Science, Religion and Education

摘要: By Our ongoing cultural conversation about the relationship between science and religion is much more interesting important than most educators appreciate, it strikes Mr. Nord as scandalous that we don't let students in on this conversation. IN THE BEGINNING, some 10 or 15 billion years ago, was Big Bang. It neither good nor evil; simply was. There no purpose cosmic evolution followed Bang biological Earth. Because scientists have yet been unable to identify sufficient mass universe cause contract into a Crunch, many believe galaxies will continue expand until they eventually run out of energy die cold darkness space hundred from now. should come surprise human beings are but minor detail overall scheme things. As Carl Sagan once put it: cataclysms catastrophes occurring regularly awesome scale. . seems likely every time quasar explodes, million worlds obliterated countless forms life, them intelligent, utterly destroyed. This not traditional benign conventional religiosity West. Indeed, very scale galaxies, each containing stars speaks us inconsequentiality events context.1 Students might well wonder if reasonable God nature universe. Or an adequate picture do God? Just what religion? The answer, course, disagree relationship. We how make sense nature. fundamental structure reality. These controversial matters among intellectuals throughout our culture generally. complicated, interesting, for education usual debate creationism. Defining has one profound intellectual problems last several centuries, there vast literature works by scientists, theologians, philosophers address it. Yet completely ignored textbooks recent National Science Education Standards all everywhere else curriculum well. ironic, discussion grown livelier with developments theology. also scandalous, exposes just shallow thinking importance.2 Scientific Revolution astronomer Arthur Eddington told parable fisherman who, after lifetime fishing net having three-inch mesh, concluded (falsely, course) were fish ocean smaller three inches. Eddington's moral that, one's determines catches, so conceptual nets: find reality depends bring investigation. For example, modern scientific call method allows catch only replicable events; results any experiment can't be replicated allowed stand. means miracles, which definition singular events, caught science. Scientists ask replicate miracle sake controlled experiment. result, miracles ruled consideration priori. methods require evidence knowledge claims grounded experience kinds instruments can measure, though rules religious experiences sources world. …