https://aleteia.org/2018/01/12/neil-degrasse-tyson-concurs-catholicism-is-the-science-friendly-religion/
Read this article. Make an argument about the relationship between science and religion. Use evidence from this article and from the two letters we read this week in class.
As a Catholic and a science based student, I strongly believe in the fact that science and religion go along with one another. Over the years, science and the Catholic religion have gotten along very well until recently. I think people believe that the church and science contradict one another, when it is actually completely backwards. According to Neil Tyson, he said that many of the scientists and researchers were in fact Catholics, and it worked perfectly. As stated at the Late Night Show; genetics, the calendar, the Big Bang theory, and much more were created by Catholic scientists. My opinion stays the same as Neil Tyson, I am 100 percent in belief that religion and science coincide. Scientists like Galileo and Copernicus were both Catholic but made huge discoveries in the science realm. Galileo discovered the law of falling bodies, mathematical paradigm of natural law, the pendulum principle, and much more. Copernicus discovered that Earth was heliocentric, the quantity theory of money, and still more. Copernicus was also appointed as a canon in the Catholic Church in Ferrara, earning a doctorate in canon law. As you can see, these many examples prove that there is a good relationship between church and science. Many others including Pascal, Descartes, and Roger Bacon helped make scientific discoveries while all being apart of the Catholic Church. This shows that the Catholic Church does not disagree with science, rather it accepts it as the truth.
ReplyDeleteI think this is argued very well. I really enjoyed how you listed more than just one discovery made by Galileo. You also had many examples as to how church and religion are related to each other which helped argued your opinion — that religion and church do not contradict one another.
DeleteI really think you have a sound argument here! You backed up all of your points very well. I also agree that science and religion should not have to contradict each other.
DeleteI think you did a very good job of establishing your stance on this issue. It is very clear what side you’re on. But I do think you could have been more argumentative. As I read on into your post, I felt that it became more of a synopsis than an argument toward the end. I feel that the information about the scientists you mentioned could have been better-integrated into your argument than they were.
DeleteFor centuries, the contested issues of science and theology and their compatibility have been discussed in a rather heated manner. While some believe that science, due to the logic and research behind it, provides greater insight into the physical world than religion, others have stated the opposite; religion takes precedence in the discussion of the physical world due to the belief that through the Holy Spirit, God has inspired the Bible. However, through a bit of research, it is clear that neither assertion is valid; science and theology most certainly can coexist, as each provides insight into two vastly different aspects of life.
ReplyDeleteWhile many hold it to be true that they cannot believe in both the tenets of Christianity and science, this could not be more false. As has been demonstrated throughout the course of history, numerous scientists have held both beliefs and continued to pursue the uncovering of various “mysteries” related to each topic. Take, for example, Nicolaus Copernicus, who was a Catholic canon and scientist. In a time when many believed that the Earth was the center of the solar system due to a literal interpretation of the Bible, Copernicus asserted that the Sun was actually the center. Many were outraged by this idea, as they felt it contradicted the biblical teaching. However, was this really the case? In the Book of Revelations, it is stated that four angels would stand on the four corners of the Earth. As a result, literalists interpret this as “the earth is flat,” but as most of us believe, Earth is spherical. To take the Bible at face-value and make a scientific conclusion is simply an act of ignorance, as so much more meaning lies beneath the surface of a literal interpretation of words. In addition to this, science and religion really are rather different in the fact that they deal with vastly different principles. As was stated in Galileo’s letter to Madame Christina of Lorraine, St. Augustine of Hippo, a Doctor of the Church said that “our authors knew the truth but the Holy Spirit did not desire that men should learn things that are useful to one for Salvation.” In defense of the previous argument made, it is clear that the Bible’s sole purpose is not to assert dominance over science, but rather, to provide man with a way to attain spiritual contentment. Science’s primary focus, in a similar way, is not to counter the fact that God is our Creator, but rather, to provide insight into the physical world, the way in which it was created. Clearly, the fundamental principles of religion and science do not clash; on the contrary, they support one another, providing for a true (but not always peaceful) coexistence.
I really like the way you explained the juxtaposition between the Bible’s purpose and the purpose of science. They aren’t there to explain the same thing, no matter how fervorously those who cling to their faulty understanding of science would claim otherwise. They fulfill different purposes.
