Abstract
People often turn to God or religion when they face facts or situations that cannot be explained. Although humans are more interested in material things, rather than in spirituality, idolizing money instead of purifying their souls, they still turn to God and religion when facing problems, asking for favors from the unseen being that they worship in times of trouble.
In the land of the man, God meets science and they become two factors that influence people’s minds and their existence. Religion is an alternative for science or vice – versa or are people living in a material world, where neither God or religion nor the science matter, but the money influence their reason for living? In examining this question, there should not be forgotten the fact that the land of the man is resourceful and it often finds its self-balance.
Key words: God, religion, material, spiritual, science, worship.
Introduction
Literature review
The current argumentative essay employs valid researches to sustain the discussion of whether God or religion is still viable in modern world. At the basis of this argumentative essay will stay the claim that people turn to God when they face situations that they cannot explain through human knowledge, therefore, making the belief in God essential for the existence and for the sanity of human society.
In the discussion that Cray (2006) presents between Time Magazine, Dawkins and Collins, Dawkins sustains that God should not be the answer for any complicated thing that man comes across to, even more, he considers it a lack of responsibility of finding for the causal or scientific explanations of things and simply saying “Well, God did it” (p. 59). Cray’s (2006) article will have a great significance for the overall project, as it provides a valuable argumentative discussion between Dawkins and Collins, who are strict sustainers of science and religion, respectively.
The literature review will also contain learning of the Archbishop Romero, which will be illustrated through briefly describing the content of his six sermons. The sermons treat the roots of religion and the objectives of the church in promulgating the Christian religion in the world, in a unbiased manner, the Christian justice versus the social justice, the search for God and the hope in humanity in the resurrection of Christ, eliminating the source of violence enrooted in the world, or celebrating life by pursuing the common good.
These learning will be combined with other significant religion views in order to support or on the contrary, to dispute the claims of Archbishop Romero. Briefly, Dan Cray (2006) argues that in the human space science and God are opposing fields (Darwinism versus Genesis theories) and their coexistence is not very likely, whereas Marilynne Robinson (2012) notices that science and spirituality both have a defining role in the human life, and the existence or inexistence of God is a matter of cultural and spiritual choice. Pledging for the existence of God and for the viability of religion in the nowadays modern society, Collins considers that the humanity’s moral sense represents the “signpoint that he [God] exists” (2006, p. 61).
Thesis
In a modern world where man has the freedom to choose whether to dedicate himself/herself to spirituality (God and religion), science, or materiality (money and earthly pleasures), but also access to information, the main selection criteria stands in the specific aspects that determine one’s individuality. The access of information allows for the free exchange of ideas, and this creates a broad space for elaborating on the subjects of interest. This global space is the space of the communication, which does not limit, but advantages the promulgation of spirituality, science or earthly things. The specificity of the current world is, however, deepened in the earthly things, which turn immediate result on the individual’s current life, compared with what the after – life concept that the religion promotes. Moreover, the world is in now the technological era, it did not get here by accident and the only miracle that caused it was science. Modern science might be a young field compared to religion, but is rapidly wining field and many adepts, so that it can be even stated that for some, science is the new religion. Nevertheless, this cannot be generalized, because people still turn to God for finding an answer where science could not (yet) provide one.
Argument
God and religion are defining for each individual’s spirituality, whereas science appeals to human logic. Where science cannot answer, humans usually turn to God and religion for an answer. God is also the turning point when requesting for favors from a force that surpasses the natural and the known. As a part of the key moments of society, God’s presence is accepted in specific situations and this indicates the material orientation of humankind. Nonetheless, there are communities that praise God and are actively practicing Christianity for it is enrooted in their structure. On the other hand, when the focus on “now” and on the earthly distractions, the connection with God becomes limited and for some, even abstract or inexistent.
At the basis of this claim stay people’s lifestyle and their choice. Neglecting or not considering God and religion on the basis of science implies more than lifestyle, but active research and interest in experiencing both, therefore, in this situation there cannot be considered that God and religion is not a part of human life. Solely by considering the possibility that God might exists and by analyzing the religious dogmas people search for God and only their logic can tell if God and religion is viable or not.
Vice versa, in his discussion with Dawkins and Time Magazine, cited by Cray (2006), Collins implies that science and God can interact in the field of investigation of the cause of the miraculous events. Based on this claim, science and God can coexist.
I consider that in choosing science over God or God over science or having a balance and accepting both, while enjoying the earthly things or not is completely up to each individual’s choice. There should not be a perfect receipt that should be followed. Accepting how other people think means embracing diversity and respecting one’s choice and interest.
Conclusion
Religion and God represent the realm where people go with their unresolved problems or questions, whereas science is the place of constant study and development for understanding the inexplicable. This paper revealed that where science appeals to human logic and investigative nature for exploring the truth, God, through religion incorporates social constructs such as finding the truth through faith and belief. Nevertheless, although these two fields disapprove each other at times, they have a common path, substituting or complementing each other.
References
Cray, D. (November 5 2006) “God vs. science,” Time. Retrieved from www.time.com/magazine/article/0,9171,1555132,00.html .
