Science, Religion, and Politics
  by Groff Schroeder

Science is an objective, iterative process of research, experiment, publication and verification practiced in widespread societal groups by people who exchange, challenge and verify each other's work in a formal way. The theories and laws created by science appear to apply to all matter, including humans. Science is the foundation of the modern world and often requires a lifetime of hard work. For example, the work of Isaac Newton plays an essential role in the everyday lives of each and every one of us.

Religion is a tradition of belief that is based upon faith in a miraculous entity and is practiced in widespread societal groups by people who often follow a single religious text. Even with a single text, religious law often appears to vary between individuals, churches, church hierarchy and religious belief systems. Participants can be converted instantaneously and without personal sacrifice. In history, religious law has caused a great deal of interpersonal, institutional, international and political friction. For example, the recent attacks upon our nation appear to have been made, at least in part, for religious reasons.

Humans are a divided society of living things growing exponentially into a finite film of nitrogen and oxygen surrounding an infinitesimal point of matter in a vast space-time continuum. History suggests that virtually all societies form governmental entities that create political systems to address the common problems the society faces.

In addition to the severe societal problems humans face such as multinational conflict, staggering debt, environmental degradation, and institutionalized corruption in government, unknown dangers almost certainly lurk in space. If we are to survive in this harsh interstellar and interpersonal environment, it is important for politics to develop plans to realistically address the threats against us, no matter what their source. The disciplines of biology, chemistry, communications, economics, ecology, mathematics and physics are important tools with which we can address these problems.

But increasingly, science is playing a lesser role and religion a greater one in human society. The basics of logic, critical thinking and science are virtually unknown to the vast majority of American citizens. At the same time, religious ideas are increasingly being used as the basis for political decisions and religious groups are demanding a greater role in politics.

While religion has a place in society, it is hard to argue that its place is in government. Religious laws and beliefs inspire strong convictions that appear to impede the interpersonal and international agreements essential to politics. Religious fervor can drive people to rationalize and even appear to enjoy atrocities like the 9/11 attacks. This is not the stuff of diplomacy. In contrast, science provides verifiable tools with important advantages to governmental systems, and offers a way for societies to test, verify and agree upon important issues.

If American public policy turns its back on science to embrace religion, we will lose access to the tools that allowed us to create our dominant place in the world. We will forsake those successful tools in favor of the ideals of theocracy so repugnant to us in societies like Iran and Taliban Afghanistan. While the debate between science and religion in politics will continue, history shows that cooperation between science and politics has repeatedly played critical roles in protecting human freedom. The history of religion in politics can claim no such historical success.

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