Science and Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Science and Religion - Essay Example 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. 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 Evolution ary 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 interv ention. 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