Revisiting the Categories: Making Generalizations about “Science” and “Religion”

Building upon the work of historians of science, most scholars in the field of science and religion accept that "science" and "religion" are not natural categories. These terms emerged in the modern period and often carry questionable philosophical assumptions. The question, then, is what follows? Should scholars abandon the categories and replace them—and indeed the field of science and religion—with something else? Or can one use the terms “science” and “religion” responsibly without committing the philosophical error of essentialism? Conducting scholarship in science and religion inherently requires generalizations—so can it proceed without categories? Does rejecting these terms not inadvertently reinforce other categories and binaries? Our panel of historians, theologians, and social scientists working in the area of science and religion will address this ongoing debate.