Abstract
In the present paper, the connection between religion and science is described through the interdependence of root metaphor and truth. The rational of the mentioned explanation is emphasized through the argument of Richard A. McCormick, a prominent theologist, moralist and bioethists. Thus, his explanation of modern unity of religion and science in the search of truth is explained.
Key words: religion, science, truth, root metaphor, McCormick, humanity, perception.
The Revelation of Truth Trough Metaphor
Using the concept of “root metaphor”, Richard A. McCormick managed to do something which scholars, scientists and priesthood could not do for ages. He had explained both rationally and scholarly that traditional notion of religion was incorrect and that a distinction between religion and science was not that big and substantial as most of us believed. Using the same means of interpreting and explaining reality through the root metaphors, both religion and science have search of truth as their corner stone. Although this search results in different interpretations of the same reality, the answer is the same – natural order of things, experienced either through faith in God or belief in logic and natural science. In this context, McCormick criticized the traditional notion or rather perception of religion, saying that religion is not about blind following two-millennia-old canons and denying pleasures of life; it is about search of the answers and interpretation of the Gospel according to the requirements of the epoch. In this context, he meant that, just as science, religion was developing together with the human society and civilization in general. This is derived from the initial concept that truth is a corner stone of both religion and science. Subsequently, with the development of human being, new parts of the eternal truth of existence are revealed, and both religion and science should change and evolve in accordance to these revelations. In his argumentations, McCormick was not ignorant to the fact that prevalence of traditional perception of religion had its ground in the Church’s denial of progress and scientific experiment, considering them as anathema. McCormick’s argument was that ignorance of certain clergy should not be considered as common essence of the religion itself; it shows only the struggle between dogmatism and modernism in it, the same as it is present in science and socio-political sphere. The message McCormick was trying to pass to us was that we should be opened to both science and religion, since through them we can see the future of humanity. Tomorrow is with people who embrace truth in all its demonstrations (McCormick, 1994).
Reference
McCormick, R.A. (1994). Corrective Vision: Exploration in Moral Theology. Lanham, MD:
Sheed & Ward.
