2
It is within this worldview of blended objective and subjective elements that John Polkinghorne stands as
scientist and theologian. The purpose of this paper is to briefly and critically compare Polkinghornes approaches to
cosmology and eschatology and examine the influence science and Scripture play in his hermeneutic in the areas of
cosmology and eschatology.
As a scientist, Polkinghorne contends that "reality is not the same as naive objectivity. . . . In the minds of
contemporary scientists, the guarantee of reality is not objectivity but intelligibility--they believe in electrons
because their existence makes sense of great swathes of physical experience."
4
Polkinghorne, however, is not only a scientist. He is also a theologian, who actively creates a theological
hermeneutic from his scientific methodology. He bases his hermeneutic on the motto, "Do not make common sense
the measure of everything but be prepared to recognise aspects of reality in those modes that are intrinsic to their
natures, however strange these modes may at first sight seem to be."
5
There are many ways of knowing things, thus
no universal epistemology exists. Rather the everyday world is known in its Newtonian clarity, while the quantum
world is known in its Heisenbergian uncertainty.
6
"Our knowledge of entities must be allowed to conform to the way
in which they actually can be known. If we are to meet reality at all, we must meet it on its own terms. If that is a
lesson applying to our knowledge of the quantum world, it would not be altogether surprising if it were a principle
that also applied to theologys quest for knowledge of the mystery of God."
7
and semantical analysis, which has provided powerful tools for philosophical criticism. . . . (2) The methodology of
metaphysics has been greatly extended by the use of the hypothetico-deductive method. . . . (3) Parts of the natural
sciences have been deepened to the point where evidence can be brought to bear in a controlled way upon problems
traditionally classified as metaphysical. . . . [and] (4) Phenomenological investigations have provided refined reports
of ordinary experience."
4
John Polkinghorne, Science and Theology (Grand Rapids: Fortress, 1998), 32-33.
5
John Polkinghorne, Faith, Science and Understanding (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000), 7.
6
Ibid., 3-5; cf. John Polkinghorne, One World: The Interaction of Science and Theology (Princeton:
Princeton University Press, 1986), 43ff.
7
Ibid.