Powerpoint presentation on Science and Religion

1. Can Science and Religion Coexist Peacefully Through the Field of Psychology

2. Topic Proposal It is a known fact that scientists believe strongly in the scientific method, therefore rejecting the religious beliefs of many when referring to the how’s and why’s of evolution. Because religious believers can only base their views concerning evolution on faith, this is certainly unacceptable and unexplainable in the field of science – thus creating my topic of research. It is my belief and opinion that only through the field of Psychology can science and religion co-exist. As a result of the information given, the objective of my paper will be to test and prove my hypothesis which states that, it is possible for science and religion to co-exist peacefully through the field of Psychology. Furthermore, this paper will present, in-depth, the information gathered followed by the results of the tested hypothesis and finally the conclusion drawn.

3. Citations Angier, Natalie. "My God Problem." Free Inquiry 5(2004):48. Ecklund, E., & Park, J. Z. (2009). Conflict between Religion and Science among Academic Scientists. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science , 276-292. Ellison, C. G., Roalson, L., & Guillory, J. (2010). Spiritual Struggles and Mental Health in a Nationwide Sample of PCUSA Clergy. Pastoral Psychology , 50-62. Fish, J. M. (2010). Science Versus Religion Debate. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion , 3-8. Hood Jr., R. W., Hunsberger, B., & Gorsuch, R. (2003). The Psychology of Religion . New York: The Guilford Press. Kemp, H. (1995). Science or Religion? International Journal for the Psychology of Religion , 15-26. Oberman, T. (2005, August 24). New York Times Company. Retrieved January 9, 2011, from NYT Corporation Pigliucci, Massimo. "Creationism vs. scientism." Free Inquiry 3(2003):32. Stenmark, M. (2004). How To Relate Science And Religion: A Multidemensional Model. Boston: Wm. B. Eerdnams Publishing Co. Wulff, D. M. (2009). Religion and Psychology. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion , 211-215.

4. Outline of Literature Findings Can Science and Religion Co-exist Peacefully through the Field of Psychology? Topic : Can Science and Religion Co-exist Peacefully through the Field of Psychology? Hypothesis Science and Religion Can Co-exist Peacefully through the Field of Psychology. Variables A. Science B. Religion C. Their ability to co-exist peacefully through Psychology IV. Major Explorers Covered in this Paper Pope John Paul II Evolution more than just a hypothesis Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind V. Supporting Points Science Science answers the questions of ‘how’ Scientists can never rule out religion There are no thoughts about the abstract idea of a divine creator The Bible must not be taken literally, but should be read allegorically Religion may be useful in answering the ‘why’ questions VI. Contrasting Points 1. Science continues to contradict the first chapter of Genesis in the Bible 2. There is no way to prove religious faith scientifically 3. Religion contradicts every scientific text ever read VII. Conclusion It is my opinion that science and religion can coexist peacefully through the field of psychology. It has been proven even today that many scientists and therapists still believe in God and credit him for the creation of the world. With further understanding of the relationship between science and religion, it is my belief that they will continue to not only coexist, but will do this in a peaceful manner. As Albert Einstein stated,"Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind." This statement will continue to resonate in the future as long as science and religion remain in a coexisting state. After, religion is about ethics or what you should do, while science is about what is true or what is proven, thus allowing them to coexist peacefully.

5. Review Paper Conclusion Given the results of my literature review, the prevailing argument still remains that Science and Religion cannot co-exist peacefully through the field of Psychology. In fact, the belief of many today is that science and religion are irreconcilable centers in large part on the issue of evolution. However, it is my belief that neither model of origin of science or evolution has been established beyond a reasonable doubt (otherwise, the theory of evolution wouldn't be called the "theory" of evolution). According to scientists “Whether we like to admit it or not, those of us who subscribe to the theory of evolution do so by faith” –thus incorporating Religion (Angier, 2004). However, Pope John Paul II said that “evolution is more than just a hypothesis” (Oberman, 2005). I feel that in science, like other practices, there are those whose world views are shaped completely by the methods and disciplines of their work. For example, the Nobel laureate James Watson, co-discoverer of the molecular structure of DNA, states that “one of the greatest gifts science has brought to the world is continuing elimination of the supernatural” (Oberman, 2005). "A historian of ideas would immediately recognize this perspective as an echo of the 19th-century clash between proponents of science and religion” (Lovgren S. , 2004). That statement may strike some people as peculiar. After all, many beliefs still render science and religion incompatible. But what about the co-existence of science and religion in the field of psychology? My hypothesis states that science and religion can co-exist peacefully through the field of psychology. Therefore, the following literature reviews will attempt to demonstrate and support this hypothesis while dismissing the obvious prevailing arguments. In a research book written by Spilka (2003), he questioned why religion should be studied psychologically. His answer however was quite simple. He concluded that religion including spirituality was a fascinating realm and for that reason alone was enough to study it. Of greater significance was the fact that religion is so important to people all over the earth. For this reason, it is the role of psychologists to keep those concepts before them as they allow religion and science to coexist. In the article presented by Fish (2010), he stated that in the debate between science and religion, often times the assumption is that “science” refers to the physical and biological sciences, thereby omitting important evidence- and logic-based contributions from the social and behavioral sciences. What this does is it allows one to treat the debate as essentially a philosophical one. He further states that, “Doing this often overlooks important cultural information” (Fish, 2010). It is this information that is vital in the proper diagnosis and treatment of psychologists today. In the book by Paloutzian (2005), he further supports the hypothesis of science and religion coexisting peacefully in psychology by stating that the discipline of psychology needed to include religion among its central foci of study in order to arrive at a comprehensive theory of human behavior. In addition to Paloutzian’s concept, MikaelStenmark is to be congratulated for having written one of the most understanding articles to date on how science and religion should be related and understood. In the article by Stenmark (2004), he like Paloutzian states that the relationship between science and religion is a multidimensional relationship. For this reason, he concludes that the aspect where science and religion relate must be considered. Stenmark further provided four dimensions that needed to be taken into account in order to successfully relate science and religion. It is his belief that, if someone wants to successfully relate the two, they must take into account the four dimensions which include the social structure of science and religion, the aims of these practices, the kind of epistemology they exhibit, and their theoretical content (their theories, beliefs, or stories). In conclusion, it is my belief that both science and religion will and can coexist peacefully through the field of psychology. Because science and religion have a common denominator, which is truth, they both aim to say something true about reality in general-thus allowing them to coexist peacefully in psychology.

6. References Angier, Natalie. "My God Problem." Free Inquiry 5(2004):48. Fish, J. M. (2010). Science Versus Religion Debate. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion , 3-8. Lovgren, S. (2004, October 18). National Goegraphic News. Retrieved January 26, 2011, from National Goegraphic website: www.nationalgoegraphic.com Oberman, T. (2005, August 24). New York Times Company. Retrieved January 26, 2009, from NYT corporation Paloutsian, R. F., & Park, C. L. (2005). Handbook of the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.. New York: The Guilford Press. Spilka, B. (2003). The Psychology of religion: An Emperical Approach. New York: Guilford Press. Stenmark, M. (2004). How To Relate Science And Religion: A Multidemensional Model. Boston: Wm. B. Eerdnams Publishing Co.

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