Physics and Religion

Physicists and Other Scientists Weigh in on Religion

The New York Times recently published an article about a very old controversy: the conflict between science and religion. This piece covered the prevalence of religion among the scientific community. Top physicists, biologists, and mathematicians discussed the role religion plays in their lives and work. Articles such as this one have emerged into the political limelight because America's political climate has emboldened religious groups to challenge the teaching of evolution in schools.


In the article, a number of top physicists were interviewed including Steven Weinberg, a physicist at the University of Texas, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and the winner of the Nobel Prize in 1979 for his work in particle physics. He claimed that "one of the great historical contributions of science [was] to weaken the hold of religion." Weinberg has been vocal about his views on religion, and has publicly debated Dr. John Polkinghorne, a knighted physicist-turned-Anglican priest, who was given $1 million by the John Templeton Foundation for advancing spiritual matters.

Inspiration to Study Physics

Weinberg and Polkinghorne made names for themselves long before they debated the topic of religion for their groundbreaking work in physics. If you find their work on particle physics fascinating, or would like to learn more about physics, you may want to consider getting a physics education. Earning a physics degree is very practical in today's society, because physics graduates have many different career options. Apart from getting jobs in scientific laboratories, many physicists end up in the financial sector because their training equips them to tackle complex mathematical problems that exist in financial markets.

Earn your Physics Degree Online

These days, you can save time and money by earning a physics degree online. Because physics involves quite a bit of complex problem solving, it is ideally suited to online learning, because problem sets can easily be shared over the Internet. Distance learning has become a popular way to earn a degree because it offers a lot of academic flexibility.

If you aspire to win the Nobel Prize in physics, and can justify your work in the physics field with your spiritual beliefs, then it's about time to take your first step and enroll in a physics program.

Source

• New York Times

About the Author
Kirk Bangstad is an artist manager and singer working in Chicago, IL. His previous experience includes consulting for technology companies in the Silicon Valley and serving as a field director and publicist for a statewide political campaign. Kirk holds a B.A. in government from Harvard University.