Friction between Science and Faith and its Impact on Society

From the trial of Galileo to the dethroning of Dr Abdus Salam. It is a generations-old debate, a centuries-old conflict. It has a huge impact on society. There is no simple way to resolve it. One is based on observation of nature and the other on faith. One is based on interpreting a phenomenon, postulating a possible tentative opinion, testing the opinion to see if it is accurate and rejecting it if it is not. The other is based on the belief that the absolute, unquestionable and uncompromising truth is revealed and dictated to human beings by divine power. The way people deal with it has a profound impact on politics, economics, social dynamics/relations and the development of that society. We have many living examples today of how our choices are shaping different societies and our intellect. We have societies where science and religion peacefully co-exist and also societies where they are at odds. The choice we make has far-reaching effects on our culture, education, politics – almost everything.

This Dialogue is designed to understand the historical perspective of this conflict, why both faith and science feel threatened by each other, thoughts about handling it, its importance and impact on our everyday life and the future, the exploitation of this conflict and examining examples of societies which have relatively succeeded or failed in dealing with it.

Our speaker:

Dr Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy - One of Pakistan's most prominent academics, Hoodbhoy is a well-known activist, in particular concerned with the promotion of freedom of speech, secularism, education and emancipation of women in Pakistan. Hoodbhoy extensively writes and speaks on topics ranging from science in Islam to education and arms disarmament issues around the world. He is author of Islam and Science: Religious Orthodoxy and the Battle for Rationality, that has been translated into five languages. His articles on various issues related to science and social issues are often published in international media. His publications are repeatedly published in both technical and non-technical papers.

By profession, Hoodbhoy is a nuclear physicist. He did his graduation with double BSc in Electrical Engineering and mathematics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1971, followed by MS in physics with a concentration in solid-state physics in 1973. After graduation, Hoodbhoy joined the Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) as a researcher and renewed his scholarship to resume his studies in the United States. Hoodbhoy continued his research in doctoral studies in physics at the MIT and was awarded PhD in nuclear physics in 1978.