We get a lot of negative (and idiotic) comments on how evolution causes the Holocaust, genocide, etcetera, etcetera… but rarely any praise for the animating, positive spirit of science, the profound belief in humanity’s ability to better itself. Cheers to the New York Times for this unfortunately rare, and profoundly important, praise:
[T]he most important thing about studying evolution is something less tangible. It’s that the endeavor contains a profound optimism. It means that when we encounter something in nature that is complicated or mysterious, such as the flagellum of a bacteria or the light made by a firefly, we don’t have to shrug our shoulders in bewilderment.
Instead, we can ask how it got to be that way. And if at first it seems so complicated that the evolutionary steps are hard to work out, we have an invitation to imagine, to play, to experiment and explore. To my mind, this only enhances the wonder.
So many bemoan science for “spoiling the mystery” of creation. For shame. Just the opposite, it deepens the wonder of the universe, and encourages us to create knowledge to better ourselves, mentally and physically. Conflating religion and science encourages us only to limit ourselves, and satisfy ourselves with pleasant but empty platitudes.
As a scientist, who also happens to be Christian, I couldn’t agree more. Religion and science are NOT mutually exclusive, and each can inform the other, if we let them.
Posted by Philip H. | August 15, 2008, 1:01 pmI’ve never felt that science and religion need to be in conflict. The universe is far greater and far more wonderful than we know, and to try to limit it to the safe little catagories we try to put it in denies the grandeur and majesty of the cosmos.
Posted by Paradox | August 17, 2008, 11:00 pm