Studies on the Interrelation between Science and Religion

近年来，科学与宗教关系的研究有了显著的发展。特别是，与其重新讨论它们之间的冲突或对话的关系，因为科学和宗教被明确地划分为完全不同的领域，不如把它们更深入地重新考虑它们都是人类行为的努力视为一种新的趋势。根据近年来许多科学史上的研究指出，西欧是近代的开端。宗教与科学不仅相互交织，而且相互依存，相互促进。这一新趋势旨在进一步探究这种相互关系的真实展开。我们的联合研究项目也遵循着同样的趋势。在分享这种批判意识和旨趣的同时，我们的研究项目在三个调查领域内进行，即第一，现当代的西欧，第二。近代和当代的犹太思想，第三，近代和当代的日本。每一位参与该项目的研究人员都可以沿着这三个探究领域设定自己的研究课题，并自由开展。收集材料等等。此外，通过对这种个人贡献的全面讨论。我们试图追寻科学与宗教之间动态相互关系的踪迹。在这一点上，本研究项目的主要关注点就变成了宗教知识的实践性问题。在综合考虑到迄今为止被科学史研究所忽视的宗教知识的实践性，以及知识本身（包括科学知识）的实践性的同时，我们认为有可能为更深入全面地理解科学和宗教提供一个新的立场。

In recent years, studies on the relationship between science and religion have shown a remarkable evolution. Particularly, rather than discussing anew the relation of conflict or dialogue between them due to the clear-cut distinction drawn between science and religon as completely different spheres, it is possible to identify as a new recent trend the effort to reconsider them more deeply in their being both human acts. Grounded on the recent many studies in the history of science which point out how, at the beginning of western Europe modern age. religion and science were not only deeply interwined but also in a relation of inter-dependence and reciprocal promotion. this new trend aims at further inquiring the real unfolding of such interrelationship. Our joint research project has been following the same tendency.While sharing such a critical consciousness and purport, our research project has been carried out within three areas of investigation, that is, first, western Europe in the modern and contemporary age, second.Jewish thought in the modern and contemporary age, and the third, modern and contemporary Japan. Each researcher participating to the project has been able to set his own research subject along these three areas of inquiring and carry it out freely. collecting material and so on. Moreover, through a comprehensive discussion of such individual contribution. we have tried to follow the traces of the dynamic inter-relationship between science and religion. At that point, the main concern of this research project has become the problem of the practical character of religious knowledge. While taking into general consideration such practical character of religious knowledge, so far overlooked by the studies on the history of science, together with the practical character of knowledge itself(including that of scientific knowledge), we think it possible to present a new standing-point for a deeper comprehensive understanding of both science and religion.