Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• Meysam Tavakoli Bina

Kalam Department Iranian Institute of Philosophy

Abstract

The relationship between science and religion remains one of the most significant epistemological challenges in contemporary discourse. This research presents a novel approach to categorizing science-religion relations based on their degree of consonance and dissonance. The methodology involves case study analysis of concrete examples gathered over seven years (2016-2024) through interdisciplinary discussions with graduate students in basic sciences and philosophy. We demonstrate that science-religion relations can be classified into three main categories: ‘consonance’ (exemplified by evidence for cosmic beginning and fine-tuning), ‘indifference’ (comprising the majority of cases), and ‘dissonance,’ which further divides into two subcategories: resolvable dissonance (such as certain evolutionary interpretations) and crisis-inducing dissonance (as in extreme physicalist-neo-Darwinian interpretations). Employing a musical metaphor, we illustrate how each type of relationship serves a distinct function, with even dissonant cases potentially catalyzing scientific progress and epistemological reconsideration. We argue for replacing traditional binary logic (true/false) with a fuzzy logic approach that recognizes a broad spectrum from consonance to dissonance in analyzing science-religion relations.

Keywords

• Science-Religion Relations
• Science-Religion Conflict
• Physicalist Reductionism
• Science-Religion Methodology
• Evolutionary Theory
• Cosmic Origins