Science vs. Religion Essay

Science vs. Religion Essay: Introduction

For centuries, science and religion are considered contrast disciplines to each other, and both of them aim to serve humanity in different directions. Far as we know, there are more than two thousand religions on earth, and most of the human population chooses to believe in four influential faiths, which are Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Each of them provides different explanations for human existence. Despite their differences, they serve as the absolute creator of the universe and help people find their righteous way to serve God. Religion is an intangible concept that cannot be proven with science. Holly books are more like stories that happened more than 2,500 years ago in a totally different environment and life standards (Theory of Evolution, 2021). However, science provides facts that are proven by mathematics, physics etc., as it bases its fundamentals on more realistic ground. Also, science allows us to improve new technologies that are helpful for our lives. However, religion provides spiritual help that gives people a purpose or a cause to live. This paper focuses on evolution theory's compatibility with faith while analyzing opposite opinions and their reasons. After all, one can infer that evolution theory can be compatible with religion because it has been proved by many scientists between the 19th and 21st century, and the findings do not prove that religious narratives are wrong.

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The evolution theory was formulated by Charles Robert Darwin in his book “On the Origin of Species” in 1859 (Than, 2018). He was one of the most important scientists in human history. He explained how humans were created and supported his theory by evidence from various different scientific disciplines such as palaeontology, geology, genetics, and developmental biology. He provided an evidence-based theory about human evolution that explained how human genetics evolve over the centuries and adapted to the environment. However, many theologists and the church argued his theory when it was first published, and still today, people discuss its accuracy.

A few years ago, I read Yuval Noah's Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, and it provided an understandable explanation about Darwin's theory. Today, many people refuse to believe in evolution theory because our genes evolve from chimpanzees. However, scientists have found neanderthal fossils, which are a different origin of humankind, and they were annihilated from earth because they could not adapt to the environment. They lived almost 4,500 years ago during the same time as the sapiens (Humans). For example, in one chapter, there was an explanation about why women are more addicted to deserts than men; the reason was sapiens lived as a nomad community, and when a woman found a fruit tree, they ate as much as they could, and they kept moving on. Noah claims that today, we carry the fundamental genes which came from 4.500 years ago, and this is why we want to eat desert so much (Harari, 2019). After all, his book convinced me about evolution theory's accuracy, and therefore, I believe it can be compatible with faith.

However, in the 21st century, many religious people do not accept the fact that human genes evolved for millions of years because holly books provide a different creation stories. For example, in the Genesis, God created the first humans Adam and Eve, from in his image, and God shared his characteristics with them, such as being loving (The Creation of Humans, n.d.). In another example, Qur’an says that God created man by his two hands in seven days from clay and mud. Moreover, it affirms our humanity and describes four aspects of the human: physical creation, spirit, natural disposition (fiţrah), and light (Renovatio, 2021). Also, in Judaism, people believe that humans were created from God's image. All three influential religions state that God created humankind from his image. Therefore, humans look like God. However, this does not mean that we are physically similar to him; our souls and characteristics are alike. In this sense, they do not fully describe how humans appeared when God first created us.

Science provides a different story about how we appeared when we were first created and adapted to the world. I think evolution theory offers a more accurate explanation than religious narratives because today, scientists can prove the theory while providing evidence. Also, it does not entirely contradict faith as the holly books only state that humans were created from the image of God. Therefore, one can suggest that people should accept the reality of the claim. However, they reject its reality as they are afraid to criticize God's existence.

Religion is a subjective topic, people are free to believe whatever they want, and there is no actual evidence about God's existence. However, today many people choose to believe in them more than they believe in science. More specifically, in the modern world, everything is connected to science, or electricity, which is discovered thanks to science, and still, people reject its reality. In my opinion, scientific explanation is more valid than religious narratives, and I believe these two concepts can be compatible with each other, unlike %60 of religious people in America (Masci, n.d.). People refuse to believe in it because they thought it contradicts their faith. However, it does not aim to prove the religious facts is wrong. In other words, it just provides a certain explanation about where we came from and the evolution of our genes.

In modern society, there is a false belief exist, and people think that scientist are atheists who try to overthrow God's will and holly books. However, this is not true because today, many scientists believe that science can be compatible with religion. For instance, In a 2010 survey of evolutionary scientists, 87% of respondents said they had found some way to make religion and evolution compatible (Kerrigan Research, 2020). Moreover, they do not want to prove God is wrong, and their only goal is to make science and faith compatible. Also, for many centuries scientist had suffered from religious force's reign, and still, they want to get along with it. Faith is a necessary discipline for humans because when we are younger, we learn what God says about a decent life. It plays a critical role in our personal development as it keeps us away from wrong actions. Therefore, one should find a way to make its faith compatible with science.

I think one can believe in influential religions and also accept evolution as a scientifically valid theory because it is the only explanation about how we evolved and adapted to the world. It does not seek to shake our belief. In my opinion, science is trying to find more detailed and accurate facts about existence. For instance, when God created humankind, we are evolved and find science to discover things with our minds, which reflects him.

Today, there is a lot of evidence about where our genes came from, and how it was developed over time. There is not any particular fact about how the universe created. In this direction, there should be the creator of the universe, and there is common law in science, energy cannot be created without an effect, and it cannot disappear. Therefore, there is a creator of the universe, and many faithful people usually think that if God created the universe and humans, how could our genes relate to chimpanzees. However, this is a scientific fact, humankind is almost 4,500 years old, and over time we have evolved, and still, we do. When we look at human history, there is a cause and effect relationship between discoveries, art, and civilization. Evolution theory is similar to discoveries; over the centuries, our genes developed and passed on to the next generation like genetic diseases, hair, eye, and skin color. Therefore, one can be committed to influential religion and accept the accuracy of scientific facts.

Science vs. Religion Essay: Conclusion

Consequently, this paper focuses on science’s compatibility with religion. In the 21st century, many faithful people do not accept evolutionary theory as a scientifically valid theory, but they use many technologies which are created thanks to science. However, I think evolution theory and faith are compatible with each other, and one can be a faithful person and accepts its accuracy because there is certain evidence about it. As mentioned earlier, scientists have found neanderthal fossils who lived 4,500 years ago, and their genes are similar to humans. Also, Darwin's theory has been proven by many scientists between the 19th and 21st century. Today, we accept his theory because it is not a hypothesis. After all, there is no logic in refusing evolution theory as it does not contradict faith, and its findings do not prove that religious narratives are wrong.

References

Harari, Yuval Noah. Sapiens: a Brief History of Humankind. London: Vintage, 2019.

Kerrigan Research Assistant in Social Psychology/Sociology/Criminology, Nathan Aaron. “How Can Scientists Believe Evolution Is Compatible with Religion?” The Conversation, November 14, 2020. https://theconversation.com/how-can-scientists-believe-evolution-is-compatible-with-religion-54495.

Masci, David. “5 Facts about Evolution and Religion.” Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, August 20, 2020.

Renovatio. “The Human in the Qur'an.” Renovatio. Accessed April 6, 2021.

Than, Ker. “What Is Darwin's Theory of Evolution?” LiveScience. Purch, February 27, 2018. https://livescience.com/474-controversy-evolution-works.html.

“Theory of Evolution - Religion and Science - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - BBC Bitesize.” BBC News. BBC. Accessed April 6, 2021.

“The Creation of Humans - Nature of God in Christianity - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - OCR - BBC Bitesize.” BBC News. BBC, n.d.