A Review of the Religion and Science Forum in NYC

By Cheryl Petersen

Religion and science have endured a rocky relationship over the centuries. However, this last
June 5th, proponents of religion and science formed a panel for discussion at the World Science
Festival in NYC. Bill Blakemore, a News Reporter for ABC, moderated the forum at NYU’s
Rosenthal Pavilion. A large audience filled the auditorium. After 2 hours of enquiry and
response, I began my 5 hour return trek home and contemplated a fact agreed upon by the panel
members; religion and science are modes of perceptions, not means of conflict.
It is always unfortunate when those involved in a relationship stop working together and start
denying one another. Whereas, these panel members showed that religion and science can
cooperate with one another. Religious advocate, Elaine Pagels, whose works have changed the
historical landscape of the Christian religion by exploding the myth of the early Church as a
unified movement, pointed out the usefulness of avoiding certainties. Dogma and theories are not
certain.
A question came from the audience, How does bowing down to some god ever advance
humanity’s progress? Paul Davies, Cosmologist and Astrobiologist, was the panel member who
answered. Although not a religious person, Davies admitted deep respect for one of his
colleagues, a practicing Jew. “She is a brilliant scientist,” Davies remarked. Her spiritual
practices were recognized as a choice of discipline that obviously gave her intellectual
inspiration.
Fransisco Ayala, a biological scientist, and an ordained priest, noted there is more to life than
science. The moral, ethical, and transcending matters also concern the welfare of humanity. In
the relationship of religion and science, each has a unique place. Science encourages the
dismissal of superstition. Religion is a means by which a spiritual dimension can be explored.
They offend each other less when they don’t claim to be something they are not.
Thupten Jinpa, a principal English translator to the Dalai Lama, also spoke with scientific
eloquence. Jinpa, a practicing Buddhist, was asked why the Dalai Lama sent monks to the USA
to participate in research involving brain-imaging. His response, in essence, affirmed his faith
and confidence in contemplative disciplines, especially Buddhism, and also recognized the value
of engaging science because the scientific worldview is influential. Brain scans did reveal the
brains of monks, with incredible numbers of hours of meditation under their belts, produced
powerful gamma activity. It was also noted that meditation had altered the structure and function
of their brains. Will science pinpoint spiritual experiences, commonly felt by religionists?
It is a step-by-step process and we can be patient with one another. From the 21st Century
revision of Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health, “For centuries—yes, always—natural
science has not really been considered a part of any religion, Christianity not an exception. Even
now many people consider science to have no proper connection with faith and spirituality.
However, mystery does not insulate Christ’s teachings. Truth’s instructions are not theoretical
and fragmentary, but are predisposed to the scientific method, are practical, and complete; and
being practical and complete, they are not deprived of their essential vitality.”
With this all said and done, I think back on what has been recorded about Christ Jesus.
Admittedly, there wasn’t the science fervor going on as we know it today, however, Jesus
evidently had no problem with practicing scientists. Christ called on Luke, a professional doctor,
to be one of his disciples, Luke followed―cooperative teamwork.
 As we utilize the mode of religion or science to uncover the deeper schemes of reality, we can
experience a working relationship until the universe is better understood. In the meantime, we
also can experience the essential vitality of discovering practical, worthwhile answers for the
problems at hand. Spiritual experiences, and constructive knowledge, are discoverable, because
they exist.

Bio: Cheryl Petersen is a freelance religion writer and lay-speaker. She lives in Delhi and can
be reached at from.cherylp@gmail.com