Anthony Hopkins Schools Charlie Rose on the Religion in Science

As if we needed more evidence that myths abound regarding how science handles religion, Charlie Rose supplied it in abundance in his interview with legendary actor Anthony Hopkins last week. Fortunately Hopkins was able to disabuse the audience of Rose’s misconceptions, though it is not clear Rose was the better for it. Here is the relevant discussion, beginning at the 11:25 mark of the interview:

CR: You see it’s fascinating to me, because I’ve had, in a variety of television series—things that I have done having to do with scientists—and scientists can’t go there, because they can’t prove it—

AH: Can’t go where?

CR: To faith! Because they’re not willing to—most of them, certainly there are exceptions—but I mean people like, you know Nobel Laureates. They can’t go there, because they can’t prove it … Scientists in the end say “I can’t go there,” because they can’t prove it, and their intellectual—their whole being as a scientist—

AH: But there are many physicists who do believe. Dealing in particle physics for example, people are getting close to the essence of power of the—

CR: Well that’s part of what they’re working on in Geneva, is sort of the duplicating creation—

AH: And Einstein said … I don’t believe in a personal god, I believe in the god of Spinoza, where there’s an intelligence and a supreme awe-inspiring design at the back of the cosmos, starting from the Big Bang. Charles Darwin was a staunch member of his own church—he was a protestant. And when he went on the voyage of the Beagle it astonished him, the extraordinary range of life, and the power of life itself. And he never gave up his faith. Galileo was a man of the church—never opposed the church, but he got into a lot of trouble because he said things that upset the apple cart.

Hilarious. In response to Rose’s mythical meanderings, the actor Anthony Hopkins, without a moment of preparation, launches into a perfectly cogent discussion of the relationship between science and religion. In the space of 1 minute and 16 seconds Hopkins effectively deconstructs the media’s mythology. He begins with the diagnosis, cutting to the core with the simple question: “Can’t go where?” From there he begins with today’s scientists, and then progresses through classic historical examples (in order!) of Einstein, Darwin and Galileo—three of the most influential scientists in the history of modern science, each with their own different faith. Yes, his description of Darwin’s faith commitment may have been slightly off, but his overall thesis was spot on. I’m sure the audience learned something, but I doubt the myth makers did.