Jessica Brazeau
Professor. Kraynak
Reason, Faith, and Politics
3.5.2023
Prompt 1: The Strengths of Sam Harris’s Argument against Francis Collins and His Beliefs
In his article, “The Strange Case of Francis Collins”, Sam Harris attacks Francis Collins’ belief in theistic evolution as well as his appointment to the head of the National Institute of Health(NIH). Francis Collins believes in theistic evolution or the idea that God guides evolution and the development of the world. While Collins maintains that he can be both a scientist and devout believer, Harris argues his religious views may impede his ability to run the NIH. Harris makes a compelling argument that Collins's views may limit the advancement of science and affect his motivation
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Those who criticize Harris believe that forcing people to choose whether they believe in faith or science will only further divide the scientific and religious communities. Harris acknowledges this argument, writing “that if we oblige people to choose between reason and faith, they will choose faith and cease to support scientific research.” (Harris). This is potentially dangerous to the future of science. Polarization could drive funding and support away from the scientific community and limit further advancement. Additionally, it would turn religious individuals away from theories of science such as evolution. In response, Harris argues that “the goal is to get them [religious individuals] to value the principles of reasoning and educated discourse that now make a belief in evolution obligatory” (Harris). Instead of convincing the religious community to acknowledge the truth behind scientific theories, religious individuals should be able to understand why they are true. In Harris's opinion, understanding the reason behind ideas like evolution and valuing the education they can offer is more important than settling for the religious community to simply tolerate scientific theories. Having religious communities learn to value the reasoning and logic behind science could bring the two communities closer …show more content…
Throughout chapter 22 of Genesis, Abraham goes through the preparations in order to sacrifice his son. Abraham’s only hesitation seems only to be the lack of materials he has to perform the sacrifice and even then “When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about” (Genesis 22:3). Abraham seems completely willing to sacrifice his son with no rational or thought out explanation. Kierkegaard believes Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son reflects his unquestioning and absurd faith in God. In fact, Kierkegaard asserts that “It was not for the sake of saving a people, not to maintain the idea of the state, that Abraham did this, and not in order to reconcile angry deities'' (Kierkegaard 133). Without any other obvious motivating factor, Kierkegaard believes that Abraham’s faith needs no reason or justification to follow God's commands. However as Hazony counters, one must look at other chapters of Genesis in order to understand Abraham’s actions and interpretation of God’s
In his letter answering sixth-grade student Phyllis Wright’s question of whether scientists pray, Albert Einstein employs purposeful logos and diction to successfully distinguish the religiosity of true scientists from that others. Einstein logically builds his distinction by asserting that “a research scientist will hardly believe ... [in] prayer” and subsequently revealing that experienced scientists nevertheless develop a religious devotion towards “a spirit vastly superior to that of man.” This explicit presentation of the similarities and differences makes it clear how the scientists’ concepts of piety differ from conventional beliefs. Henceforth, Wright would conceptualize Einstein’s beliefs as a variation from the beliefs she is familiar
“Our advances in science over the past two centuries have truly been extraordinary, but our society still suffers from the forces that reject reason and prevent our ability to take full advantage of discoveries
In 1925, the Tennessee legislature passed the Butler Act which banned the teaching of the evolution of mankind in public schools. John T Scope, a football coach and, mathematics teacher, was accused of teaching evolution as a substitute biology teacher. In this re-trial, I hold a position as a jury. Several witnesses had supportive arguments and evidences. Harry Shelton from the prosecution side and Henry F Osborn from the defense side presented the most convincing evidences respectively as Harry’s evidence presented was very acrimonious and unpleasing to John T Scopes and Henry F Osborn provided valid and scientific information to us and the judge.
How can you be so cocksure that the body of scientific knowledge systematized in the writings of Charles Darwin is, is in any way, irreconcilably with the spirit of the Book of Genesis?”(Lawrence and Lee 86). Drummond using his ardor to express anger towards Brady not being educated on evolution causes more people turn to Cates’s side. The fact that Brady is able to testify against evolution without being educated on it shows that the Butler Act is unjust. Brady winning conveys that the Butler Act is prejudiced towards those with religious beliefs.
