The Great Divide

The Great Divide: How to Resolve the War between Science & Religion by Shawn K. Stover

More than a decade ago, Stephen Jay Gould wrote of science and religion as "non-overlapping magisteria," or "NOMA."1 He saw no conflict between science and religion, because he saw no overlap between their respective domains of professional expertise. According to Gould, science deals with the "empirical constitution of the universe," while religion encompasses the search for ethical values and spiritual meaning.

In her book Defending Science -- Within Reason, Susan Haack criticizes NOMA on the basis that it is vague and ambiguous.2 While she doesn't speculate on Gould's true "motives" for reconciling science and religion, she references H.L. Mencken's suggestion that reconciliation might be motivated by cowardice (a fear of provoking religious zealots) or inner doubts (brought on by an inability to completely rid one's self of deeply held religious beliefs).