Theology and the new atheism: Science,religion and metaphysics

Abstract

The ‘new atheism’ has difficulty distinguishing scientific issues from metaphysical ones. Still many theologians and philosophers have the same difficulty. This paper argues for the necessity of something like what Bernard Lonergan calls ‘intellectual conversion’ to help make this distinction. Drawing on the work of physicist Lawrence Krauss and Augustine’s narrative of his own intellectual conversion, the paper illustrates the confusions that arise when such conversion is lacking, and how such conversion can assist in moving the discussion about science and religion forward.