Aaron Poindexter

URWT 1102
Justin R Cary
11-30-2015
An In-depth Inquiry of Human Interaction with Religion in the Light of Science
God and human interaction is a very touchy subject in modern society
and most people tend to shy away from what is happening in this triangle
between science, God, and humans. This essay confronts the causes of
religion, the scientific evidence against religion, and how humans are
reacting to the idea of God vs. Science. The bigger question inside the initial
debate is will religion eventually become a thing of the past? And if so, how
long?
Lets start with naming some well-known religions of the world.
Christianity, the most popular religion among the group, has a simple but
powerful theology with the holy trinity and the plan of salvation. We all are
familiar with the famous In the beginning God created the heavens and the
Earth and the promise of his return is awaited by millions of hopeful
followers of the Christian faith. Islam, another top tier religion of the world is
deeply rooted in the teachings of Muhammad, or the last prophet, and
worships the almighty judge Allah. People in the Islamic religion live in the
ideology of good works and if enough good works are completed in ones

lifetime, Paradise can be reached. Buddhism, a more complex theology,

involves much meditation and peace-seeking in hopes of reaching Nirvana
(RIP Cobain), which has only been attained by Buddha, Buddhists life-long
role model. Of course, the religions of the world are numerous and diverse in
the sense of each ones set of values and plan for how ones life should be
lived, however there is a common theme. History has proven that large
masses of people follow these divine ideologies based solely on faith. The
Merriam- Webster definition of faith states, the belief in the existence of
God: strong religious feelings or beliefs. Consequently, the MerriamWebster definition of belief is a feeling of being sure that someone or
something exists or that something is true. So these meanings elude to the
fact that there is zero evidence of any holy being or divine intervention, or
any explaination for religion as a whole.
In the words of the famous author and religious critic Christopher
Hitchens, But the original problem with religion is that it is our first, and our
worst, attempt at explanation. Humans began with nothing, no purpose, no
meaning, and most importantly, no comfort. Hitchens suggests that humans
had to formulate an explanation, an explanation for everything. Imagine
your task is to explain why you were smarter than all other animals or why
people died when they either get old or have an accident. That would be a
daunting task for anyone, much less the early humans who went without
technology and hadnt the slightest idea of the past. They sought solace in
life and found comfort in the assurance of a higher being who could offer

peace. It is this comfort in a solid anchor which drives the worlds religions
today, but in a different light. The Pew Research Center recently conducted a
survey of 35,000 Americans about which, if any, religion they were affiliated
with. The results show that nearly 78 percent of Americans claim to be
involved in religion and thus, spiritually active. Three out of four Americans
are involved in some way with God.
Evolution has become an undisputable event after recent efforts by
scientists and researchers to gain a clear picture of humanities early history.
Also, the fossil record has an obvious recollection of when the Homo-sapiens
branched off from the ape lineage some 6 million years ago. Natural
selection, another factor in evolution in plants and animals, has proven that
the human flourished from the change to the upright structure of the body
and the explosion in cognitive ability. However, this doesnt sound like the
story we hear in the first chapter of Genesis or the Islamic creation story
according to Muhammad. Science has set the battlefield, evidence vs. faith.
The comfort that people feel today is obviously deeper than a
relationship with God. The issue is family, society, and culture. Past
experiences are a main factor in developing a persons world view. Answers
in Genesis, a global religion network, defines worldview as the overall
perspective from which one sees and interprets the world. If an induvial was
brought up in religion and force-fed the beliefs of that particular religion, a
certain worldview will come along with those experiences. Rabbi Michael
Lerner puts it best when he suggests, Our feelings are shaped by the

experiences we have growing up in a competitive, patriarchal, materialistic,

and power-oriented society. Once a worldview is established in an
individual, the possibility of changing those views becomes nearly
impossible. So for the 78% of Americans from the above survey, one can
assume that many if not nearly all of those in that percentage have been
greatly influenced by past experiences with religion. As a result of the
creation of a personal worldview, people sever the linkage between their
heads and their hearts causing them to lean on feelings rather than
intelligence.

So will science ever disband religion? Probably yes. However, it will be

a very long time in the future before people have a chance to evolve their
worldviews to fit the modern ideology that is slowly creeping its way into
society. Also, technology and knowledge of our past is becoming increasingly
complex, educated society is sure to follow in due time. The future is always
unpredictable, but with historical trends and scientific research, we can make
solids inquiries on the future of religion.

Citations
Connecting with the Divine." EveryStudent.com. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.

A Templeton Conversation: Does Science Make Belief in God Obsolete?" A

Templeton Conversation: Does Science Make Belief in God Obsolete? Web. 30
Nov. 2015.
Religious Landscape Study." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project
RSS. 11 May 2015. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
What Is Your Worldview?" Answers in Genesis. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.