Some Reflections on the Influence and Role of Scientific Thought in the Context of the New Evangelization

In this paper, after discussing how scientific culture shapes the way of thinking of great part of contemporary society, I briefly investigate the relationship between science and non-believing, showing that the latter cannot be presented as a direct consequence of the former. Rather, this is an ideologically-clothed popularization of science, which presents scientific culture as opposed to Christian faith. In order to evangelize a society that is highly shaped by the rationality of science, when addressing the relationship between faith/theology and science, a number of cliches must be overcome. At the same time, however, specific and positive aspects of scientific culture, mainly the humanistic and spiritual dimensions associated with research work, have to be highlighted. In order to foster a New Evangelization in the world of science, I suggest developing five leading ideas on the nature of scientific activity as such, and I single out four proposed tasks for scientists that are also believers and for pastors and theologians.