Religion Must Embrace Science

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Recommended: The influence of religion on science

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.

There was a time when religion was entirely compatible with the science of the age. For instance, the Mesopotamia city of Babylon used astronomy, and mathematics to track the movement of the stars. These movements helped them predict change in seasons, telling them when to plant, or reap the fields and it was the Priests of the age who preformed this duty. Not only was this a practice of function, but one of a particular importance in regards to their views on religion. In fact, certain celestial movements signaled the end of era, and when the King’s passed his entire court would trail him into the grave. (Campbell 345)

Many of the Babylonian systems, and practices were predecessors for other societ...

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...ng into accord the biblical stories with the laws that govern the natural world, not in the literal sense. If religion is to remain relevant it must accept the natural order, and the natural laws, otherwise it risks becoming outdated.

Works Cited

Coyne, Jerry. “The Case against Intelligent Design” Edge.org. Edge Foundation. 31 August 2005. Web. 15 October 2011.

Campbell, Joseph Lecture. “The Celebration of Life”. Cooper Union, New York. 1 March. 1967.

Campbell, Joseph. “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” Novato: New World Library, 2008. Print.

Dawkins, Richard. “The Greatest Show on Earth.” New York: Free Press, 2009. Print.

Jacobs, A.J. “The Year of Living Biblically.” New York: Simon and Schuster Paperbacks. 2007. Print.

Jones, Ben, and Carolyn Pesce. “Medicine, Religion Collide in Chemo Refusal.”USAToday.com. USA Today. 21 May 2009. Web. 15 October 2011.

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