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

CHAPTER 9Shattering Myths, Toward DialogueI began this book with the story of Galileo. Many of the scientists I talked withgave Galileo’s torture at the hands of the Inquisition as a central piece ofevidence that religion and science are in an entrenched conflict. But really,Galileo was never tortured; that’s a myth. 1 Misconceptions about religion andscience abound.The best research is often deeply surprising, because it dispels commonmyths that we believe about ourselves and the world around us. Research cannottell us how to live. But, interpreted through our own values, it can help freeus up to live in ways that more closely align with our own view of the world. Sofar, we have listened to the voices of myriad scientists. We have discussed statisticsrevealing what scientists think about religion and religious people andhow scientists incorporate religion into their own lives.But here I trade in my scholar’s hood for the robe of an arbitrator. My goalis to see religious nonscientists and scientists (both religious and nonreligious)engage in more productive dialogue. I would like to see their conversationslead to more acceptance of some parts of science among people of faith and,among scientists, toward a better understanding of the diversity of religion. SoI would be remiss if I did not directly point out how some of the assumptionsof the present religion-science debates simply do not hold up under the weightof research data. I then offer possible recommendations for other scientists andreligious people who share my goal of productive dialogue.MYTHS RELIGIOUS PEOPLE BELIEVEBoth scientists and religious nonscientists have been to blame for the misconceptionsthat have fostered the antipathy of the religion and science debates.For some religious people, atheists are held at arm’s length as the complete“other,” those who are mostly interested in attacking religion and religious149