--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I also think we need to maintain…" description: "\"I also think we need to maintain distinctions - the doctrine of creation is different from a scientific cosmology, and we should resist the temptation,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/john-polkinghorne-14266_concepts_i-also-think-we-need-to-maintain-distinc_3228088.jpg" --- # I also think we need to maintain distinctions - the… ![“I also think we need to maintain distinctions - the doctrine of creation is different from a scientific cosmology, and we should resist the temptation, which sometimes scientists give in to, to try to assimilate the concepts of theology to the concepts of science.” quote by John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/john-polkinghorne-14266_concepts_i-also-think-we-need-to-maintain-distinc_3228088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/john-polkinghorne-14266_concepts_i-also-think-we-need-to-maintain-distinc_3228088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/john-polkinghorne-14266_concepts_i-also-think-we-need-to-maintain-distinc_3228088.jpg) > “I also think we need to maintain distinctions - the doctrine of creation is different from a scientific cosmology, and we should resist the temptation, which sometimes scientists give in to, to try to assimilate the concepts of theology to the concepts of science.” [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science and theology address different questions; forcing them together can blur their distinct purposes. **In simple terms:** Science and faith are separate but complementary. Key Takeaway Respect each discipline’s limits. Themes science theology philosophy epistemology dialogue Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - academic curricula - public debates - interfaith conferences - science education Key Concepts methodology truth claims worldview integration Questions to Reflect On - Can dialogue occur without compromising core principles? - What benefits arise from maintaining clear boundaries? A Different Perspective Over‑integration may dilute rigorous standards in both fields. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) ## Related quotes > [In my eyes, concepts of theology have only as much value as they are able to interpret experience. It seems to me that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-drewermann/in-my-eyes-concepts-of-theology-have-only-as-much-value-as-they-are/) [Eugen Drewermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-drewermann/) > [“Every person is destroyed when we cease to see him; after which his next appearance is a new creation, different from that which immediately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/every-person-is-destroyed-when-we-cease-to-see-him-after-which-his/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [The eyes of the cheerful and of the melancholy man are fixed upon the same creation; but very different are the aspects which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-eyes-of-the-cheerful-and-of-the-melancholy-man-are-fixed-upon-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [Reincarnation is a cyclic process. There are endless levels of creation, different universes. In each one something similar is taking place, the evolution of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/reincarnation-is-a-cyclic-process-there-are-endless-levels-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Science cannot tell theology how to construct a doctrine of creation, but you can't construct a doctrine of creation without taking account of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/science-cannot-tell-theology-how-to-construct-a-doctrine-of-creation/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [The sooner the doctrine of original sin disappears, the better it is for theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-harkness/the-sooner-the-doctrine-of-original-sin-disappears-the-better-it-is/) [Georgia Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-harkness/) > [This is the doctrine that we preach; if a man be saved, all the honor is to be given to Christ; but if a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/this-is-the-doctrine-that-we-preach-if-a-man-be-saved-all-the-honor/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Well, it's because I gladly acknowledge some ideas that are part of process theology, but which I think are not tied to all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/well-it-s-because-i-gladly-acknowledge-some-ideas-that-are-part-of/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [“For my own part, I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/for-my-own-part-i-tend-to-find-the-doctrinal-books-often-more-helpful/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I did not learn my theology all at once, but had to search constantly deeper and deeper for it. My temptations did that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-did-not-learn-my-theology-all-at-once-but-had-to-search-constantly/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“The faithful have no dread of using the traditional language of the church. Terms like incarnation and resurrection need to be explained, not avoided.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-c-oden/the-faithful-have-no-dread-of-using-the-traditional-language-of-the/) [Thomas C. Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-c-oden/) > [What a way to learn great theology! That's what comes to mind whenever I sing one of those old hymns. "And Can It Be"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/what-a-way-to-learn-great-theology-that-s-what-comes-to-mind-whenever/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [The gloomy theology of the orthodox--the Calvinists--I do not, I cannot believe. Many of the notions--nay, most of the notions--which orthodox people have of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-gloomy-theology-of-the-orthodox-the-calvinists-i-do-not-i-cannot/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Christianity in our country is a lot like what the Ducksters profess. No longer doctrinaire or demanding, the mishmash of pop-religion practiced in churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/christianity-in-our-country-is-a-lot-like-what-the-ducksters-profess/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [Tell me your doctrine of the Fall and I will tell you the state of your theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-torrey/tell-me-your-doctrine-of-the-fall-and-i-will-tell-you-the-state-of/) [R. A. Torrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-torrey/) ## More by John Polkinghorne > [It is the faithfulness of God that allows epistemology to model ontology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/it-is-the-faithfulness-of-god-that-allows-epistemology-to-model/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [However, as the Eastern churches have always maintained, through Christ creation is intended eventually to share in the life of God, the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/however-as-the-eastern-churches-have-always-maintained-through-christ/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [I think it's very important to maintain the classical Christian distinction between the Creator and creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/i-think-it-s-very-important-to-maintain-the-classical-christian/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [Science cannot tell theology how to construct a doctrine of creation, but you can't construct a doctrine of creation without taking account of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/science-cannot-tell-theology-how-to-construct-a-doctrine-of-creation/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [I'm a very passionate believer in the unity of knowledge. There is one world of reality - one world of our experience that we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/i-m-a-very-passionate-believer-in-the-unity-of-knowledge-there-is-one/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [Well, it's because I gladly acknowledge some ideas that are part of process theology, but which I think are not tied to all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/well-it-s-because-i-gladly-acknowledge-some-ideas-that-are-part-of/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [“The doctrine of creation of the kind that the Abrahamic faiths profess is such that it encourages the expectation that there will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/the-doctrine-of-creation-of-the-kind-that-the-abrahamic-faiths/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [If the experience of science teaches anything, it's that the world is very strange and surprising. 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