Answer:
The "conflict thesis" is a concept in the history of science and religion that posits that there is an inherent and irreconcilable conflict between science and religion. This idea suggests that the two are in constant opposition and that progress in one necessarily comes at the expense of the other. This thesis was popularized in the late 19th century by scholars like John William Draper and Andrew D White, who claimed that the rise of modern science in the 17th and 18th centuries had been hindered by the church.
Step-by-step explanation:
However, this methodology is historically problematic because it oversimplifies the complex and varied relationship between science and religion over time. While there have certainly been instances of tension and conflict between the two, there have also been many instances of cooperation, dialogue, and mutual influence. Additionally, the conflict thesis tends to essentialize both science and religion, treating them as monolithic entities that have remained static over time.
One relevant historical example associated with the conflict thesis is the Galileo affair. This was a conflict between Galileo Galilei and the Catholic Church in the early 17th century over the heliocentric model of the solar system, which Galileo supported. The church saw this model as contradicting scripture and forced Galileo to recant his views. This event has often been used to illustrate the conflict between science and religion, but it is important to note that the Galileo affair was a complex political and social event that cannot be reduced to a simple clash between two worldviews.