Before the Enlightenment theology was considered the queen of the sciences following the Enlightenment theology was kicked out of the field of science and not long afterwards the science vs. religion wars begun. Today science has moved into the realm of religion and the academy has become its temple. Can this be true? While maybe I added a little hyperbole I believe it is not far from the truth.
In reading an article from the AP this morning I was struck with the insanity of an academic system driven by political correctness and the prophets of the religion of science. Martin Gaskell a top astronomer in his field who oversaw the design and construction of the observatory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and advised the University of Kentucky in the building of the MacAdam observatory was past over for the position of Director of the new student observatory at the University of Kentucky because he was a Christian. He was at the top of the list of candidates for the position and one member of the search committee said he was, "breathtakingly above the other applicants." Why then was he passed over? They were worried that his faith would conflict with his duties as a scientist.
Are we now to understand that one of the future requirements for those who seek to be hired as a professor in a universities' science department must be an atheist? Are our universities moving away from free thought, open discussion and the marketplace of ideas? Are our universities' science departments moving away from the foundation of the scientific method? I think so.
Science is now answering the question they cannot without becoming a religion are entering the discipline of philosphy. The question of origins cannot be answered by science. Science most be able to observe, reproduce and then prove. We cannot reproduce our origins. Even when it comes to humanities origin and development evolution is a theory not a proven scientific fact. Whatever its merits are to eliminate other theories from the academy and worse yet to eliminate a professor because he is a believer in God, not a professed Creationist, moves into the category of religious fanaticism.
Whatever "Pure Science" looks like it is not what is taking place at the University of Kentucky. But what is taking place is an example of the evolution of science into a religion that has no room for other religions, scientist who believe in a God, besides science, and no room for alternative theories regarding humanities' origin and development. I hope Martin Gaskell wins his lawsuit against the University of Kentucky and I hope we would do what one of those who commented on this article said they would do, "If this guy got hired at the University my child was taking science classes at I would have my kid change schools. There is no way I'll give a school money to teach my kid religion." We should be willing to take our children out of universities that refuse to have science faculty that believe in God and do not allow free expression of faith. I would say to the one who made this comment and any others who share this opinion that if you put your child only in schools that refuse to hire people like Martin Gaskell you are putting your child in science classes that are teaching him/her religion - the Religion of Science.
