Science vs. religion : what scientists really think - File PDF

Suppression or Engagement 77almost entirely a personal, private matter of being motivated by the desire tocare more for students. Other scientists, by far the smallest minority, worktoward actual, dynamic, public discussion.SCRIPTS OF SUPPRESSIONAs I talked with scientists, I found some who were propelled by current religiouschallenges in public schools to erect a strong barrier between scienceand religion. The most benign argument was that science and religion are incompletely separate realms. To a lesser extent, some argued that religion andthe opinions of religious people are so meaningless that they are simply notworth discussing. So even if students bring up religion in the classroom, thesescientists believe it is best to simply ignore it. In particular, many of those whotaught at public universities could not imagine how religion could be discussedin the classroom in a way that would not violate the separation ofchurch and state. Responses like these reveal the kinds of boundaries thatsome scientists set up between religion and academic life. And boundarieshave powerful implications for how religion and science connect in universityclassrooms.“That’s Not What I’m Here For”I asked a chemist 8 who teaches at an Ivy League school how he responds whenstudents bring up issues related to religion during the chemistry courses heteaches. He said emphatically that he “would not engage in a discussion aboutreligion with students inside [his] office or [his] classroom.” His reluctance todiscuss matters of faith occurs out of principle: It is “not because I’m necessarilyafraid of the consequences,” he said, “but that’s not what I’m here for. I’mnot a professor of religion, and I would not discuss religious matters with studentsin an academic teaching or research setting.” This chemist’s sentimentsecho those of other scientists who think it simply wrong to talk about mattersof faith in class when they do not know enough about these matters. They arenot experts on religion, and such discussions take time away from the areas onwhich they are.Even scientists who think that religion should never enter into teaching scienceoften ironically have a great personal interest in matters of faith and theirconnection to science. This is not to say, however, that they have much respect