Religion in essay

Parents Forum
41

<p>More on religion and science:</p>

<p>
[quote]
The John Templeton Foundation, a $1.1 billion philanthropy devoted to bringing science and religion together, is launching an ambitious international effort to fund physics research with potential theological implications.</p>

<p>Based in Cambridge and led by an MIT physics professor, the new Foundational Questions Institute is scheduled to announce its first round of grants Monday -- a total of $2.2 million to 30 physicists at Harvard, Yale, Stanford and other leading scientific institutions.</p>

<p>The institute will not tackle explicitly religious questions like "Does God exist?," but will instead focus on deep, important questions in physics that may be too speculative or philosophical for government funding. The first round of grants will support scientists interested in a wide range of questions, such as whether the fundamental laws of nature seem specially designed to allow life, and whether there are truths about the universe which physics is inherently incapable of proving.

[/quote]
</p>

<p><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/31/initiative_will_join_physics_theology/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/31/initiative_will_join_physics_theology/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

42

<p>OK, now would the same principles apply to politics? I think politics might even be more volatile than religion. Yet, it's such an important issue, and many teens are very idealistic and politically active, so how is it avoided?</p>

<p>Because of the divisive political climate right now, I had recommended to my son that he not touch political controversy; specifically, the Iraq war and the 911 debate (such as that expressed on scholarsfor911truth.org). He disagrees because those issues are so important to him. And, he will be applying to UT Austin, which is very activist-oriented. Opinions, anyone?</p>

43

<p>Lealdragon:</p>

<p>As with every other essay topic, it's important for the student to remember that the essay is about him, not about the rights or wrong of a particular position, whether it be 9/11, the Iraq War, abortion, religion, intelligent design, or whatever. The best essay is one that reveals something (positive) about the author. S1 wrote what I consider his best college application essay about learning that there are usually more than one or even two sides to complex issues and about learning to argue over such issues in a courteous and respectful manner, and that it is perfectly okay for friends to disagree with one another.</p>

44

<p>JHS,</p>

<p>My points stand.</p>

<p>However, I do not care to get involved in a shouting match with you. Sorry. </p>

<p>I would not recommend the average applicant address religion in an essay--that's my opinion, not Gospel--unless it was to declare that you have, like so many others, discovered its negative effects, i.e. “anti-intellectualism,” and all of its common and fashionable derivatives. As far as Zossermon’s daughter goes, I would say that if the daughter is anything like the mother, she could handle most any subject in an essay. </p>

<p>I would not say the same for the average Christian applicant applying to any elite school. I am not saying that it would prevent them from being admitted, I am saying that I doubt it would be a positive factor and would suggest a different controversial subject--one less objectionable.
[quote]
And I notice that some professing Christians (e.g., FountainSiren) appear to believe them. I also notice that feeling like an embattled victim is a pretty good motivational strategy

[/quote]
You are rather quick to judge, JHS. </p>

<p>I’m not a Christian (even though I don't tear-up over having to have lived in a dominantly Christian society--as some do), as many on this board know; however, I did address my religion in my essay as I could not avoid it. As it is, my religion is rather fashionable amongst academics and Western “intellectuals” so I’m pretty sure it helped me in the process. Of course, the writing itself is the most important factor of all and an extremely well written essay, on most any subject, will be viewed favorably. Sadly, not every applicant is an especially good writer, thus my trepidation with writing an essay involving Christian faith, as opposed to religion generally. </p>

<p>
[quote]
A well-known campus publication sprang to his defense

[/quote]
That would be the Dartmouth Review.
It may be worth noting that the Dartmouth Administration has spent 25 years trying to run the Review off campus, including expelling its editors, suing the Review for using the name Dartmouth and having to defend itself in federal court…more than once. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932236937/ref=sr_11_1/103-0803445-5321404?ie=UTF8%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932236937/ref=sr_11_1/103-0803445-5321404?ie=UTF8&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

45

<p>"If the essay communicates a questioning of faith due to scientific curiosity, as a topic, it would be a homerun…especially if it questioned the faith of your family/parents."</p>

<p>I wanted to write an essay about me discovering and researching different religions when I began to questioning the religion I grew up with (Islam). I'm an Atheist, and I thought it might offend a religious admissions officer, so I decided against it. </p>

<p>An unrelated question -- but when they ask me for my religion in an application, do I say the religion I legally belong to (in Kuwait you have to register your religion) or do I put what my actual faith is?</p>

