Mary Midgley Newcastle on Tyne, UK Christian creationists are not only arguing against modern science. This makes the creationists a small minority of a minority, albeit a vocal one which needs constantly to be refuted in the interests of freedom of thought. The conclusion of this process will presumably be an analysis of what genetic and social combinations predispose individuals and groups to religious credulity. Science will then have pigeon-holed religion completely. Howard Covington London, UK Science deals with observations, that have to be repeatable to enter the body of knowledge.
Religion deals with imagery, that has to have an emotional appeal to gain general currency.
If however when we drive that motor car, we see an old woman about to step off the pavement neither science nor technology can tell us whether we should slow down to allow her to cross in peace or blow the horn to tell her to step back. Religion can give us an image of our relationship with the old woman that has an emotional charge such that we can derive from it a moral imperative. From this I can derive a moral imperative. If however I were to explain my ideas about population genetics most people's eyes would glaze over after a few minutes. People need images that they can apprehend, so I think that ideas of a religious nature will continue to appeal, although they may not have a denominational basis.