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Religion and science in the modern world
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To react to the first assignment, all the quotes mentioned in the earlier assignment still sustain, but one more quote from Einstein is added. Because my personal philosophy of science still believes that science and religion go together (Quote #1 to 3). Human beings obtain wisdom and abilities from religion to understand the phenomena through science application to investigate the phenomena. While religion can cultivate a human beings’ sense of morality and humanity, it can also guide scientists when they conduct research that runs the risk of going beyond humane standards. However, after a semester, different views of religion are included in the current personal philosophy of science. At the beginning, religion was seen in a very limited way without beliefs and spirituality. In other words, religion was only about a specific system of faith and worship of God. Nonetheless, it now contained beliefs and spirituality. Although religion and spirituality is not totally the same, they are interconnected (Barker, 2007) and both provide meanings and purposes in human life (Bhagwan, 2010). What people believe and experience is not restricted to be from a systematic and structural belief. According to Wilber (1998), religion is embedded in human culture, so it can be treated as a context to explain human behavior. People can understand each other through consideration of others’ religion which is a product of a culture and folkways. That is why Martin Luther King, Jr. said religion interprets and Einstein stated science is lame without religion. Wilber (1998) suggested that empiricist science should broaden its sensory data by expanding conceptual operation and religion should utilize experiential evidence to verify or reject its truth c...
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Religion is considered as a pervasive force in this world. It shapes people as to how they behave and interact with almost everything present in the society. Influencing behavior, character formations, ideals, policies, standards are just among the dimensions and societal perspectives affected and impacted by religion. Because of these applications and implications in human lives and existence, religion should be understood deeply, particularly, on how it affects the world. Looking at the American perspective of the term "religion," it could be simply
As said by Yale professor of psychology and cognitive science, "Religion and science will always clash." Science and religion are both avenues to explain how life came into existence. However, science uses evidence collected by people to explain the phenomenon while religion is usually based off a belief in a greater power which is responsible for the creation of life. The characters Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth in Nathaniel Hawthorne 's novel, The Scarlet Letter, represent religion and science, respectively, compared to the real world debate between science and religion. Roger Chillingworth is a physician who is associated with science. (ch. 9; page 107) "...made [Roger Chillingworth] extensively acquainted with the medical science of the day... Skillful men, of the medical and chirurgical profession, were of rare occurrence in the colony...They seldom... partook of the religious zeal that brought other emigrants across the Atlantic." The people of the Puritan community traveled across the Atlantic for religious reasons, and because men affiliated with medical science did not tend to practice religion, they rarely inhabited this community. Chillingworth, falling under the category of "skillful men of the medical and chirurgical profession," would not be expected to reside in this community. The narrator through emphasizes this with his rhetorical questioning, "Why, with such a rank in the learned world, had he come hither? What could he, whose sphere was in great cities, be seeking in the wilderness?" These questions demonstrate that it was so strange for Chillingworth to appear in this community because of his association with science. Perhaps, the phrase "with such rank in the learned world" could yield the narra...
Religion, “part of the human experience that has to do with a god or gods, a higher power, or the ultimate values of life” (Cason & Tillman 6-7), is one of the most controversial and interesting subjects for humanity. It has been around for as long as anyone can recall and they have difference and similarities in their founders, beliefs, and history. Religion has served to give some sort of a meaning to life and everything around it. In modern society, some religions have grown and expanded significantly. These larger religions have been classified as world religions. In addition, these world religions have been split into two categories known as Eastern and Western religion.
When Copernicus and Galileo voiced their observations opposing the Catholic Church, Copernicus and Galileo were labeled as a threat for a couple reasons. For example, Copernicus and Galileo’s observations did not support the Catholic Church’s teachings. Copernicus and Galileo discovered that the sun does not revolve around the Earth but that the Earth revolves around the sun. The Church believed that “Only God knows how he created the universe,” (Gascoigne) so there was no way that Copernicus and Galileo could know that the Earth revolves around the sun. In the Bible it says, “The world also is stablished, and it cannot be moved.” (The Book) This was interpreted by the Church to mean that Earth cannot move, therefore the sun must be moving. About this matter, Leo XIII stated, “Truth cannot contradict truth, and we may be sure that some mistake has been made either in the interpretation of the sacred words, or in the polemical discussion itself,” which, in turn lead the Church believe that Copernicus and Galileo were heretics (Breshears). Also, Copernicus and Galileo’s observations were different than what the Church, its followers, and the rest of the world were used to. Aristotle, an influential Greek philosopher, had taught that the Earth was stationary and, for 1,800 years, it was common belief (Miller). No one had enough courage to risk the Catholic Church’s wrath and provide new ideas about the universe until Copernicus in 1543 (Miller). In conclusion, the Church had reason to consider Copernicus and Galileo as threats.
NY: 1998 pg.83- 118 Kuhn, Thomas. The Nature and Necessity of Scientific Revolutions, and Objectivity, Value Judgment, and Theory Choice.