The Scopes “Monkey Trial” changed the way science and evolution are taught in America’s school systems today. The trial came about when John Scopes, an algebra and science teacher, taught evolution as a plausible theory while filling in for a biology teacher at Rhea County Central High School in Dayton, Tennessee. The action went against Tennessee’s “Butler Act,” which prohibited teachers in public schools to “teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man descended from a lower order of animals.” Scopes, along with others in the community, wanted to change the law so that students could be taught Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, and the matter was taken to court. The
In the video featuring “Night Line’s” Ted Koppel who informs the audience in the episode “Battle Between faith and Science” what is going on in a small town because of a statement about Evolution. This controversy is over the theory of Evolution being the only theory taught in the Dover school. Some of the parents believe that Evolution is wrong and should not be a part of the curriculum taught in schools while others think it should be the only theory taught. Thirty-five percent of the population thinks there is no proof of Evolution while thirty-five percent thinks there is proof. The school board decided to place a sticker on the current science book that says Evolution is only a theory.
Have you considered additional ancillary texts to help you? An additional ancillary source is “Evolution and Religion Can Coexist.” This article explains that religion and science are able to balance each other in principles or theories. The author states, “Religion is about ethics, or what you should do, while science is about what’s true.
For centuries, religion and faith—Christianity, in particular—consistently clashed with scientific ideas and theories. The controversy and debate, beginning from the Middle Ages, ranged from issues about the position of the Earth in the solar system, to the practice of medicine. Still, creationism and evolution, sparked immense disagreement amongst the religious and scientific communities, in comparison to any other issue. While major systems of faith strongly declare that their respective God created the universe and the earth, scientists such as Charles Darwin and George Lemaitre proposed theories of evolution and the Big Bang. Unable to come to a consensus, religion and science often do not associate with each other.
This work is appropriate to use in this essay because it shows that the belief in God, and even science, is mainly due to faith. Without faith, both science and God would not exist. Bloom, Paul. “Is God an Accident?” Fields of Reading: Motives for Writing.
The issue on whether religion and science can work together has been debatable for centuries. Neil DeGrasse Tyson in his article the Perimeter of Ignorance argues that science and religion cannot coexist. In his article, the author explains that religion is all about the Bible and the Bible primarily focuses on the explanation of the origin of the world. He puts forth the point that this concept is far different from what science is and that they do not complement each other. This essay intends to prove that religion and science can work together with no issues.
Was Christianity responsible, as some historians have argued, or perhaps even necessary, for the rise of modern science? These topics of religion and science are ones with a tumultuous history, a history that even today is fraught with inconstancies and unknowns. Wether or not they will ever be reconciled is still up for debate, but one thing is certain, it wont be any time soon. There seems to be two distinct sides to this argument, those who believe that Christianity played a starring role in the creation of the sciences, and those who don’t. Those who claim that Christianity played a pivotal role in the development of science, offer up many arguments in support of these claims.
On July 10th of 1925, in the heated town of Dayton, Tennessee, a great debate culminated in the greatest joke of the year. At the onset of Dayton’s Scopes Trial, now laughably referred to as the “Monkey Trail” the cause for conflict was quite real. John Scope had been charged with “illegally teaching the theory of evolution” (dd) Prior to this event, Democratic candidate for President Bryan had succeeded in passing legislation in fifteen states, including Tennessee, which banned the teaching of Evolution in public schools. When the scopes trial came to fruition, Bryan himself chose to Prosecute.
While the science versus faith argument has existed for centuries, only rarely do they ever work hand in hand. Richard Selzer, author of The Surgeon as Priest, breaks the barrier and explores the contrast between the two ideas, likening them, while breaking his piece into five distinct parts to help himself and the reader analyze it. Selzer uses process analysis, transition between first, second, and third person perspective, a plethora of literary techniques, as well as evocative syntax and diction to explore the conflict between religious anomalies and scientific conviction to propose his purpose, discussing in an almost interrogative fashion - when does zeal become iniquity? To start off his essay, Selzer begins talking directly to the
In his "The End of Faith," Sam Harris alleges that faith is akin to madness because it leads individuals to have "beliefs for which there is no rational justification." He writes that if an individual believes something that is not backed up by evidence, he or she is considered insane. However, if a group of individuals is to believe the same thing, they are considered sane. Harris is not implying that people of faith are insane, he is stating that their believes are. He suggests that these beliefs were established at the time that ancient people lacked the knowledge of the world, the science that we are familiar with today.
As much as belief provides answers, it does not bring the same verification a conducted study and results with lists of scientific