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

110Society and Broader PublicsAnother way that religion can be considered legitimate is as a subject ofstudy. This view is generated from a model of the university as a place whereanything that influences the physical or human world is worthy of investigation.Even for these scientists, however, there are academic boundaries withinwhich religion ought to remain. If religion is an object of study, it should bestudied only in religion departments.A minority of scientists (less than 20 percent) think that religion can meaningfullyintersect with their particular research and with the education of their students.They see religion as important to science ethics and as potentially helpful inguiding research questions. This model comes from a view of education andresearch as having multiple knowledge sources, including religion as one of thesesources. A perception of discrimination can also accompany this view; thosescientists who think religion is both important as a form of knowledge and as acompelling belief system say they sometimes experience bias in their universities.THE MODEL OF NURTURE: UNIVERSITIESOUGHT TO NURTURE STUDENTS—INCLUDINGSPIRITUALLY—IN THEIR FORMATIVE YEARSMost of the 42 percent of scientists I interviewed who thought there could besome positive role for religion on campuses specifically mentioned universitiessupporting the private expression of religion. Their examples of support rangedfrom tolerance (not standing in the way of personal religious expression) andsymbolic support, to universities providing money, space, and personnel to theorganizations that undergird religious life on campus. This latter view relatesdirectly to a model of university life that stresses the role of universities as providingcare for their members in arenas of life not directly related to scholarship.The rationale endorses exercise facilities, for example, to take care of the physicalbody, as well as chapels and religious programs to care for students of faith. 10Those who feel strongly that religion ought to be an important, personalpart of people’s lives also support universities going to great lengths, includingfinancial support, to make sure that there is an active religious life on campus.This might include supporting student religious organizations; allowing studentsto have religious holidays off; providing centers, chapels, and chaplains;and making sure that the legal structure of the university enables individualfaculty and students to follow their moral religious convictions. 11A psychologist,12a Quaker with some Buddhist practices for whom beliefin God is not central, remarked, “Universities are charged with taking care of