<p>I put in: Agnostic (but legally Muslim).</p>

<p>I'm not sure if that's okay or not. I don't want to put Atheist because it might seem a bit 'out there' for a Roman Catholic university I'm applying to. I don't want to talk about ethics, but just the technical procedure. What do I do?</p>

46

<p>"I wanted to write an essay about me discovering and researching different religions when I began to questioning the religion I grew up with (Islam). I'm an Atheist, and I thought it might offend a religious admissions officer, so I decided against it. "</p>

<p>Too bad because it sounds like a great essay topic. Those type of explorations show a lot of character and intellectual curiousity. Even religiously-oriented colleges want those characteristics in their students. For instance, friends of mine teach at a Catholic college, and they said that one of the faculty members, a priest, I believe, said that it's normal and expected for young people to question their religion. That, according to the priest, is part of the process of defining themselves, and often results in a renewed connection to their religious faith -- a stronger connection than that experienced by people who unquestioningly accept the faith that their parents brought them up in.</p>

47

<p>
[quote]
An unrelated question -- but when they ask me for my religion in an application, do I say the religion I legally belong to (in Kuwait you have to register your religion) or do I put what my actual faith is?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Since you don't "legally" belong to a religion in America, put whatever you want - or leave it blank. It's up to you.</p>

48

<p>Enn:</p>

<p>You do not have to answer questions about your religion or ethnicity if you prefer. But whatever you put down will not be held against you.</p>

49

<p>I'm coming to this discussion late, but I had to chime in on the "science-vs.-religion" sub-topic. I have an advanced degree in a science as does my spouse; I have worked for 20+ years with MS and PhD scientists in a very technical field; I would estimate that more than 80 percent of these coworkers are religious (and some devoutly so.) I just think it's simplistic to equate science with atheism. And as zooser commented, Christian does not equate with crackpot, either.....</p>

50

<p>I have a PhD in physics and so does my husband. Needless to say most of our coleagues and friends are scientists. Out of a fairly big lot we know 2 (two) who are religious. Out of these two one is I'd say philosophical rather than religious, and I would never call him devoted. Goes to show that it really depends on your locality/environment. Most of these people are passionate about their professions and simply never concern themselves with religion one way or the other. A human mind certainly requires a reference frame to relate to the world outside and religion provides one of the possibilities, but there are many others. Whichever you prefer depends on your culture, education, and upbringing, personal taste in a lesser degree. Yes, Galileo, Newton, Kepler, Faraday and many many others were deeply religious people due to the environment they grew in. Times change and so does the relative importance of religion. Personally I have enough interest in my equations to be solving them without the added stimulus of feeling closer to God.
Just one more note: if anything, this whole discussion bores me to death (yes, despite my posting couple of times) and that is a fair assessment of many a scientist's standpoint.</p>

51

<p>Thank you for answering my question. =] I think I'll just put it Atheist.</p>

52

<p>From the Boston Globe:
"The John Templeton Foundation, a $1.1 billion philanthropy devoted to bringing science and religion together, is launching an ambitious international effort to fund physics research with potential theological implications.</p>

<p>Based in Cambridge and led by an MIT physics professor, the new Foundational Questions Institute is scheduled to announce its first round of grants Monday -- a total of $2.2 million to 30 physicists at Harvard, Yale, Stanford and other leading scientific institutions.</p>

<p>The institute will not tackle explicitly religious questions like "Does God exist?," but will instead focus on deep, important questions in physics that may be too speculative or philosophical for government funding. The first round of grants will support scientists interested in a wide range of questions, such as whether the fundamental laws of nature seem specially designed to allow life, and whether there are truths about the universe which physics is inherently incapable of proving.</p>

<p>Coming at a time when many researchers feel under siege by some religious leaders who dispute evolution and other areas of science, the new initiative will be closely watched and debated. Some scientists said they welcomed it as a way to fund vital research at the foundation of modern physics. But critics of the foundation said they worry the institute will be used to blur the line between science and religion..."</p>

53

<p>I was watching Charlie Rose last night (on Darwin) and this same topic came up with Watson of DNA fame. He said he knew of one scientist worthy of the name who was religious in the sense of believing in a personal god. The Harvard prof , Wilson, who was on said he knew who Watson was talking about and he would say the number was zero serious scientists. LOL.</p>

54

<p>Not only are there different ways of knowing, there are different domains of knowing. Faith and reason are different tools for parsing the universe; one uses a hammer for some problems, a screw driver for others, pliers for a third set, and a voltmeter for a fourth. Someone who expects a single tool to solve all problems is usually either foolish or ignorant and sometimes dangerous.</p>

