Justin Massey
Professor Robert Bishop
PHYS 301
13 April 2015
Religion & Science: The Influence of Two Faith Communities on Scientific Progress
Introduction
In contemporary times religion and science are often pinned against each other as if in irreconcilable contradiction. Especially within conservative Evangelicalism, this tends to be the reality as political groups advocate against scientific theories such as evolution seeing this as an attack on their religious beliefs. I recall a conference I attended in high school at a nearby prominent Evangelical college. We attended lectures explaining how to defend against attacks on your faith by liberal secularists and were even given a bookmark detailing fool-proof arguments against evolution supporters. …show more content…
The rationality and basic assumptions of the modern scientific period needed “a constant interest in searching for this order in nature in an empirico-rational fashion, that is, an active interest in this world and its occurrences plus a specific frame of mind” (Merton 636). The very way that Puritans understood God, as a rationally acting, consistent being, contributed to a way of thinking that allowed science to flourish. Scientists in this context were able to apply the rational framework of their faith to their studies. Another contribution of the Puritan community comes because of its roots in the Protestant Reformation. This movement pushed individuals toward more independent ways of thinking. People began to consider that they “should study Scripture and seek to interpret it for themselves. In a similar way, early scientists began to turn from ancient authorities and interpret nature for themselves” (Spradley 79). Therefore, the history of this faith community was helpful in providing a new way of considering science which allowed for innovation and fresh ways of …show more content…
The beliefs of these contexts often provided serious motivation and positive contexts in which the study of the natural sciences was able to flourish. The contributions of these communities include the translation of scientific studies, the proliferation of ideas, the building of rational, empirical frameworks and more, and each of these have had a positive effect on scientific progress. Therefore, while religion has at times come into conflict with science, it is not inherently opposed to it, and can actually be beneficial to its
Professor Robert Bishop
PHYS 301
13 April 2015
Religion & Science: The Influence of Two Faith Communities on Scientific Progress
Introduction
In contemporary times religion and science are often pinned against each other as if in irreconcilable contradiction. Especially within conservative Evangelicalism, this tends to be the reality as political groups advocate against scientific theories such as evolution seeing this as an attack on their religious beliefs. I recall a conference I attended in high school at a nearby prominent Evangelical college. We attended lectures explaining how to defend against attacks on your faith by liberal secularists and were even given a bookmark detailing fool-proof arguments against evolution supporters. …show more content…
The rationality and basic assumptions of the modern scientific period needed “a constant interest in searching for this order in nature in an empirico-rational fashion, that is, an active interest in this world and its occurrences plus a specific frame of mind” (Merton 636). The very way that Puritans understood God, as a rationally acting, consistent being, contributed to a way of thinking that allowed science to flourish. Scientists in this context were able to apply the rational framework of their faith to their studies. Another contribution of the Puritan community comes because of its roots in the Protestant Reformation. This movement pushed individuals toward more independent ways of thinking. People began to consider that they “should study Scripture and seek to interpret it for themselves. In a similar way, early scientists began to turn from ancient authorities and interpret nature for themselves” (Spradley 79). Therefore, the history of this faith community was helpful in providing a new way of considering science which allowed for innovation and fresh ways of …show more content…
The beliefs of these contexts often provided serious motivation and positive contexts in which the study of the natural sciences was able to flourish. The contributions of these communities include the translation of scientific studies, the proliferation of ideas, the building of rational, empirical frameworks and more, and each of these have had a positive effect on scientific progress. Therefore, while religion has at times come into conflict with science, it is not inherently opposed to it, and can actually be beneficial to its