God?

NZSPA

The ultimate confluence of science and religion was inevitable and necessary. Dr. R. L. Dowden, Professor of Physics at the University of Otago, told the Science Students' Conference.

In a lecture called "Science And Christianity — Changing Attitudes," Professor Dowden traced the views of scientists and churchmen from the time of Galileo, when science began to see its role as secular.

The idea of the universe as a "clockwork machine" had been overthrown with Heisenburg's principle of uncertainty and religion had had to accept the fact that scientific discoveries could make new theological investigations necessary.

Professor Dowden rejected the view that science and theology were independent fields. "Science—by its very nature—is a God-seeking inquiry." he said. "Surely we can learn something of God by probing the universe."