<p>Cf., "To a carpenter with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail."</p>

55

<p>I am somewhat confused by you guys equating "religious" with believing in god. Then, hindus who believe in multiple gods and buddhists who believe in no god are not religious ?</p>

56

<p>I absolutely love how people stop the quote from the Boston's paper right before the most important part:</p>

<p>"Some scientists said they welcomed it as a way to fund vital research at the foundation of modern physics. But critics of the foundation said they worry the institute will be used to blur the line between science and religion.</p>

<p>"I think that bringing science and religion together is a not a good thing," said Sean Carroll, a theoretical physicist at the University of Chicago who did not apply for a grant, and declined an offer to help select the winners. "It is not that different from the Vietnam War, when people wondered whether to take money from the Defense Department for their research, even if their research had no conceivable military application."</p>

<p>These physicicts are using the money to FUND THEIR PHYSICS RESEARCH! Anybody who thinks overwise is naive to the extreme.</p>

<p>To TheDad:
it is a beautifully written phrase that does not really convey a lot of meaning. Of course I do not use physics equations in my interpersonal relationships for example, but I surely do use scientific reasoning, simply because that's how I think. Always.
Would I have been better in that area if I used faith? Hardly so.
BTW, to a scientist every problem looks like a mystery waiting to be solved by creating a set of new and innovative tools.</p>

57

<p>More on the connection between religion and science: From NPR:</p>

<p>" The Dalai Lama will present a lecture to the world's largest group of brain scientists this weekend. He's scheduled to speak at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, which begins Saturday in Washington, D.C. ...</p>

<p>Some small studies have suggested that meditating on compassion can affect parts of the brain associated with positive thoughts. The Dalai Lama's talk will discuss meditation as a way to promote well-being and compassion. </p>

<p>[Richard] Davidson [a scientist from University of Wisconsin] says the Dalai Lama has been encouraging research on meditation for more than a decade. </p>

<p>"He has been very interested in investigating the brain function of monks who have practiced for many, many years, to investigate how their brain function might have been changed by their practice," Davidson says. ..."
<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5008565%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5008565&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

58

<p>"NEW YORK, MARCH 9 - Charles Townes, the Nobel laureate [and Berkeley professor] whose inventions include the maser and laser and who has spent decades as a leading advocate for the convergence of science and religion, has won the [$1.5 million] 2005 Templeton Prize. ....</p>

<p>Townes, 89, secured his place in the pantheon of great 20th-century scientists through his investigations into the properties of microwaves which resulted first in the maser, a device which amplifies electromagnetic waves, and later his co-invention of the laser, which amplifies and directs light waves into parallel direct beams. ... </p>

<p>It was the 1966 publication of his seminal article, “The Convergence of Science and Religion” in the IBM journal THINK, however, that established Townes as a unique voice - especially among scientists - that sought commonality between the two disciplines. Long before the concept of a relationship between scientific and theological inquiry became an accepted arena of investigation, his nonconformist viewpoint jumpstarted a movement that until then few had considered and even fewer comprehended. </p>

<p>So rare was such a viewpoint at the time that Townes admitted in the paper that his position would be considered by many in both camps to be “extreme.” Nonetheless, he proposed, “their differences are largely superficial, and…the two become almost indistinguishable if we look at the real nature of each.” '
<a href="http://www.templetonprize.org/townes_pressrelease.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.templetonprize.org/townes_pressrelease.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

59

<p>Fizik:</p>

<p>You are not the only physicist! My BIL is a very devout Physics Ph.D. I am an agnostic. I recognize that many, many scientists have no trouble reconciling their faith with science.</p>

60

<p>On its own merits, this discussion has been enormously informative and enlightening. I have very much enjoyed the different points of view.</p>

<p>As far as daughter's essay, would you believe we're still up in the air? I really do think it's a good essay that says a lot about what kind of person she is and how multi-faceted she is. I guess I just, personally, think that people of faith without science and people of science without faith are missing something. Or maybe that's not quite the right way to phrase it. Maybe what I mean is that passing judgment on someone else's beliefs/choices reflects badly on the "judger." I would think respecting differences in belief and thought would be better than shutting out people whose views differ. I'm afraid that she won't receive the benefit of that doubt.<br>
In any case, this discussion has made me think that there are people (whether they're at her chosen schools I don't know) who will see her reference to faith and immediately assume that she's either not rational or not smart or not a true scientist. I haven't decided yet what advice to give her, but I'm leaning toward having her censor the essay.</p>