Science and Religion - Essay Example

? Are Science and Religion In Conflict [College] Argumentative discussion of controversial issue of science and religion’scurrent conflict tend to emphasize the real factors that undermine each field’s reputation. This discussion will analyze some important details that brought the issue more controversial. Also, through analyzing scientific evidences in comparison with religious dogma, this paper will present balance examination without prejudice for the purpose of finding out the truth. Both science and religion are important aspects of human lives. Consideration of this important issue will surely help individuals to see the relevance and implications in our lives to attain a more meaningful life. Are Science and Religion In Conflict? The conflict between religion and science had traveled a long way in the field of human history. Way back in the era when the church strongly believed the dogma disseminated by ancient philosophers that the sun and all the planets were revolving around the earth. A religious enmity aroused when Copernicus introduced the concept of heliocentric system, wherein the sun was the central point and all the planets and heavenly bodies were revolving around it. The conflict clashed when a more aggressive Astronomer in the person of Galileo Galilei supported the Copernican theory after he discovered the telescope and thereby pronounced guilty and sentenced by the Pope into a house arrest spending the last eight years of his life (Zoledziowski, 1993). Many people believe that Galileo’s stance has left an indelible mark as a great triumph of science over religion. The effects of heated controversy between science and religion are still being felt today. Since then, many strongly believed that science and religion became mortal enemies and hopelessly incompatible. Over the centuries, scientifically inclined persons have been alienated from religion because they presumed that religion would be an inherent threat to scientific progress. On the other side, religious persons tend to believe that science induces destruction of faith because scientists’ misinterpretation of facts undermines the beliefs of the pious. Such one is William Provine’s, interpretation of Darwin’s theory of evolution. Provine is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the distinguished Cornell University, As Butt (2005) noted Provine’s interpretation in his keynote address that Darwin’s naturalistic evolution is perfectly understood that one of the clear consequence of this theory is considering life has no ultimate meaning. If life is a product of evolution rather than by creation of an intelligent designer, therefore, life’s existence has no definite purpose. In modern history, it appears that the basic idea of the conflict of science and religion is about the assessment of the universe and its laws, and the very existence of life. While the religious groups strongly believe that life and the universe are created by a superpower deity, or deities, some scientists intensely deny this belief because they reject the idea of miracles, and they bluntly assert that all the laws that govern the universe and the very existence of life on earth can be expounded by logical analysis, as well as denying the divine intervention. By defining the words religion and science we may seemingly understand why the conflict arises. Obviously, the definition presents two different notions originating from different aspects of human behaviors. Religion is basically related to faith, especially faith on a superpower deity that created all things though not beheld. On the other hand, science is the methodical study of forces, nature and its development, origin of species, wherein conclusive assumptions must be based on analysis of evidence rather than intervention of divine forces. But noticeably, while science is precise in translating the things that surround us, beyond the capacity of science is unearthing of matters related to morality and spiritual meaning of human lives. In line with this difference, the late paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould articulated a relationship between science and religion he named as “Non-overlapping magisteria” (NOMA). Hewer (2013) noted that Gould used the term “magesteria” to denote a domain of knowledge, thus, science and religion do not necessarily overlap because they are just separate. Hewer also noted Gould citation of an old saying as he said that “science studies how the heavens go, religion how to get to heaven” (para. 8). Hewer added that in line with this perspective, science deemed to investigate objective empirical facts, wherein religion intended to clarify questions of ultimate meaning. This difference reveals a unique chasm that exists between science and religion yet conceivable. This tends some notable scientists to approach both fields in coordinating perspective. Such one is the famous physicist Freeman Dyson. He attempts to discern life and existence of matters by approaching both religion and science. As he expressed, “Science and religion are two windows that people look through, trying to understand the big universe outside, trying to understand why we are here. The two windows give different views, but they look out at the same universe. Both views are one-sided, neither is complete. Both leave out essential features of the real world. And both are worthy of respect” (Dyson, 2000, para. 3). He explained that he approached both fields because he perceived that science will explain how lives and the cosmos around us exist, while religion will reveal why or the very purpose of existence. Another notable scientist expressed a somewhat similar attitude towards approaching science and religion several years ago. It was Albert Einstein, a famous scientist who discovered the law of relativity. Einstein (1941) presented that science and religion had two strong reciprocal relationships and dependencies. According to him, the fact that religion is the determinant of goal, this could never be learned through science in its broadest sense. However, science could contribute to the attainment of that certain goal. Yet, he added, that science could only be created by religious individuals that are yearning for truth and understanding. He expressed this perspective in this presentation: “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind” (section II, para. 4). In this expression, he seemingly asserted that there were no legitimate conflicts between science and religion during his time. Meaning, the new discoveries on the universe of the scientists, particularly astronomers, moved them to revise their views regarding the origin of the universe itself as they caught amazement on fascinating designs of the cosmos around us. With this outcome, science and religion apparently appeared to be in harmony rather than in conflict. Well, a certain Jewish astronomer in the person of David Block shared the same attitude towards relationship of science on religion. Although he’s a Jewish, being a scientist, he’s an atheist before. Block (1991) assumed that to some people it