Giuseppe Tanzalla-Nitti. Professor of Fundamental Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Italy) and  Adjunct Scholar of the Vatican Observatory.

Director
DISF – Centro di Documentazione Interdisciplinare di Scienza e Fede
http://www.disf.org
SISRI – Scuola Internazionale Superiore per la Ricerca Interdisciplinare
http://www.sisri.it
INTERS – Interdisciplinary Encyclopedia of Religion and Science
http://www.inters.org

 

 

Science and Religion during the Pandemia.

Professor Giuseppe Tanzella-Nitti reflects on the relationship between science and faith and the existential questions raised by the events of recent months. In front of the pandemia the whole world is involved. But so is the whole person, as well as scientific research, emotions, relationships and personal beliefs. Hence we are not only asking ourselves scientific questions but also existential ones that ultimately challenge the faith of those who believe that history and the world are guided by a Creator God. The pandemia, like past epidemias and natural disasters, raises the question of the meaning of physical evil that is caused not by human wickedness but by the processes of nature. Since there is no enemy to disarm, it is God who ends up “on trial.” The answers that believers and the Christian tradition have given vary throughout history and even by cultures. We should not forget that Sacred Scripture does not offer metaphysical answers to the problem of evil, but only existential ones.