A Fictitious Exchange In The Spirit of Giving
A scientist at a dinosaur dig site is approached by a young man of 30 years in age. The young man begins to ask the scientist questions about the dig site, the dinosaur species and science in general. The young man then says:
Young Man: Is this science your religion?
Scientist: Pardon me? Religion? No, this is science. My views are not closed in by religion.
Young Man: But Sir, according to definition, religion is a set of beliefs, attached to a specific field. Is this not so?
Scientist: I suppose, but with science, I work with evidence, to answer questions and find truth about the earth and universe.
Young Man: Yes, but according to definition, can it not also be said that science is your religion?
Scientist: No, I don’t believe so. Religion keeps man in ignorance.
Young Man: Well, let me ask you this question. If I were a foolish youth, who looked at you and your work and said, “You weren’t there millions of years ago. How in the world can you know anything about the dinosaurs? This is utter nonsense!” And when you tried to explain such things to me such as proof, and the scientific method, along with other truths and research, I denied and walked away saying, “Sounds far fetched!” What would you say?
Scientist: I would say that you are not open minded and foolish, but you can’t get rid of the evidence.
Young Man: Great response! Now this is a religion, a system of beliefs, wherein you can research, ask questions and get results.
Scientist: When you put it that way, than yes.
Young Man: OK. So it is with other types of religion. We may look at them and say, “How superstitious! This is far fetched!” But still, you can’t get rid of the evidence. The only difference between your religion, and the foolish youth, is that he scoffed at science, and you scoff at religions. You may think you are being open minded, but when you deny looking into the reasoning, methods and steps of religion, just as the foolish man didn’t want to explore, or even listen to your religion of science, you are just as close minded as he. We can all be a little more open minded. Let’s try to be so, whatever the field of religion.
Science and true religion work together, as long as both are correct. For some however, even evidence isn’t enough.
Shane
Infinitely In The Know 
Leave a Reply