Science And Religion

Sir, - In his Science Today column of July 26th, Dr William Reville castigated the currently fashionable interest in the occult…

Sir, - In his Science Today column of July 26th, Dr William Reville castigated the currently fashionable interest in the occult and the supernatural.

However, the latter part of his article was dedicated to assuring us that Christianity does not fall into this despicable category of fanciful beliefs and practices. Indeed, Dr Reville brings to bear the full weight of his scientific training and experience with his assertion that, in the case of Christianity, "faith in the supernatural can be a reasonable thing for many people". He goes even further: "I believe that if the teachings of Jesus are apprehended with all the human faculties, and not just rationality alone, it is possible for many people to develop adequate grounds for believing in the God of whom Jesus spoke."

Dr Reville's endorsement of the Christian religious faith - dangerously undermined by the conditional mood - falls short of Pauline certainty. Perhaps we may put down this weakness to an attempt by Dr Reville to relate his scientific scepticism to his supernatural speculations.

If there is a moral in this, it is that the cobbler should stick to his last and never discuss members of other trades. - Yours, etc.,

READ MORE

Colin Brennan, Nutley Square, Dublin 4.