Of Popes and Unicorns: Science, Christianity, and How the Conflict Thesis Fooled the World

This is the story of John Draper, Andrew White, and the conflict thesis: a centuries-old misconception that religion and science are at odds with one another.

Renowned scientist John William Draper (1811-1882) and celebrated historian-politician Andrew Dickson White (1832-1918) were certain that Enlightened Science and Dogmatic Christianity were mortal enemies—and they said as much to anyone who would listen. More than a century later, their grand and sweeping version of history dominates ou...