Debate on Religion

Tufts University Professor Daniel Dennett and British Lord Robert Winston have very recently engaged in a public debate utilizing the statement, "Religion is the greatest threat to scientific progress and rationality that we face today." Dennett agrees, Winston argues against.

Both gentlemen make fine points, but I was most interested to note that as Winston argued in favour of religion, he was quite ready to concede that certainty can be dangerous. Instead of taking the predictable angles on why religion is right and good, the pro-religion participant argues that instead of religion being the threat to rationality and science, it is actually certainty that threatens.

Here's Winston:
"....the more we use science to explore nature, the more we find things we do not understand and cannot explain. In reality, both religion and science are expressions of man's uncertainty. Perhaps the paradox is that certainty, whether it be in science or religion, is dangerous. ... With inflexible positions on both sides, certainty surely is the biggest threat to rationality, and to science."

And a noteworthy thought from Dennett:
"Other institutions or traditions may encourage a certain amount of irrationality - think of the wild abandon that is often appreciated in sports or art - but only religion demands it as a sacred duty."

Links of interest:

The Guardian posts the argument summaries
Daniel Dennett's website
Lord Winston on Wikipedia