http://www.star.niu.edu/perspective/articles/110503-science.asp
Science is replacing religion in Americans’ lives
Wednesday, November 5, 2003
It was somewhere between our discussion of chim- panzee mating habits and monkey warfare that I came to a conclusion that something was not right.
Then again, I have a biased opinion, just as anyone would if they had to sit through the thrashing and dashing of their life-long belief system.
Please forgive me for my inflexibility, but I have a difficult time comprehending the notion of evolving from a hairy beast whose only concerns were finding its next meal and searching for the safest place to deposit it.
However, as I sat through that anthropology class I couldn’t help but take notice of our world’s growing movement toward a scientific belief system. It seems practically inconceivable that just centuries ago, our inspiration and guiding force was religion.
In a country preoccupied with remaining the planet’s only superpower, science has, in fact, become the new religion. With all of the temptation of a piece of candy to a toddler, the wonders and conveniences of scientific exploration have clogged the minds of those who practice it.
The gift of scientific knowledge is undoubtedly a wonderful asset to possess, don’t get me wrong. It’s just the fact that many people have taken up the hobby of playing God that has gotten me a bit unwired.
The appealing nature of a universal religion is a key factor in the acceptance of science as all — encompassing. Defenders of the scientific revolution boast of clear-cut evidence proving their theories correct. The problem with that evidence is that a few decades later, somebody else will find something else that completely contradicts it.
Say what you want about religion, any religion. The fact remains that there is no contradicting evidence. Of course, supporters of the “Big Bang” and “Ape Man” will blow-off this fact by stating that a creation myth cannot be supported with evidence, and they are correct.
What they will most likely fail to mention is the evidence supporting a religious belief system. Being of the Christian faith myself, there have been numerous artifacts and sites that match directly with biblical information. I am sure that many of the other world’s religions have been supported by evidence as well.
Then again, religion probably has not done a whole lot to positively promote itself. We hear of scandal after scandal involving Catholic priests and small boys. Even centuries back, when religion was the blood of mankind’s body, there were repeated incidents of abused power.
In fact, many new ideas came at the expense of the church. It takes the actions of a select few to set religion back on its proper path. Even back in these times built around religion, there were still those who attempted to play the role of The Maker.
The church used its relationship with God for its own gain, imposing man-made rules and regulations.
And then you have those folks who want to start cloning stuff. Stuff like animals, babies and Jesus. While there certainly is some merit to their desire, cloning would be taking things too far to the extreme.
I read a few days ago about how scientists want to start cloning more animals for food. And there is the ongoing debate on the cloning of body parts. Not a bad idea, but with man’s innate characteristic of greed, it would be used for profit and sex.
It’s rather amazing how much of a taboo religion has become among our public. One mention of a religious figure, place or idea will get you the hush-hush treatment packaged with a mighty scowl.
In a world where it’s hip to be an atheist, little Billy can’t even say the Pledge of Allegiance because it contains the word God. Heaven forbid we mention the word God in our public schools. If we do, then we would be “forcing” our religion down the throats of the close-minded.
Yet, public schools see no problem in teaching kids about Homo Erectus and making it a requirement. The universe was created by the “Big Bang,” and any mention of Adam and Eve will be moved over to the realm of art appreciation so that we can shed a more fictitious light upon it.
President George W. Bush is a devout Christian and is continually ridiculed for it. Instead, we relate more to party-pushing buffoons like Bill Clinton and his liberal cronies.
What was once a world that made religion its number-one priority has witnessed arguably the most lopsided turnaround in the history of mankind.
What happened to our religious morals that were once so firmly engraved into the stone of our daily lives? We took what was given to us and then completely shunned The Giver.
Whichever religion you may call your own, it does not matter. Somebody save us from ourselves.
