other. We
wonder, then, wherein lies the danger? If we remain curious about multiple discourses and
their potential contributions to our knowledge, and if we are willing to learn from each other
without feeling threatened with damaging criticism or worse, eradication, then mutual
ignorance is pointless and futile. Agreeing that at times both discourses refer to the same
aspects of reality allows for intellectual richness; agreeing that at times they refer to different
parts of reality allows for a greater overall knowledge of reality as a whole; and agreeing that
each has strengths over the other as well as blind spots where its respective view falls short is
not an admission of failure but rather of maturity. It is for all these reasons that we find
these attitudes more prevalent in contemporary cultures where science is celebrated and
religion revered.
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