Chapter 15 Scientific Revolution - Blog #5

The Scientific Revolution, created by Copernicus, Galilieo, Descartes, and lastly Newton, became a great indicator of global modernity. Being able to draw the line with the Modern Era allows readers to make sense of the past to understand the timeline of eras. It makes sense that religion made an impact on the Scientific Revolution because it was their religious beliefs that were put into question that sparked a revolution. One thing I enjoyed about this passage was to be able to clearly see the progress being made throughout the years as science evolved. Nicolaus Copernicus discovered that the middle of our solar system is the sun and every planet rotates on its axis. Twenty-eight years later, Johannes Kepler discovered that the orbit of planets follow an elliptical pattern rather than a circular one. During this time, Galileo Galilei “developed the telescope; the sun spots, mountains, on the moon, and Jupiter’s moons…” Lastly, Isaac Newton left his mark by discovering “the concept of universal gravitation; invented calculus; formulated concept of inertia, and laws of motion.” One concept that I agree with is the concept of progress in human beings. Progress, according to Strayer, is attained by think, conflict, and struggle, rather than reason and education. Reason and education seems to be directed more towards religious progress, and if I were to choose one, progress, scientifically, makes more sense and is more rational. 

Chapter 15 Religion and Science - Blog #5

New religions are still being created today because of the unique mindsets humans possess whether they are praising Jesus, Satan, or some other spiritual being. Religions are often created because of a certain cause that the community of people all seeks. Strayer gives a perfect example of denominations from religions being created during movements. As the protestant movement spread to France, Switzerland, England and elsewhere protestant denominations resulted in Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican, Quaker and Anabaptists Some denominations have a focuses that they would want their people to follow.  The example in the book by Strayer mentions the New England Puritans, which is a Protestan version of Christianity that “[emphasizes] on education, moral purity, personal conversion, civic responsibility, and little tolerance for competing expressions of the faith.” In this section  of Christianity Outward Bound, the people of the New England Puritans did not show any interest in converting the native people. At first I questioned why, but then I thought about it and made some sense of it. The native people with their traditional beliefs would get in the way of the Puritan’s focuses. The Puritan’s “[pushed] them out of their ancestral territories” and by doing so, they removed the potential threats that would get in the way of their focuses. I personally do not think that is right to do considering their ancestors were there before them. If anything the New England Puritan’s should have relocated somewhere else that would not obstruct other people. By removing those people, they are risking the loss of traditional beliefs that they possessed by replacing it with new ones.