By: Megan Baisden, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Major
When I was younger, I would have laughed at you if you tried to tell me that science and spirituality weren’t mutually exclusive. I was under the impression that spirituality and religion had the same definition and would have argued exactly so.
My New Year’s resolution was to take a deeper look into my opinions. To me, spirituality is something that is free from structure and is what we can use to dig deeper and extend ourselves, it’s multidimensional. It really involves personal, subjective experiences. I’ve concluded that science can be a source of spirituality.
Out amongst the stars, there are things we can’t even imagine or understand yet. The simple fact that matter cannot be created or destroyed and that we are the result of ancient stars dying is mind-blowing. I try to recognize my place in this and see the beauty of the passage of time between then and now.
Without everything that has happened to bring us to current times, we wouldn’t have music, art or literature. Without evolution, none of these things could have ever happened. When you take a second to appreciate all the small changes in DNA or the extreme weather events that have brought us to this exact moment in time, it will amaze you.
One of the most astonishing things is that with all the protests currently occurring all over the world, so many acts of courage are a result of billions of years of change. We can create thoughts and opinions and then go out and do something with them.
Saying that science and spirituality are separate really does a disservice to both. They’re both more complete with the presence of the other.
I think the world would be a much better place if we were all capable of stopping for a moment to examine the significance of our existence. It brings even the most different of people together and could make the problems of the world seem so much less important. We are more together than we think.
About the author:
I am a 23 year old recent college grad who is currently exploring different life paths and grad school options. I’m also going on adventures all summer and taking time to look at the stars and read some good books.
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This blog post was an assignment for Societal Issues: Pesticides, Alternatives and the Environment (PLNTPTH 4597). The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the class, Department of Plant Pathology or the instructor.