Religion v. Science

This week’s reading was on the last section of Leo Africanus. What I found most interesting about this section was the focus that was placed on the transformation from a religious to a scientific society in the Western world. This transition to science led to a larger focus on the military, as technological advancements led to many military improvements. I find it very interesting that this transition to science took place in the 1500s and it is still at the core of our society today. Religion is still a large part of many individuals’ lives, but as far as the way in which our society is run, it is clear that there is a much larger emphasis on science. There is a separation of religion and state in the United States, and although “state” does not mean science, there is a clear relationship between the two. Science is the basis of many fields in our society and is taught in numerous forms in all of America’s schools and universities. Religion, on the other hand, although extremely prevalent, is not as visible in the educational or occupational sector. For example, religion is not taught in any public schools, and there was a huge controversy during the debate on whether or not Darwinism should be taught in school; a scientific theory that presumes that humans evolved from apes. This illustrates that religion is still is a large source of controversy within our society, and is even more so across societies. It is my opinion that science will continue to run our society, but religion will never fade away and will continue to be a source of conflict among people and peoples.