may seem strange for a scientist like him and a Jew at the same time to become a religious person. Being a scientist, although he didn’t believe in God before, he admitted that he has a measure of faith that always based on evidence. However, through logical thinking and reasoning, while his knowledge on the universe surmounts, his search for an intelligent designer of the universe triggered, as he narrated. Especially when he studied relativity, relativistic astrophysics, cosmology and all the beautiful areas of mathematics, he was fully convinced that the whole universe is masterfully made by a Great Designer. Clearly, science complements religion to arrive in a very credible conclusion of the reality of the existence of God. Looking at other direction, aside from beholding the heavenly bodies above, looking within our human bodies, the sheer complexity of our genetic codes remarkably describes God’s intelligence as a Creator. This concept finally conceived in the mind of Francis Collins, a molecular biologist, a former atheist who became a believer of God after his thorough studies about the human genome. He admitted that his appreciation of science is greatly enriched by his acceptance of truth of existence of an intelligent designer of human genome. Collins (2007) considered DNA, the blueprint of all living things, as God’s language, and its complexity as the nature of reflection of God’s plan. He also considered the study of DNA as the strongest possible proof of our connection with other living things. Thereby, this noble man finds no conflict in religion and science. But still, to some other scientists, discussion of science and religion are found to be in conflict with each other especially in the field of geology. There is a claim that the record of the bible about creation calculates the age of the earth as more than 6,000 years only. Religious controversy was raised because through systematized study of geological strata, scientific evidences reveal of a much older earth presumably billions of years. This controversy aroused because there are groups of people who are bible fundamentalists, who literally interpret the bible words of creative days as a literal 24-hr day. Also, they mistakenly linked the creation of the heaven and earth in the records of book of Genesis of six creative days. While thorough examinations reveal that the earth’s geological history and even the heaven’s creation were not mentioned as part of the six days of creation outlined in the book of Genesis. It appears in the bible records that earth and heaven existed before the six creation days. Also, through logical interpretation of the whole context of Genesis account of creation, each day of creation is not a literal 24-hour day. Obviously, just like in Galileo’s era, it turned out that conflict has developed because of wrong interpretation of some bible verses comprising fault religious dogma. For centuries, religious groups have taught false doctrines that appeared to be opposing the modern science discoveries and at the same time misapplication of its holy scriptures, the main textbook of Christian faith. Galileo was condemned by the Roman Catholic Church just because his conclusion based on his factual observation contradicted their wrong interpretation of holy writings verses during their time. The Genesis accounts of creation are also misinterpreted that aroused conflicts in the field of geology. On the other hand, scientists are also at fault when they present unproven theories as facts. Theories of evolution, such as life evolved from inanimate things without God intervention, are still unproven because of the missing links fossil. As modern-day scientist Peter Atkins admits, “The unfolding of absolutely nothing into something is a problem of the profoundest difficulty and currently far beyond the reach of science “(May, 2011, para. 11). Author Peter May acknowledged this refreshing honesty expressed by Atkins, that shows the boundaries of science wherein religion will suffice. Both science and religion are involved in searching for the realities and accurate knowledge of truth. However, one factor of conflict is the variation of religious groups that promote differing views and interpretation of holy writings, as well as, there are religious group with their own version of sacred testaments. Likewise, in the field of science, each scientists has their own measures of belief and interpretation of their discoveries. More often than not, some scientist may seemingly influenced by egoistic interests that will move them to fabricate theories into facts, or the other way around. Therefore in my assumption, science and religion is obviously in harmony with each other as long as you find the true religion that respects the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures and recognizes the accurate interpretation of it. Since the Holy Scriptures is God’s letter to us, it will equip us the answers to some queries science cannot provide. Definitely, the bible, as we commonly called it, is not a science textbook. However, when it mentions matters in connection with science, it is always accurate and in harmony with the scientific evidences. Since, some logical scientists inevitably accept the truth of God’s existence after their awesome discoveries, they also recognize the fact that the whole universe and life’s existence are being controlled by natural divine forces. Thereby, it clearly manifests that God is the Great scientist who formulated the perfect laws that control the natural forces that keep the planets and other heavenly bodies in place and that sustains the existence of human lives on earth. List of References Block, D., (1991). For Heaven’s Sake: A Jewish Astronomer’s Odyssey. Retrieved April 18, 2013 from http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/issues/7_8/heavenssake Butt, K., (2005). Rape and Evolution. Apologetics Press. Retrieved April 17, 2013 from http://espanol.apologeticspress.org/articles/306 Collins, F., (2007). Collins: Why this Scientist Believes in God? Retrieved 18, 2013 from http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/04/03/collins.commentary/ Dyson, F., (2000). Science and Religion Can Work Together. American Physical Society Sites, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013 from http://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200011/viewpoint2.cfm Einstein, A., (1941). Science and Religion. Retrieved April 18, 2013 from http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/einstein/einsci.htm Hewer, D., (2013). Science & Religion: Competitors or Companions? Retrieved April 18, 2013 from http://powertochange.com/discover/world/science-religion/ May, P., (2011). “On Being”- The Scientism of Peter Atkins. Retrieved April 18, 2013 from http://www.bethinking.org/science-christianity/introductory/on-being-the-scientism-of- peter-atkins.htm Zoledziowski, S.. (1993) When the Earth Moved, Copernicus and his Heliocentric System of the Universe. Poland, University at Buffalo. Retrieved April 17, 2013 from http://info-poland.buffalo.edu/classroom/kopernik/copernicus.shtml Read More