DeleteBeing the science-oriented, Catholic-educated student I am, I will argue against the modern way of thinking that science and religion could not be more distant. It would turn out that science and religion are extremely close relatives. Even though there are so many that go out of their way to demean Catholics (and all Christians, for that matter) and dismiss them as no more than religious, creationist nuts with their heads on backward, the reality is that the Catholic faith in particular shows that science and religion can coexist harmoniously. As evidenced by the dialogue between Neil Tyson and Stephen Colbert, the Catholic faith is laden with instances of science and religion coexisting. Tyson and Colbert brought up numerous instances of scientists who made groundbreaking scientific discoveries while adhering to the Catholic faith, a great many of them being Catholic priests or monks all the while. And it’s true! Even though Galileo and Copernicus were dismissed by church officials as being out of their gourds, they continued to make great progress in the world of science. Despite being ridiculed for having viewpoints that opposed the highfalutin’ church officials, neither Copernicus nor Galileo gave up on the Catholic faith, which is HUGE. Despite Galileo’s long letter to Christina of Lorraine being critical of the priests who ousted him, Galileo dismissed their behavior as a result of taking the Bible too literally, causing them to turn an unjust blind eye to fact. I feel that if we all are willing to open our eyes to fact and still uphold our faith as Galileo did, we can overcome the divide between faith and science and realize that they indeed go hand-in-hand.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a great idea to mention that some people will try to say false statements in order to go against the Catholic faith. You also had many great examples from all of the sources. Your last sentence also helped summarize your argument. Great work!
DeleteI thought it was interesting that you highlighted the fact both Galileo and Copernicus maintained their faith in the Catholic Church. We often talk about how the Church treated them and disrespected them, but it’s always important to remember how they kept their faith even after being ridiculed so heavily.
DeleteI really like how you highlighted the conversation between Neil deGrasse Tyson and Stephen Colbert, and compared it to Galileo and Copernicus. It is important to remember that they were also devout Catholics, in addition to scientists. They held to their faith, despite being generally looked down on by their peers.
DeleteIt is often argued as to whether or not science and religion can even be categorized together. No matter who you ask, a different opinion will always be given. It may seem as if these two topics could not be related at all, however, science and religion go hand in hand together. But, how exactly could two things that seem so different be almost exactly the same? I personally think that there can be no science without religion. Science deals with answering “how” and “what” questions. How are we able to breathe on our own? What happens to our brain when we sleep? Despite all of these questions, religion is able to answer “why” everything happens. Such as how do weOur faith has taught us everything we know. So, religion was created before science. Hebrews 11:3 says that “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” If God did not create the earth, then there could be no science. While dealing with religion and science, it is to our advantage that some of the best scientists are Catholic. Gregor Mendel is credited with discovering genetics. Louis Pasteur is known for the idea of pasteurization. The list is never ending of examples of successful Catholic scientists. Galileo wrote in the “Letter to Madame Christina of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany,” “People who are unable to understand perfectly both the Bible and the sciences far outnumber those who do understand. The former, glancing superficially through the Bible, would arrogate to themselves the authority to decree upon every question of physics on the strength of some word which they have misunderstood, and which was employed by the sacred authors for some different purpose.” This quote shows that people are not sure why something happens because they do not understand what the Bible is saying. “How”questions will always be asked, but the reason why can only be answered through God and our faith alone.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting opinion, I haven’t thought of it like this before. I think the 2 quotes you chose apply very well and not only strengthen your argument, but also helps you make it more clear as well.
DeleteI understand the points that you were trying to convey, but I don’t necessarily agree that why absolutely everything happens can be explained using religion alone. Other than that, it was a great piece.