In 1633, Galileo Galilei was placed on trial for suspicion of heresy by the Roman Catholic Church of the era. The trial was in response to Galileo’s publication of Dialogue, a book which propounded Copernicus’ theory of heliocentrism, or more simply known as the Earth’s movement around the sun. The church believed the common biblically founded view that the Earth could not be moved. Copernican theory is common knowledge these days, and Galileo’s efforts to prove the theory have earned him the title of father of science, but the Church’s opposition to science has remained largely unchanged. America is a largely religious nation, and nearly 40% of the nation believes the world is less than 10,000 years old. Throughout history the religious counterparts of society have shown little understanding for the natural world. Instead they have clung to a very precise viewpoint of their dogma, but this lack of understanding is fatal because it obstructs scientific progress, and dissociates the individual from the realities of our modern world.
“The lack of conflict between science and religion arises from a lack of overlap between their respective domains of professional expertise—science in the empirical constitution of the universe, and religion in the search for proper ethical values and the spiritual meaning of our lives. The attainment of wisdom in a full life requires extensive attention to both domains—for a great book tells us that the truth can make us free and that we will live in optimal harmony with our fellows when we learn to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.”
Since the beginning of human history there have been many explanations for events that seem out of human control. In recent civilized history, religious and since the beginning of human history there have been many explanations for events that seem out of human control. In recent civilized history, religious and scientific views have often clashed with one another. Religious ideas are usually presented first and then enough scientific evidence accumulates to dare religious beliefs. These findings of science are met with incredulity and most are considered a heresy.
...wever, in the best interest of advancing education and an enlightened society, science must be pursued outside of the realm of faith and religion. There are obvious faith-based and untestable aspects of religion, but to interfere and cross over into everyday affairs of knowledge should not occur in the informational age. This overbearing aspect of the Church’s influence was put in check with the scientific era, and the Scientific Revolution in a sense established the facet of logic in society, which allows us to not only live more efficiently, but intelligently as well. It should not take away from the faith aspect of religion, but serve to enhance it.
The relationship between science and the Christian Church has never been viewed as a positive one. The Christian Church has often been ostracized for their role in the history of science, and to some degree is most commonly held responsible for most, if not all the struggles that science had to undergo to achieve it's status today. In David Lindberg's article titled "Science and the Christian Church" Lindberg explores this idea by not taking sides with the Christian church, or the sciences, but by examining other possible explanations as to why the scientific struggle was so hard.
At first glance, many facets of science and religion seem to be in direct conflict with each other. Because of this, I have generally kept them confined to separate spheres in my life. I have always thought that science is based on reason and cold, hard facts and is, therefore, objective. New ideas have to be proven many times by different people to be accepted by the wider scientific community, data and observations are taken with extreme precision, and through journal publications and papers, scientists are held accountable for the accuracy and integrity of their work. All of these factors contributed to my view of science as objective and completely truthful. Religion, on the other hand, always seems fairly subjective. Each person has their own personal relationship with God, and even though people often worship as a larger community with common core beliefs, it is fine for one person’s understanding of the Bible and God to be different from another’s. Another reason that Christianity seems so subjective is that it is centered around God, but we cannot rationally prove that He actually exists (nor is obtaining this proof of great interest to most Christians). There are also more concrete clashes, such as Genesis versus the big bang theory, evolution versus creationism, and the finality of death versus the Resurrection that led me to separate science and religion in my life. Upon closer examination, though, many of these apparent differences between science and Christianity disappeared or could at least be reconciled. After studying them more in depth, science and Christianity both seem less rigid and inflexible. It is now clear that intertwined with the data, logic, and laws of scien...
Faith has several strengths and weaknesses when used as a basis for knowledge in religion and the natural sciences. In order to fully analyze these strengths and weaknesses and determine which of the two is more prevalent, faith, religion, and the natural sciences should be distinguished from one another. In The New Merriam-Webster Dictionary faith is defined as the “belief and trust in God” or “allegiance to duty or a person” (270), religion as “an organized system of faith and worship” (617), and science as “knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through the scientific method” (650). Faith may be considered a strong basis for knowledge in religion as religion is usually built around the concept of faith. However, faith may be a weak basis for knowledge in religion as certain teachings in a religion may not have a direct link to the concept of faith. Similarly, in the natural sciences, faith may also be seen as a strong basis for knowledge as a scientist has faith in the hypothesis he may be testing. Likewise, faith may be perceived as a weak basis for knowledge in the natural sciences as faith and the natural sciences tend to offer incongruous solutions to the same problem.
Religion is the one element of life that has connected the races and societies of the world for hundreds of years. It has given meaning to lives that may seem otherwise hopeless. Religion has provided for a universal language and culture among those who believe in a higher power. The spirit or being receiving the worship and praise may not be the same, but the practices are usually similar and serve the same purpose--to give direction, insight, courage, and a divine connection.
Stenmark, Mickael. How to Relate Science and Religion. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2004.
Science and the study of religion have existed in society for hundreds of years and have agreed and disagreed on many of the same topics. When it comes to solving problems and figuring out complex phenomena we can use both science and the study religion to get answers. While religious studies are not intended to solve problems it can be used and is used just like science to solve problems we have in society. Science is based more on reason and evidence while religion is based more on philosophical ideas and faith. Science is meant to answer problems that require reason and evidence while religion is not.