Note on List
This list concerns the issue of The relationship between religion and science. Although unlike that article this is more specific to the West and Christianity. As a list this is only supplementary to the issue as lists are not equipped to answer questions on that issue itself. It is most concerned with theologians who did some scientific work and scientists who did some noteworthy religious works.
However for it to be useful it is vital each name have credible sources or an explanatory note when ever possible. This is necessary to show that they contributed to both religious and scientific history. If a name can not plausibly be shown to have made contributions to both, not just one or the other, fields they should be removed. An exception being scientists who are ordained Christian clergy as their occupation in a sense makes them both. However ordained scientists listed must be noteworthy in the history of science and in least of interest to the history of their religion.
Main article: List of Christians
Before the Nineteenth Century
- Maria Agnesi-She was appointed to a math position by Pope Benedict XIV and later became a nun.[1]
- François d'Aguilon-(Jesuit): Belgian mathematician and physicist who worked on optics.[2]
- Rudjer Boscovich-Jesuit consulted by Pope Benedict XIV, noted for his ideas on atomic theory among other things.[3]
- Robert Boyle- Anglican: Scientist and theologian.[4]
- Christopher Clavius-Jesuit noted for his work on the Gregorian calendar among other things.[5]
- Hermannus Contractus-Beatified person who may have introduced the astrolabe to Europe.[6]
- Francesco Maria Grimaldi-Jesuit who coined the word 'diffraction' and used instruments to measure geological features on the Moon.[7]
- Athanasius Kircher-Jesuit who had a theory seen as one of the antecedents to germ theory and helped rebuild a shrine to Mother Mary.[8]
- Colin Maclaurin-Briefly a Divinity student, The Maclaurin Institute is named for him.
- Albertus Magnus-Doctor of the Church who may have discovered the element arsenic
- Marin Mersenne-Catholic Minim[9](Discusses religion issues of him.)
- Blaise Pascal-Jansenist theologian, mathematician, and physicist.[10]
- Giovanni Battista Riccioli-Jesuit said to be the first to note that Mizar was a double star.[11]
- Christoph Scheiner-Jesuit astronomer and mathematician.[12]
- Anton Maria Schyrleus of Rheita-Capuchin astronomer and optician.[13]
- Nicolas Steno-Beatified in Catholicism.[14]
- Emanuel Swedenborg-His writing is the basis of a religion called Swedenborgianism.[15](Not always considered a Christian denomination)
- Pope Sylvester II-[16](Truman University math site)
Nineteenth century to present
- Ian Barbour-Bean Professor of Science, Technology, and Society. Also wrote When Science Meets Religion, (2000), ISBN 006060381X (Living)
- Georg Cantor-Lutheran: He had Jewish ancestry, but in religion was a devout Lutheran who wrote philosophy from that perspective.[17][18]
- George Washington Carver (raised in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, strongly interested in the Bible)[19]
- Teilhard de Chardin-Jesuit Paleontologist and philosopher involved in the discovery of the so-called Peking Man.[20]
- Francis Collins(He has done lectures at Presbyterian churches)[21](living)
- Guy Consolmagno-Jesuit who wrote a book on Catholicism and science.[22](Living)
- Charles Coulson(Methodist)[23], Involved in the World Council of Churches in the 1960s.
- George V. Coyne Jesuit, Director of Vatican Observatory.[24](Living)
- Pierre Duhem-His ultra-Catholic views occasionally caused him problems.[25]
- Henry Eyring-Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:[26] His son, Henry B. Eyring, is currently in their Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
- Michael Faraday (Glasite)-Elder at his church for a time.[27]
- Owen Gingerich, Mennonite who has written about people of faith in science history.[28](Living)
- Stanley Jaki-Benedictine, Advocates theory that modern science could only have arisen in a Christian society.[29]
- John Kerr (physicist)-A Reverend in the Free Church of Scotland.
- Donald Knuth-Lutheran whose wife did a book on liturgy.[30]
- Georges Lemaître (A Catholic priest)[31]
- Gregor Mendel-Augustinian Abbot who studied theology.[32]
- Arthur Peacocke-Anglican priest and biochemist, a founder of the Society of Ordained Scientists.[33](living)
- John Polkinghorne[34]-Anglican priest who wrote Belief in God in an Age of Science(Living)
- Angelo Secchi-A Jesuit, he discovered the existence of solar spicules and drew an early map of Mars[35]
- Charles Townes[36],[37](living)
- Thomas Wyatt Turner-Biologist and a founder of the Federated Colored Catholics.(possible eugenicist in early years)[38][39]
See also
For scientists harmed or killed by Christians see the following
References
- Cambridge Christians in Science (CiS) group
- The Society of Ordained Scientists
- "Science in Christian Perspective" The (ASA)
- Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation about page explaining why they exist
- Christian Geologists site at Wheaton College
- Jesuits in science
- Being a Christian in Science by Walter R. Hearn(Biochemist) ISBN 0830818987