Elaine Howard Ecklund new book, Science vs. Religion: What do Scientists Really Think?, discusses science professors and their religious beliefs. Ecklund surveyed 1,700 scientists and found 50 percent of the surveyed scientists identified with a religious belief. Out of the 50 percent, 18 percent attended a religious service at least monthly compared to 46 percent of the general population. The book discusses should professors incorporating religion and science to their class. Studies conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute conclude that college students are interested in spirituality and what does it all mean kind of questions. Students may have questions regarding the intersection of religion and science but should these questions get answered by the professor?
The topic of religion in the class has been an on-going issue in the United States for a while. The public schools have decided that religion cannot be pushed on a person, but the topic can be discussed. However if a scientist does not believe in religion then the students are going to get a different answer compared to a scientist who believes in religion. The students would be getting an opinion and this could cause a controversy between the students and professors or the professor and the University. Although the students could have several questions regarding science and religion, the best choice is to keep religion out of science. Everyone has a different thought on science and it would not be appropriate for a scientist to share their beliefs on religion in science to their students. There may be another way to express religion in the class but I do not know the answer. Does anyone have any ideas on how students can get their questions answered about religion in science without opinions being expressed to the students?
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Naomi great topic. Though it is quite bold, it is a current affair. Unfortunately I do feel I may be biased in some ways on this issue and I too do not have the answers, I do feel that Educators already have quite an influence in class. Because a student is so vulnerable during these times, I feel it would be unfair to put them in an environment where they may have one particular perspective of religion or science. Personally I believe the job as an educator would develop the skills and motivations in a student to seek these answers for themselves. I feel too often in trusted positions can take advantage of that position of influence and use it for political or religious bulldozing. I say keep it separate and leave it out of the classroom. Yet encourage the student become a balanced and complete person through the process of self development and self dependence as oppose to having a surrogate mother bird chewing up food and regurgitating it for the younger chicks. :) How about that analogy?
ReplyDeleteNaomi,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I still remember my 7th grade science teacher responding to a question I had about science and the role religion played. Though I was not overly impressed with the answer and it did nothing to raise my low quiz grade, I remember her sincerity as she raised more points to my question. The point being, I had a positive and thought provoking experience, which had an impact in how I view science and religion today. This is an important topic that I believe deserves more interest.