DeleteJust because something is different does not mean it’s wrong. Often times this is the case when debating science and religion, and sadly a lot of people don’t see that way or refuse to believe it. Throughout history, there has been so many arguments over which side is more valid or correct it’s almost ridiculous. Most people will only support one side and do not really look at the issue from the other point of view, and sadly a fair amount of people shame others for having an opinion that differs from their own. However, I do not think this is the case. I think science and religion have a lot of similarities with one another and, believe it or not, can coexist. Stephen Colbert, who is host of The Late Show, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, who was a guest on the show one evening, talked about how Catholicism is a science-friendly religion, and it’s enshrined in the Catholic Catechism. They also talked about how lots of famous scientists in the past have been Catholic and have made great contributions to the world, like giving us the calendar we use today. Long ago, Nicolaus Copernicus, who was a Catholic canon and scientist, suggested that the earth was not the center of the universe and the sun was instead. Because people read the Bible too literally, they believed and always had believed the earth was the center, and were absolutely appalled when Copernicus said this. Both cases that science and religion can not only exist with each other, but each side can strengthen the other.
ReplyDeleteI agree that science and religion strengthen each other! This is a good argument. I like how you added that people usually only look at one side of the argument rather than both. Good job!
DeleteI liked that your concluding sentence strengthened the point that they are beneficial to each other. Great work!
DeleteI think you did such a great job arguing this topic. I love how you talked about the two strengthening each other. That was a great idea! Great job!
DeleteHow does one describe infinity? Try though they might, the best anyone can do is, “So large as to be indescribable and unknowable.” The best definition is a lack of definition. Upon initial inspection, it appears that a conflict runs deep between religion and science. A supposed conflict that still divides people to this day. Those who follow science say that it provides a logical and clear view of the universe. A view that takes precedence over what religion offers. From the other side, theologians make the claim that nothing is impossible with God. They say that the two can coexist, that science and faith are interminably linked together.
ReplyDeleteThose who follow scientific pursuits often cite the reliance on faith as one of the top reasons they cannot follow. Simply putting stock in something without sufficient evidence goes against how they are taught to think.
This assertion, although valid, does not capture the full scope of investing faith into someone. Sure, there is a certain level of hope involved in every religion, but in the case of Catholicism, one of the most debated institutions, there is physical evidence that backs their claim to the true God. During a regular mass in Lanciano, the host that was being blessed transformed into real human flesh, and the wine was turned into human blood. This miracle, although certainly terrifying the congregation, provides physical proof that there is a God. The relics of the miracle are still on display and are viewable by pilgrims. This is not an isolated incident, either. Hundreds, if not thousands of miracles have taken place over the two thousand years between the life of Christ and today. Many of these miracles still exist.
Compare this proof to science, which is constantly redefining and editing what they call the fundamental principles of science. Newton’s Laws are currently undergoing yet another revision. Scientists are even wondering wether switching the counting system all of mathematics and mathematical science to base twelve will prove to be more accurate than base ten. Ultimately, as Galileo writes, there are very few people who understand both science and religion completely enough to argue either side. God is infinite, He created the math and science we use to define the universe, and who can describe infinity?
Dominic, I believe you did a really great job of highlighting the links between faith and science. As you state, much scientific evidence supports our faith; so, while much rests on faith and hope, support does exist for these two important aspects of Catholicism. In this way, you do a great job of tying these controversial subjects together. However, I will say, I feel your exordium does not flow very well with the rest of your introduction. I feel there’s a break in thought.
DeleteI do agree with Isaac on the the introduction not flowing with the rest of the argument. The points that you made, however, were great and well thought out. Great job!
DeleteScience and religion are two very different things that have the ability to not only coexist with each other but strengthen each other as well. Over the years, there have been many debates about science and religion being a conflict. The people that say that do not really have much factual proof on that. The scuff between Galileo, Copernicus, and the Catholic Church was just a mistake. After all Galileo and Copernicus were both Catholics and during their scientific studies still tried to become more involved in their Catholics faiths. That situation was just one where the Catholics were afraid of change, not one where science contradicted religion. On another note, there has been countless Catholic figures who were scientists as well. Gregor Mendel was a friar that discovered basic genetics. Louis Pasteur was a Catholic that discovered pasteurization. If it were not for these Catholics, science may not be as advanced as it is today. They have made so many vital discoveries for science, and it never even contradicted religion at all. The reason why it is thought that science and religion contradict is because the people try to make it contradict. It is not the actual science or religion as well as the facts behind it. It is the sophists who try to make an argument for no good reason. For as long as the Catholic faith has existed it has always had an ally in science. As for science, it has made some of its biggest strides because of Catholics.
