Fields that can’t fit into same mold

Judging from recent letters to the editor, some writers feel that science studies are similar to religious beliefs that one can either believe or reject. In particular, if one finds a scientist or group who doesn’t hold to a particular scientific consensus, then that scientific explanation is open to question.

If a phenomena of the past is held by some scientists to be without a legitimate explanation, then some conclude that the phenomena is unexplained. This approach matches that used by defense lawyers, who seek to instill a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors so their client can go free.

A larger question remains: Is this approach the way science progresses? Contact or survey a wide variety of scientists until you find a group or scientist whose outlook matches what you lean towards? I maintain this is exactly how politics (not political science) works. Start with beliefs, desires or prejudices and go through articles until you find evidence that pleases you. This is the kind of thinking that led to the Trial of Galileo and other shameful events.

I further maintain that without the testing of science explanations by experiments (not by men) instituted by Galileo, we would not have developed western science, such as quantum mechanics and relativity. These fields have key concepts that go against our common experience yet we rely on them for our GPS devices (used to guide us into unfamiliar locales), digital music listening devices such as Ipods and the analysis of our DNA.

Each spring, I teach a course on “Reconciling Religious Beliefs with Modern Science” where we survey the conflicts between science and religions over the past four centuries. In addition, today we have a few militant atheists who improperly try to use science to demolish religious beliefs.

I feel that in both the historical conflicts (Galileo, Newton’s Clockwork Universe and Darwin’s Evolution) and the modern atheist attack that these cases stem from injecting one field into the mold of the other, like trying to mix oil and water. Eventually, the two fields separate; impartial thinkers will appreciate that both science and religious beliefs have real value to humanity and are not necessarily opposed.

Both the militant atheists and those attacking science fail to realize that natural science is limited to just phenomena that can be measured. Many key personal questions can’t be answered by science: How does God intervene in our lives? Does every human have an immortal soul? What will happen to me and my dear ones in the afterlife? Will my deeds and omissions be held against me?

These questions are best addressed by prayer, meditation or family/clergy discussions and not by consulting a Web site, science book or emailing a scientist. Every scientific theory or model may be replaced if a better alternative is developed. In this way, major scientific concepts of the past have fallen by the wayside, including models that were held for over a thousand years.

In religion, we have a remarkable constancy of beliefs and credos of the key faiths that have persisted for centuries. There are no new religious models that arose in the last century as new physical models arose (Quantum Theory, Relativity or the role of DNA).

With scientific progress have come even bigger questions about nature, such as “Why is most matter invisible or dark?” and “Why is the universe speeding up in its expansion?”. Real scientists are busy trying to work out answers to such questions and not attacking venerable religious beliefs that provide comfort to many millions of us.

Mars moves into Leo

The planet Mars in the next three weeks will hurtle past the bright star Regulus (end of June) and then pair off with the planet Saturn (July 10). Mars is now a rather dull object in the western dusk as it gets dark. Presently Mars’ polar region is being investigated by the Phoenix lander for signs of water ice. Mars is now in a rather starless region and can be distinguished by its steady light. Above and to the left of Mars is Regulus and beyond Regulus is the bright planet Saturn.

We have four evenings of Science Discovery Center tours and Planetarium presentations ahead. Tonight, come to the Compton Center at 8 p.m. for a tour of the Science Discovery Center and an 8:30 p.m. planetarium show in Tawes Hall.

These presentations are free to the public but we start promptly. We will repeat this schedule this Wednesday and Friday and next Monday. The Compton Center is near the Performing Arts Center (where there is a huge parking lot). The Planetarium is just across the street in Tawes Hall.

Call (301) 687-7799 to request a free planetarium/science discovery center bookmark (fall shows and tours resume on Sept. 7).

Bob Doyle invites comments and questions from readers. He is also available for brief talks/presentations at club meetings. Contact Bob Doyle at rdoyle@frostburg.edu.