Unlocking the Connection: Professor Jing Wang Explores the Intersection of Religion and Science

On January 28, Colgate University’s Associate Professor of Chinese, Jing Wang, shared her insights in the Arts and Humanities Colloquium. Her talk, titled “The Needham Revolution, Part 1: Integrating Science and Religion as Experience,” spotlighted the influential work of Joseph Needham, a British biochemist who dedicated his research to understanding Chinese science.

Wang, an accomplished author known for books like “When ‘I’ Was Born: Women’s Autobiography in Modern China,” used her lecture to explore the connection between science and religion through Needham’s lens. She delved into Needham’s extensive research and writings, particularly his series “Science and Civilization in China,” where he promoted mechanistic science in biology.

Wang opened her talk by addressing the challenges of discussing Needham’s work. “Talking about [Needham] is not easy because many of the words we use don’t fit,” she explained. This struggle reflects the complexity of integrating scientific and religious language.

She discussed the early 20th-century landscape of science, highlighting objections to treating biology as mechanistic. Critics argued that this view oversimplifies living organisms, which should be understood holistically. Wang presented Needham’s counterarguments, explaining why he believed a mechanistic approach could still embrace a holistic perspective.

“It is impossible to view these organs one by one… mechanistic biology is in fact holistic in attitude,” Wang asserted, emphasizing the interconnectedness of biological phenomena.

Wang also touched on her course at Colgate, “Chinese Medical Culture,” which draws inspiration from Needham’s work in traditional Chinese medicine. She indicated that this lecture was just the beginning of a larger series, with future installments expected to address the themes of life, matter, and the distinctions between the living and the dead.

Audience member Lynn Schwarzer, a professor of Art and Film & Media Studies, expressed her fascination with Needham’s intellectual journey. “I was intrigued by the kind of mind he had for conducting embryology studies in China,” she said, appreciating Wang’s thorough analysis of Needham’s scholarly contributions.

Professor Spencer Kelly, from psychological and brain sciences, found a personal connection in Wang’s lecture. “I’ve always believed that science isn’t the only way to answer questions,” he shared. “This talk pushed me to think about how science can work alongside other ways of knowing.”

Constance Harsh, an English professor, echoed the sentiments of her colleagues. “I found her research fascinating and look forward to seeing how this early thinking influences Needham’s work,” she remarked, showing her eagerness to learn more about Wang’s ongoing project.