Science vs Story, Science as Story

Anthropologists consider religion to fulfill certain functions in human societies. These functions include (among others):

    • providing order and meaning by explaining the physical and social world

    • defining the proper role of individuals in society (based on their sex, class, age, race, etc.)

    • reinforce the social order by defining certain institutions, roles, or structures (such as marriage or monarchy) as divine or inherent

There are profound differences between faith-based understandings of human nature and human origins, and understandings that are based on empirical, scientific evidence. At the same time, both faith-based and science-based narratives of human nature and human origins fulfill many of the functions described above. Since these narratives are fundamental to our understanding of human nature, they are influenced by our cultural context.

Groups: You will be divided into groups of four. These will be your "Color Groups", and you will use these groups at various times through the semester. Please remember your color group!

Goals:

    • To recognize the basic differences between scientific processes and faith-based processes in understanding human nature/origins

    • To understand the similarities between scientific narratives and sacred or literary narratives of human origins

    • To recognize that science takes place in - and reflects - a particular cultural context, and this is especially true with such fraught topics as the nature of our species

Procedure

    1. Form groups of four as guided by the instructor. Introduce yourselves! Make sure everyone knows how to pronounce each person's name.

    2. Within your group, compare your place of birth. Divide into roles as follows:

        1. Member of group who was born farthest from Morris: recorder The recorder will take notes on the group's discussion. If anything needs to be turned in, the recorder will do so.

        2. Second-farthest member: time-keeper The time-keeper makes sure the group stays focused on the activity and completes the steps on time.

        3. Third-farthest member: presenter The presenter will speak for the group during the whole class discussion.

        4. Member of group who was born closest to Morris: leader The leader makes sure every voice is heard, and helps encourage the group to stay on-task

    3. The recorder should write each person's full name on a piece of paper.

    4. For the Genesis creation narrative, answer the following questions (take five minutes):

        1. What does this narrative say about fundamental human nature? (What traits are people born with? How are these different between men and women?)

        2. What is the proper role of men and women in society, according to this narrative?

        3. How does this narrative reinforce traditional ideas about family structure and gender?

        4. What evidence or data support this narrative? Why should people believe it?

    1. For the Lovejoy narrative, answer the following questions (take five minutes):

        1. What does this narrative say about fundamental human nature? (What traits are people born with? How are these different between men and women?)

        2. What is the proper role of men and women in society, according to this narrative?

        3. How does this narrative reinforce traditional ideas about family structure and gender?

        4. What evidence or data support this narrative? Why should people believe it?

    1. Spend five minutes discussing the following question: If both narratives fill some of the functions of religion (as mentioned above), why is the Lovejoy narrative an appropriate focus of study in this class, while the Genesis narrative is not? What is fundamentally different about them?

    2. We will have a full class discussion. Presenters should be prepared to talk about their group's discussion.

Take-home Messages

    • Any narrative of human nature/origins is influenced by the cultural context of the narrator, even if that narration is based on scientific data.

    • Narratives of human nature/origins fill an important function in society, therefore there are many social, political, and cultural pressures for these narratives to conform to our expectations or desires.

    • There is a fundamental difference between faith-based and data-based interpretations of human origins/nature, but that difference is a reflection of process, not of truth

Reflection

Take five minutes to reflect on this activity. Were you surprised, confused or annoyed by any aspect of the activity? If you read the chapter in the optional textbook for today, did this activity combined with the chapter change your perception of science in any way?