ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the question of the conflict thesis within the history and philosophy of science. The goal is to show how this issue relates to the current claims of Jürgen Habermas and Charles Taylor regarding postsecularism. The chapter examines the argument of prominent intellectuals, from Andrew W. Draper to Christopher Hitchens, that religion is incompatible with science. Drawing attention to those who disagree with this perspective, such as the atmospheric physicist Sir Robert Boyd (1922–2004), the chapter will explain the nuances of the conflict thesis. The overall aim will be to consider the ways the postulation of a postsecular era presents a context for the advancement of new insights about the conflict thesis.
