Putting God in a Box? We Would Advise Against That.

I found something new today: Contrary to popular opinion, religious schooling can cohabitate with science classes.

I have to say, I wasn't really expecting scientific teaching to be able to flourish with religious beliefs, but a professor of mine showed me wrong. As I was originally planning on attending a four-year to major in biology, I stocked my semester with science foundations (FDSCI101, BIO199, and other things of that nature). I hadn't really thought of worrying over doctrines and scriptures until the first day of class. As my last name is usually at the beginning of attendance lists, I wasn't too shocked when they called my name. However, what they said next threw me.

"Would you pray for us?"

Um... excuse me?

Yep, in LDS culture, it's custom to pray before each and every class, give thanks to the Lord, and bless that the Holy Ghost will be with us as we learn. (It would have been nice if someone told me this earlier.)

Well, I have to say, my science class quickly learned I was a non-member. Thankfully, the questions were saved for a later date, just as the explanation of that afternoon will also wait.

Back to the science...

We began to study the beginnings of the Earth, and trust me, I was bracing myself for a good ol' bashing of Darwin and the Big Bang. (Yes, ignorant, but somewhat expected from me.) However, it never really came. My professor (whom I call 'Brother So-and-So), a geologist, was rather kind and unbiased to any one side. He'd discuss the creation of elements (the whole hydrogen-helium thing) and then quickly toss in a scripture passage or something related to what we'd just learned. (Kind of like subliminal messaging? I thought so at first, but I have to say, it's grown on me.) It's a bit difficult to put into clear words, but somehow the mixture of religion and science found themselves in harmony.

We'd talk about God's creations, and then quickly jump to Darwin and evolution. There would be an explanation into the distance between the sun and the earth, and then, our professor's favorite motto, "You can't put God in a box."

Interesting? Yes. Completely unrealistic? I don't think so.

I have found that not all professors are as entrapped by the religion as others (and I say entrapped, not in a bad way, but rather, they are opened-minded).

Now into my second semester, I've come across teachers who refuse to look at anything other than scriptures, and I've found others who are willing to see beyond doctrine and humor other ideals. I had a professor last semester who, when teaching art and music, refused to show Greek paintings and statues due to nudity.

That was just weird, at least to me. However, I can't look at every professor under the same scrutinizing magnifying glass.

They're people, just like everyone else.