Final Project Proposal:
For my final project I plan to write a conventional essay. I will be extending/elaborating on my previous essay titled, “The Science of Religion.” However, instead of just focusing on heaven and the viewpoints surrounding the idea, I’m going to broaden the essay to talk about religion and science in general (But, I still plan to keep the writing on heaven). I’m not positive as to whether or not I’m going to include the section of my essay talking about the future of religion, I plan to decide on that after I have begun to write my draft (I may decide to include it towards the end of the essay).
Here is a very rough outline of how I want my paper to be organized:
-Scientific viewpoint
Silver’s view- challenges the belief of heaven
-Religious viewpoint
Despite scientific data, people still follow their beliefs (religious)
-Which “truth” to believe?
Answer: The truth is, religion and science cannot be compared
Thesis:
Although scientific data disagrees with certain religious views, many people continue to follow their beliefs.
Counterargument:
Science and religion cannot be compared.
(I’m unsure if my thesis can really be considered an argument, this is something I would like to discuss)
Research:
Natural Religion by Frederick Turner
“Religious and Scientific Truth”
The Eye of Heaven by Owen Gingerich
“The Censorship of De Revolutionibus”
When Worlds Converge Edited by Clifford N. Matthews, Mary Evelyn Tucker, and Philip Hefner
“Cosmology and Religion” – George F.R. Ellis
“Science and Religion as World-Builders” – Philip Hefner
Most of the research I have is going to relate to my counterargument that science and religion cannot really be compared. As for the scientific viewpoint and religious viewpoints, I will be using quotes and ideas from Silver’s Challenging Nature.
Relation to class:
Technologic/scientific impact on human nature (specifically religion)
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5 comments:
This sounds perfectly workable to me. Consider digging around in Silver's sources for additional inspiration: this is a topic which many people have written about, and maybe the most challenging part of it will be to say something of your *own* while showing clearly that you understand and are engaged with the thought of others.
Dana, I think that you have a really good starting point for your paper. Your thesis leaves a lot of room to explore your ideas. I think your thesis definitely holds an argument. Perhaps it will sound more solid if it holds a prediction for the future. Will people continue to follow their beliefs, or will beliefs die out as science progresses? I tried to find your original paper on Heaven to pick out some parts of that which would be useful to put into this new argument but I couldn't find it. If over the weekend you want to send it to me or re-post it I would be happy to make some additional comments. I think your counterargument isn't really in direct opposition of your argument. It might just need to be reworded maybe, science couldn't disprove religion because they reside in different domains would make sense? That might even be what you were saying. Hope the paper works out!
Really solid idea for an essay so far. You left enough room in your thesis to write a 7-10 page paper but it is narrow enough to make it managable. You could possibly go personal on this essay and bring in some of your own ideas but thats up to you. Like kristine said, you counterarguement should be re worked to be in more contrast with the thesis. Something like- religion is starting to be abandon for a more scientifical approach on life and heaven. Then use resources and facts to back it up.
Dana,
I think that the idea for your final paper is very interesting; religion and science has been a very controversial topic for many years and will continue to be very controversial in the coming years. I think that it might help if you specified your thesis because this is such a broad topic. One thing that I think might be interesting to talk about in your paper is how kids are affected by science being taught to them in school as how the earth was created. You could research a little bit about how this differs in public and private (religious) schools or if there were any legal cases involving teachers trying to impose either the scientific or religious view of creation on students. You could also decide which of the viewpoints you believe in and give support for it. As for your current thesis, I think that the argument could be strengthened. You could decide why you believe that religious people continue to follow their beliefs despite science and argue for this. I also think that it could be interesting to talk about why you think that scientific people (such as Silver) have such strong desires to fight against religious beliefs.
Hey, sorry this is a little past our due date but I think you have a really good proposal set up. Its not too broad but broad enough to give you a lot of stuff to write about. I think this is a very good topic that you will be able to tackle. I especially like your outline points, that seems like it will work well.
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