Today, we are quite aware of the debate between scientists and biblical literalists concerning Darwin’s theory of evolution. But the fact is there are many scientists and theologians who believe in both evolution and in God as Creator.

In responding to the challenge of “creation science,” the National Academy of Sciences published a pamphlet in 1984 that asserted that “Religion and science are separate and mutually exclusive realms of human thought whose presentation in the same context leads to misunderstanding of both scientific theory and religious belief.” We can call this position the Independence Model for how conflicting scientific and religious claims can be reconciled.

But there are other models of how the science-religion relationship can be understood. Ian Barbour, a noted philosopher, describes four distinct models:

• Conflict
• Independence
• Dialogue
• Integration