The Relationship Between Religion and Science in Modern Society

The Opinions of Two Individuals on Religion and Science in Modern Society

Person 1: Although western Europe in the 19th century began to adopt and "embrace" some aspects of secularism after their recent historical experiences, the same is not true for the rest of the world. Currently, in the U.S., 3% of the population identifies as Athiest, and while that is the highest it has been, it is still extremely low compared with the rest of the country (Harrison). At a glance, Wallace's theory that an increase in scientific knowledge would seem to be logical and inevitable. However, this is not the case. I think this idea has failed because it is based on the scientific notions of logic, facts, and rationality. The issue is that science is limited to empirical evidence; it is a cumulative process that is constantly evolving and an open belief system that allows data to be collected and tested by others. Essentially science is concerned with asking "how" things have come to be. On the other hand, religion is concerned with the supernatural, has a closed belief system that is not to be challenged and is subjective. Just because science has significantly advanced our understanding of the world doesn't mean it will change people's belief in the world. My opinion on this subject is slightly influenced by my religion or the lack of belief. For me, being an Atheist is partly rooted in science. While I grew up in the Episcopal Church and was heavily involved, I never believed in it. This was, in part, because I am someone who wants to know both how and why something has happened, and I like the answers to be based on facts and not belief or faith.

Person 2: I think religion is here for good. Religion performs many different functions in society, and provides many people with a sense of community, solidarity, and comfort. I do not think the advance of scientific understanding eliminates the function of religion in society, in fact in some ways I think the spread of technology across the globe makes people feel even more of a need to connect with one another via religious teachings and community. A lot of the ways people interact in our modern societies revolves around work, and I think religious communities are almost a reprieve from the stress of having to always think about money and how to make a living. Religion offers practical, accessible means of conflict resolution, and gives people a framework for how to get along with one another. It is one of the places in our society in which people of different age categories can come together. Most churches and temples are a welcome place for families, which make up a good portion of our populations. And it is a way that parents can pass on their values to their children. I am not a religious person, but have found that at times of grief, celebration, and during big life changes, I had an emotional desire to be a part of a congregation. I think it's simply a human need, regardless of how literally one may or may not believe in anything supernatural. 

Exploring the Lives of the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert

The ways that people practice and believe do adapt to the times, and I think as people in modern society are connected to one another through travel, education, social media, and simply living near one another in more urban settings, we are less likely to think that our personal religions are the best. I know too many people from too many different backgrounds to think that the religion I was raised with makes me any better than anyone else. I think in a multicultural society, we see that most people want the same things, like safety and community and access to education. There are always fundamentalists and people who have a stronger need to define themselves in contrast to others, but I tend to think that overall, at least in terms of religion, it has gotten easier to have a more generous, egalitarian mindset towards one another in our modern society. So religion may never go away, but it has changed a bit in terms of intensity, perhaps.

 Task

 1. How can women’s work be characterized among the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert?

Group of answer choices Women are responsible for gathering a wide range of vegetation for the entire group Women have an extensive knowledge of the land and types of plants with which they come into contact Gathering is a time consuming task regardless of the time of year, with women gathering for hours every day Both A & B

2. What is the preferred tool used in the gathering excursions of Bushmen women? Group of answer choices Sharpened metal blades Digging sticks Bare hands Shovels

3. How has the employment of Bushmen on farms impacted their way of life?

Malnutrition is an increasing issue as the food subsidies provided as compensation for work cannot match the various vitamins and minerals found in the abundant plant life of the Kalahari The Bushmen have experienced a rapid decline in their birth rate as they have settled into a more sedentary lifestyle The rationing of food through working on farms has created a more noticeable division of power among the Bushmen All of the above

4. How do Bushmen women give birth?

Group of answer choices They are taken to a nearby medical facility which monitors their entire birthing process Often women give birth alone, a few hundred yards from their camp The birth of a child is celebrated and watched by the entire camp

A Bushmen woman must give birth while lying on her back

5. Why is it necessary to isolate a young woman after the beginning of her menstrual cycle?

Group of answer choices The Bushmen find menstruating to be a shameful event, and one which must remain hidden A girl’s first menstruation is believed to be accompanied by great supernatural powers which must be carefully tended to It is believed that a girl’s first menstruation can spread disease throughout the camp and therefore she must be contained A girl’s first menstruation begins the process of finding her a marriage partner, and for this she must remain isolated

6. Increasingly sophisticated and powerful technologies, including tools and modes of economic production, have been a potent source of culture change for millions of years; from African pebble tools of 2 million years ago to today’s computers, for example. Overall, which of the following best describes the history of human technological innovation

Group of answer choices remained essentially constant across millions of years slowed down as humans colonized larger parts of the globe had simple beginnings but has accelerated across millions of years, with important innovations coming in shorter and shorter periods of time has gone in cycles of slow and rapid growth

7. Based on the information provided about the rate of culture change and globalization, which of the following conclusions can be drawn

Group of answer choices culture change, particularly as driven by technological and economic trends, is happening so quickly that it is difficult for people to adjust to these changes.