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

CHAPTER 2The Voice of SciencePhysics is Arik’s 1 lifework. He knew at age 13 that he wanted to be a physicist;even then, he found himself drawn to scientists and their stories, particularlythe life of Einstein. Arik’s tone was easygoing and friendly, but when the discussionturned to religion, he became passionate. Arik truly believes that religionshould not exist. He was raised Jewish and has abandoned Judaism in any formalsense over what he views as its meaningless rituals and anti-intellectualism.He describes religion as a form of “intellectual terrorism.” The only time Arikturned to Judaism was when his children were young; he joined a liberal templefor a little while to give them cultural education about their heritage. Afterthe September 11 terrorist attacks, however, Arik left Judaism for good, evenmore convinced that religion in any form has the potential to lead to violence.He did not want to associate with any group based on “supernaturalism.”Arik has not raised his children religiously since he left the temple, and heremarked proudly that his “children have been thoroughly and successfullyindoctrinated to believe as [he does] that belief in God is a form of mentalweakness.”To Arik, religion opposes science; it’s a tool to wield power over thosewho are not intelligent enough to know better. As we talked, Arik oftenapplied the metaphor of a virus to describe religion or faith. As a child, hewas “infected” by religion, but now he is “immune.” He believes that thisview is shared by other scientists who are all “just astonished at this sort ofviral nature of faith-based thinking [which] only exists because parents infecttheir children and then there’s a new generation and they go on to infectmore.”In contrast, science holds almost a magical quality for Arik. He and his colleaguesview science as a “dear product of human minds and marvel frequentlyat how astonishing it is that this collection of atoms and molecules that constitutethe human body has managed to figure out such a vast level of understandingof the natural world.” He is “furious” that others do not understand13