On the importance of reaching a ‘Maturation Point’ before science and religion can interact

Science-and-religion interaction is rich and dynamic. It works on the basis that finding commonality and engaging in mutually enriching dialogue is both possible and worthwhile for both disciplines. Nevertheless, this interaction must respect disciplinary boundaries and the integrity of each’s knowledge-generating process. So, how to proceed? The aim of this paper is to explore the extent to which science and religion should interact with one another at the stage of model and theory formation. I argue that dialogue should be encouraged, but not during the formation stages of models and theories. I identify a critical value at which a scientific or religious model takes form, namely a ‘maturation point’, and claim that only after this point is interdisciplinary dialogue appropriate. I give three reasons. First, science and theology generate models using different methodologies; secondly, these models are subject to the scrutiny of different assessment criteria in science and theology; thirdly, premature interaction disrupts the integrity of the model and does not, therefore, lead to the development of greater insight. So, science-and-religion interaction should be encouraged, but not before the theories and models therein have reached a maturation point