We live in a time when media rapidly changes. These changes often influence how cultures are shaped. As consumers and creators of culture, we should seek and develop a deeper understanding of the ideas that surround us. The story between religion and science is always changing. For example, where they meet, when they disconnect, and what this relationship will look like as ideas advance. This topic is one that is increasingly important and interesting to society as a whole.
The most dominant idea within popular culture today is that there is a profound difference between science and religion. This idea provides society and consumers of media with an incomplete and unbalanced image of this complex relationship between the two. It can be said that failing to establish an understanding of a reality in which the ideas of religion and science have crossed paths and cooperated in day-to-day life can be limiting. This can put an unnecessary limit on the degree to which a society of diverse people can work together.
Throughout several aspects of life, science and religion are seen opposing one another. This is because science’s main focuses are based on logic and reasoning. On the other hand, religion relies solely on faith and the belief that there is some sort of higher power. While the two are often seen being vastly different, both have positive and negative features to them.
Some positive features of religion are that you are able to obtain eternal life, gain spiritual support, as well as be guided by a higher power. Furthermore, you strive to become a better person because of the morals and values placed into your life by the religion you follow. However, even though there are many advantages provided by religion, there is also a fair share of disadvantages. Some of these include discrimination against others, confusion, and sin deterring you from God. We can also see that there are positives of science as well. These consist of advanced technology, more ability to make new improvements, and inventions, but the disadvantages are they could lead to a life of sin, laziness, addiction, and misuse.
In pop culture, science is referred to as an intellectual and practical activity. Science encompasses the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observations and experiments. While religion is known as the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
The great discussion between science and religion contains a vast amount of branches and levels. The most popular topic would be evolution and religion. However, it goes beyond evolution, present in all fields of science and in many forms. Ethics, research, philosophy, and even aspects like work-team diversity are in some way impacted by the interactions of science and religion.
In 2014, one of the hottest topics to surface in this great discussion between science and religion was the live debate between scientist Bill Nye and intelligent design advocate Ken Ham. The purpose of this meeting is straightforward: it was an intellectual face-off between two well-known thinkers in the creation discussion, debating topics like the age of the earth and differing worldviews in relation to science according to the well-known Youtube video that was posted on it. As you can see by this pop culture was heavily influenced by this. It was posted on a media platform that everyone follows and knows about, and even if people were not all interested in the subject the option to view it is still there.
On the debate’s cover image, the epic black and white portraits of Ham and Nye are pictured and divided by a solid orange bar, reminiscent of a scoreboard for a wrestling match. This can catch the attention of a different kind of viewer, overall opening up their audience to new people. The purpose, content, and form of this debate send a clear message to its vast audience: their fields of expertise are inevitably opposed. This message is not just given to Ken Ham and Bill Nye enthusiasts but it is also apparent in a popular Christian movie, God’s Not Dead (2014).
For a short synopsis, a college student Josh Wheaton embarks on a journey to combat his angry atheist professor and prove God’s existence to his entire philosophy class. While the movie is made to reinforce the ideals of its Christian audience, there is also a set of intense debates between the Christian student and atheist professor. This film also relays the message evident in the Ham and Nye debate that this is an obvious war where one wins, and the other loses. To put it in broader terms, there is a prevalent spirit of debate between religion and science within popular media that transmits the idea that science and religion have no common ground, and therefore, any opposition and dislike are inevitable.
From the front of popular culture media, it seems that this great, tense debate is the only way religion and science can interact with one another. However, this isn’t the case in all areas of the debate, nor is it an idea reflected in all members of society. In a study by Baylor University, participants offered their responses to the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with the question, “Are religion and science compatible?” The highest percentage, 48.4%, answered that they disagreed with this statement (Baylor). Many people who are highly religious don’t bat an eye at the idea of science and strictly believe that a single god created everything and everyone. While others may say that without science a lot of the things we experience and see, would have no idea about and how they came to be. Without science, we wouldn’t be where we are now.
In addition to this study done by Baylor, research centers, such as the Krakow School in Poland, study the interactions between science and religion and how they can work together. They put emphasis on the fact that religion has played a role in the advancements of science, and medieval reasoning to modern methods of science (Brozek). When you research further you can see that this research reveals that there is more to the relationship between science and religion than debate and lack of agreement.
Along with studies and research, TV shows and media sites are recently presenting a more dimensional and less one-sided view. National Geographic aired a new series in 2016 called The Story of God, narrated by Morgan Freeman. In the episode, “Creation,” he interviews scientists and researchers from different backgrounds regarding their ideas on the relationship between religion and science.
As you can see, the debate on science and religion in popular culture is a very complex topic. There are positives and negatives within their own categories. Science leaves room for advancements and improvements while Religion allows for faith and morals. The relationship between the two is ever-changing. This is because the way society perceives the two based on media is constantly evolving. Many people who are highly religious do not think the idea of science is an idea worth mentioning. These people that a single god created everything that the world has. However, others will admit that without science many of the things we get to experience and see, would not be capable and we would not have any knowledge of how these things would develop. Without science and religion, we would not be where we are now. The argument of where religion and science intertwine, and separate, and the relationship the two have with each other is a very widely discussed topic. Popular Culture has a very heavy impact on the way the two are perceived. The relationship between science and religion is a difficult one to pick apart. The two sides test each other and debated each other in many ways. Many people would argue and believe that there are major differences between science and religion. Arguments are made that the two can never coexist However, others believe that science is, in fact, evidence that religious views are correct. In my opinion, religion and science are inseparable and intertwined with one another.
Works Cited
“Are religion and science incompatible?” Baylor Religion Survey, 2007.
Brożek, Bartosz, and Michael Heller. 2015. “Science and Religion in the Kraków School.” Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. 50: 194–208.
Denis Alexander, “Are Science and Religion at War?” Closer to Truth. 2016.