ReplyDeleteSady, I think you also do a really great discussing the relationship between science and religion, specifically how they actually support one another, not how they contradict. You use plenty of evidence in regards to various Catholic scientists, and their contributions to science, which was extremely important to the discussion. But, just as a sidenote, Pasteur didn’t discover pasteurization; he reintroduced and improved. Other than that minor error, you did a great job!
DeleteI like how you used specifc examples of the case of Galileo and Copernicus. Also, I liked how you metioned that the people who did not agree with the discoveries were just afraid of change.
DeleteInnovation does not stem from a singular source. Innovation requires many different ideas and points of view. Innovation is what continues to change the world and push it forward into progress. At many points in history, many of the attributes of the world were unknown. The ways that many of them were discovered were through science as well as something that is often forgotten: religion. It is often said that these two concepts are the antithesis of each other. Science can’t explain religion, and religion can’t explain science. However, these concepts coexist in harmony to explain many of the phenomena and processes that have been researched over time. The modern calendar, pasteurization of milk, and explanation of genetics were all proposed by religious men. To this day, researchers in the Vatican work to explain aspects of the scientific world. While these two subjects may not hold hands, per se, and work together on every level, they have found great success in the compilation of ideas and theories. Each adds to the other and helps to make it more complete. If a resource of explanation is possible, shouldn’t it be utilized?
ReplyDeleteI think your argument is very well set up. I also really like how you use the word “innovation” because that is exactly what happens between the church and science. But I do think you could use more evidence such as the names of people between religion and catholicsim.
DeleteYou do a great job establishing and maintaining your stance on your argument. I particularly thought that your point about the two ideas being considered antitheses by many really made your argument. However, as Kristen said, I think you should have mentioned the scientists who pioneered the discoveries by name. A reader unfamiliar with the subject matter wouldn’t likely know who did what, and therefore wouldn’t be able to make the connection between Church and science due to the potential for uncertainty as to whether or not the scientists were even religious.
DeleteIn today’s society, it is believed that science and religion clash. Some people believe in God and others believe in science. However, the two subjects are linked. Catholics believe that God made everything. If this is true, that God made science, He also made men to believe in science and in Him. The Bible and the Catechism talk about the stars and the earth and gives many contributions to science. Many Catholic people also contribute to science. For example, Galileo Galilei was a Catholic who discovered the four moon of Jupiter. Nicholas Copernicus, also a Catholic, discovered that the sun is the center of the universe. In Galileo and Copernicus’s time, people were afraid to accept this. The article said that Catholics were the ones who created the calendar and the concept of the Big Bang. This means that they used religion and science to formulate these. In Robert Bellarmine’s Letter to Paolo Foscarini he said that there is no danger in linking science and religion. In my opinion, science could not exist without God. The Catholic Church and the Catechism provide a lot of information on science. Many people believe that what sophists say is true when it is not. This is why there is such a split between science and religion.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very solid argument; you give names, discoveries, and your own opinion. I also really like how you include the sophist idea!
DeleteGreat job giving specific examples to prove that science and religion correspond. Also, I agree that science does not exist without religion because God created it.
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ReplyDeleteToday’s scientific world is constantly making new and interesting discoveries. These discoveries are usually accepted due to the fact that the technology can prove it. Long ago, people did not believe Galileo when he stated that the Earth was not the center of the universe. He did not have the technology to prove it and many believed it went against the Catholic Church. This scientific discovery is compatible with the Scriptures of the Church. Plus, Galileo was a man of the Church. There are many scientists who made remarkable discoveries that people claim go against the Church. These scientist do not practice science to make it fit the Scriptures; rather, they practice to search for the truth. The Big Bang theory was created by Georges Lemaître. He was a Catholic priest in 20th century who used Einstein’s equation to make his discover. The Big Bang theory is a well known theory that is dismissed by many Catholics because it does not follow the seven days of creation in the book of Genesis. According to a letter from Galileo, a member of the Church who does not know how to read the Bible can accurately say what is correct. The Bible is read in many ways including literally and allegorically. Allegory is the process of “reading between the lines.” To only read the Bible literally would skip over many symbolic passages that Jesus told the people. God created everything, including science, so it does not make sense that science and religion would not match up. Anyone who claims science and religion are not compatible, they are not properly educated on the Catholic faith.
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