Last Thursday, May 3, two members of the theology and science departments, Stephen Pitts, S.J. and Todd Gruninger, addressed a very pressing modern issue: the duality of science and religion. In the presentation they had the audience questioning the basic underlying belief in both scientific reason and Catholic faith through a series of clever analogies and mind games.
Mr. Pitts, advocating a religious point of view, first asked a very intriguing question: “Is the moon made of cheese?” Many students rolled their eyes and laughed at the prospect of a dairy-based moon, but they soon discovered that since none of them had ever been to the moon, they could not completely refute such a ludicrous statement.
Mr. Pitts then raised the question of trust. “Who do you put your faith in? Priests and bishops, or scientists and observers?” He went on to explain that while no one has ever seen an atom with their human eyes, we still trust that scientists and their instruments provide an accurate representation of the world around us.
Likewise, Dr. Gruninger went on to point out the same struggle with religion. He identified the improbability of the Genesis story in an orthodox sense of interpretation. “It might seem hard to trust the Bible, but we take the same leap of faith when we believe in science” he said.
Together, Mr. Pitts and Dr. Gruninger stated that contrary to popular belief, it is possible for science and religion to coexist. They explained that many church members believe what science has to say while keeping religion in mind.
