The conciliatory by Richard Broughton as regards science and religion is appreciated but misinformed.
Science and religion are poles apart: in science you believe because you know whereas in religion you
known because you believe; in science you question everything whereas in religion you question nothing.
History books are repleat with examples of people being persecuted and even burned at the stake for not
holding the official religious line. Giordano Bruno stated that the earth was just one of many planets
and that it revolved around the sun-and what’s more, there were many such suns; he was burned at the
stake for his foresight. The Cathars believed that one could talk to God directly and they were
exterminated. Galileo lucked out-he was only put under house arrest for the remainder of his life. Many
people died as a result of the Inquisition. Even Jesus was executed for his rebellion against the
established church in Palestine.
Science is a search for the truth and I would like to think that religion is likewise. In science,
however, that search is an exploration along a long and winding road that has a lot of blind alleys; in
religion, the path is invariable and straight, though the path is different depending on which religion
or sect of that religion to which one belongs. In science it’s OK to be wrong as long as one continues
to seek the right answer; in religion, being wrong is heresy.
The essential conflict between science and religion was recognized by our Founding Fathers and is the
basis of separation of church and state. Science and religion should stay separate and Creationism
should not be taught in our school system, except to contrast science and religion.
William E. Feeman, Jr., M.D.
Bowling Green