Cecelia A. Watson & Adam R. Shapiro
The relationship between
science and religion has been portrayed in different ways throughout American
history. Varying efforts have been
made to reconcile the two concepts, or to further entrench the notion of
"warfare" between the two.
These efforts have often
entered the theater of the courtroom.
From the Scopes trial to Roe v. Wade to the Terri Schaivo controversy,
these cases have not only shaped legal history and theory, but also our notions
of how science and religion can be defined, and how they interrelate.
By looking at particular
legal cases and the historical circumstances in which they have occurred, we
hope to observe how our contemporary understanding of the concepts of science
and religion has evolved, and how they relate to issues in law and politics
today.
There are two types of
reading material for this course: 1) Text of legal events, cases, court
opinions and, texts of statutes and debates 2) Readings of either primary or
secondary texts intended to provide historical and social background to legal
events.
Requirements: Students
should post questions or comments on Chalk by Tuesday each week on some part of
that ThursdayÕs reading. This will
help us shape discussion. One
final paper, 15-20 pages, will be due at the end of the quarter. Students must submit 1-page proposals
detailing topic on which they would like to write by the end of the 5th
week. Class attendance and
participation are also required.
Week 1: Introduction: Overview of Course. What does it mean to define Science?
Religion? What conflicts might arise out of such? Why are we mostly looking at
Supreme Court Cases. How to read
and understand court decisions.
No Reading.
Week 2: The Early Science and Religion "Warfare"
in the United States
Readings: Selections
from sermons of John Nelson Darby (1838); Charles Darwin, On the Origin of
Species (1859) Chs. 3, 4, 6, 8 (whole book recommended); Selections from
Andrew Dickson White, The History of the Warfare Between Science and
Theology in Christendom (1896); Introduction to Darby translation Bible
(1890); Introduction and Genesis from Scofield Reference Bible (1909);
Selection from the Fundamentals: A Testimony of the Truth (1910-15); Selections
from A Civic Biology, Presented in Problems (1914).
Week 3: Scopes Trial.
Cases: Scopes v
Tennessee (1925); Epperson v. Arkansas (1968).
Readings: Charles
Davenport: Lecture on W. J. Bryan (1922); Edward Larson: Summer of the Gods
(1997) Chs. 1,7,8 (whole book recommended).
Week 4: Religion and the development of "Big
Science." Religion and Scientific Culture:
Case: United States v.
Rosenberg et. al.
Readings: Selections
from: Latour: Laboratory Life; Selection from Paul Boyer By the
BombÕs Early Light (1985); Selection from Daniel Kevles: The Physicists
(1978).
Week 5: Religion and Medicine 1ÑReligion and Forms of
Medical Treatment:
Cases: Buck v. Bell (1927); Manual of the Eugenics Board of North Carolina
(1960); Biennial Report of the Eugenics Board of North Carolina (1966-68);
Material on DSHEA (1994).
Readings: Francis
Galton: ÒStatistical Inquiries into the Efficacy of PrayerÓ (1872); Randolph
Byrd: ÒPositive Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer in a Coronary Care
Unit PopulationÓ (1988); Selections from Daniel Kevles: In the Name of
Eugenics (1985).
Week 6: Religion and Medicine 2ÑMedicine and the Religious
Individual:
Cases: Prince v.
Massachusetts (1947); Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972); Matter of Philip K. Eichner
(1981 NY Court of Appeals) In re E.G. (1989 Illinois Supreme Court); Cruzan v.
Director (1990); In re McCauley (1991); Commonwealth of Massachusetts v.
Twitchell (1993); State of Minnesota v. McKown (1991); Lundman v. McKown
(1995).
Reading: American
Association of Pediatrics, ÒReligious Objections to Medical CareÓ (1997).
Week 7: Teaching Evolution in Schools (Again):
Cases: Edwards v.
Aguillard (1987); McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education (1981)
Readings: Selection from
Popper, The Logic of Scientific Discovery; Pius XII: "Humani
Generis" (1950); Selection from Langdon Gilkey, Blue Twilight;
Michael Ruse & Larry Laudan exchange: ÒCreation-Science is Not Science.Ó
Week 8: Scientific Naturalism and Religion. Philosophy of Science:
Readings: Selection from
Kuhn Structure of Scientific Revolutions; Paul Feyerabend ÒHow to Defend
Society Against ScienceÓ; Address of Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical
Academy of Sciences, October 22, 1996. Selection from Ian Barbour, Religion
in an Age of Science.
Week
9: The Political Rise of the
Christian Right:
Cases:
Bob Jones University v. United States (1983); Roe v. Wade (1973);
Planned
Parenthood of Central Missouri v. Danforth (1976);
Planned
Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992).
Readings: Selections
from Randall Balmer: Mine Eyes Have seen the Glory.
Week 10: Contemporary Debates: Intelligent Design. Religion and Medical Science.
Cases: Bush v. Schaivo
(2004); Shindler v. Schaivo (2004); Selections from the Proceedings of the
State Board of Education, Texas Education Agency. September 10, 2003; Conference Report on No Child Left
Behind Act. (2001).
Readings: Selection from
William Paley Natural Theology (1802/1827); Selection from Michael Behe Darwin's
Black Box (1996); William Dembski ÒAn Information-Theoretic Design
ArgumentÓ from To Everyone an Answer, a Case for the Christian Worldview
(2004).