Science vs. religion

Science vs. religion 

Can we continue to be the leaders in science, technology and discovery while religion infuses our government and society?  We are losing our footing on being scientists and discovering the answers to questions that we don’t know the answers to. We need to acknowledge scientists … and promote those who are helping us in physics, astrophysics, oceanography, and other areas of science.   

Let’s not throw away our lead to religion. When religion overtakes your scientific critical thought process then we suffer.  We go backwards.  For example, Arabic countries invented algebra and then someone came along and said “Manipulating numbers is the work of the devil.”  They never recovered. The Church didn’t want people to question their faith in the Church and its institutions. One example is that the Roman Catholic Church burned Giordono Bruno at the stake for making scientific claims for which he is still not forgiven. 

We need to go forward with a secular, scientific society.  I do not want the United States to go backwards.  If you want to be faithful…great!  Stay out of the law and out of the writing of scientific textbooks. These are not places for you if your religion guides you.  

Return to a secular society 

How can we move back to a secular society?  We are a land of laws.  We should not be funneled into a Christian theocracy. People came here because they were oppressed elsewhere. They sought religious freedom.  A secular society allows for multiple religions, and gives the opportunity for science to lead (versus religion). 

Where have we started losing ground?  

People are looking for answers. Along the way, we’ve gotten “wrong” answers from religious leaders.  We’re sliding back into an area of religious rule instead of thoughtful, scientific, critical thinking in a country that is based on rule of law that is scientific in nature, not Biblically ruled.  

When we put “in God We Trust” on our currency and “one nation under God” in our Pledge of Allegiance in 1957, we were letting religion into government.  Now, religion is seeping into government at every level, from school boards to the Supreme Court:  

  • We need to teach Darwinism, not Intelligent Design (as religion espouses). Science shows us the low evolutionary slope that is not a cliff. The Selfish Gene, by Richard Dawkins fills in many of the details of the gentle slope of evolution over billions of years, from the beginning to where we are now as human beings.  
  • When Ronald Reagan demolished The Fairness Doctrine, we lost the truth in media.  Science is related to the truth and now there are media outlets telling lies without consequence.  
  • Revisiting Roe v. Wade (the leaked opinion):  If we reverse the decision, we’re taking away individual rights which is a slippery slope to taking away free speech.  We’re on our way to authoritarianism.    

United against Russia 

In the1960’s we joined together as a scientific nation to beat Russia.  We were determined to get to the moon.  We united against Russia to focus on our science to stay ahead of them in the Space Race. Civil rights did not seem to be the focus of the news cycle.  The focus on the news was ‘going to the moon,’ ‘ stay ahead of Russia,’.  This competition with Russia helped us keep our focus as a nation.  This is a hopeful note in that we can come together to move forward with science.  

Highest regard for science

People are looking for answers. Along the way, we’ve gotten “wrong” answers from religious leaders.  Let’s continue our pursuit of scientific discoveries that aren’t necessarily “a-ha” moments that get published and people get behind it.  We need to lead from science.  We’re sliding back into an area of religious rule instead of thoughtful, scientific, critical thinking in a country that is based on rule of law that is scientific in nature, not Biblically ruled.  

We need to move forward to what our Constitution and its amendments promise everyone.  We need to stop following religious zealots and look to science.  When we act together, leading from science, from our brilliance as a beautiful melting pot, we do very well.  There is nothing we cannot accomplish.