Isaac Newton is known more for being a revolutionary physicist than for being a philosopher or theologian. But there is a philosophy and a theology that goes with his scientific work. This is often overlooked or dismissed in discussions of what is commonly called the Newtonian Revolution. Was Newton’s understanding of an overlap between science and religion too esoteric or complex for the “rationalists” who adopted his idea of a mechanistic universe, or were these rationalists interested in freeing Christianity from traditional ideas based on divine revelation (Bible) and church traditions?
1. In the short excerpt from his work on Optics, how does Newton explain what the scientific study of nature can reveal about the Nature of God? Consider how this might function as an argument for the existence of God. If God is not the creator of law-abiding nature and the universe, does it make sense to attribute the orderly processes of nature and the universe to Chaos or blind Fate? How does one account for the existence of human reason which ponders and seeks to answer these questions?
2. Order and purpose are connected, but they are not the same thing. For Newton, revelation is needed to understand God’s purposes. How does he understand revelation confirming what science reveals about God while deepening our understanding of God’s purposes?
3. Explain how Christian rationalists, like Newton, believe God is revealed in the law-abiding world of nature and the universe, but unlike Newton, they prioritize belief based on reason over belief based on revelation. Does Newton’s belief in a connection between science and religion stem from the particular circumstances of his own life (see previous unit), which others may not share? Are rationalism and some sort of person anxiety mixed in Newton? Similarly, consider how Christian rationalists and Deists are thinkers who prioritize reason over revelation because of their own particular needs and interests?
Integrate your answers to the above questions in an essay on the topic, Newton and His Influence on Thinking about Science and Religion. Readings and videos in Units 4 and 5 should provide a sufficient basis for answering these questions and writing this essay. Cite these readings and videos as you draw insights form them. If you use other resources, cite them at the specific points in your essay where you draw insights from them. Ideal length: 650-750 words.
