The scientific research shows that most of the population actively seeks learning and knowledge. However, we don’t all look towards or trust the same sources, when it comes to who has the final word on “truth.” Some of us are more inclined to trust religious sources, while others are more likely to trust scientific sources.
How Knowledge Seeking And Knowledge Chaperoning Impact Individuals And Societies
What exactly is ‘Knowledge Seeking‘?
The majority of the population (87% according to a recent scientific study) actively seek out learning in order to improve themselves. This means that nearly 9 out of 10 people who you interact with each day are life long learners. These are people who more often than not, are unsatisfied with not knowing. When they encounter new things, these individuals seek to learn, comprehend, and understand them. Leading them to build increasingly larger schemas of information in their minds, that they can draw on to understand and explain the Universe.
Research on learning tells us that people actively construct a constantly evolving worldview. Which is based on past experience bent by present circumstances. Think of it like a constantly filling bathtub, where the person is adding different types of soaps, bath salts, and bubbles. Every time they add something new, the chemistry of the water changes just a little bit. Every time you learn something new, the make up of your world view skews slightly in one direction or another.
We Don’t All Seek Knowledge From The Same Sources
In ancient times, there was really only one source to look to for knowledge about the Universe. Whether that was the leader of a tribe, or the priests of a civilization, everyone generally agreed and accepted the views that these purveyors of “truth” taught.
This is no longer the case. Over the past 300 years or so, the once unified “experts” on truth split into two main groups. Which today make up the institutions of Religion and Science. In our modern world both of these claim to be the ultimate authority on how the Universe functions and on what its purpose is. Both religion and science actively promote their views, and both aggressively lobby their cause to the public.
It is therefor not the least bit surprising that religion and science have come to represent a source of division within our societies.
Both Religion And Science Claim The Ultimate Authority
The active efforts of both of these institutions to promote their views and to claim that they alone represent the ultimate source of truth creates turmoil both within society and also within individuals. Especially when the two actively take opposing sides on the societal issues of the day. Such as has been the case with things like abortion rights, gay marriage, stem cell research and so forth. When the priest you trust and the scientist whose study you believe are both pushing you in opposing directions, it can be difficult to make sense of where the “truth” actually lies.
Thus, it is hardly surprising that society has become divided across a continuum of those who trust religion vs those who trust science.
The Two Are Not Mutually Exclusive
It would be inaccurate to state that those who trust religion can’t also trust science or that those who trust science don’t also often have great faith. Clearly there are many in our present day communities who put a great deal of stock in both science and religion. Then there is the opposite case. Which are those who put very little faith in either institution. Thus, it is important to recognize the complex nature of this dynamic. We must realize that society is filled with individuals from across this spectrum. Those who trust only their spiritual leaders, those who trust only science, and those who trust or distrust both to varying degrees.
Religion Vs Science Creates Misunderstandings
The tug of war between these two institutions creates inherent misunderstandings, and provides excuses for people to look down on or belittle one another. We might, for example, be tempted to say to ourselves that another person is less intelligent than we are, because they seek truth from their spiritual leader. Alternatively, we might be tempted to tell ourselves that another person’s point of view is invalid, because they sought their learning from science, and therefore it is cold, and lacking in eternal truth. We can choose to use these differences in order to divide ourselves from others, and to promote the agenda of our own side (tribe), while demoralizing those individuals who make up that side. Thus allowing us to place ourselves above those around us. At least in our own view.
Our Understanding Can Help Us Communicate And Get Along
Alternatively, we can use the realization that we look to different sources for our learning, to create increased understanding and better communication between ourselves and others. If someone seeks knowledge from scientific sources, then understanding this can help us to present arguments to them in a more scientific way. If another person we are attempting to communicate with tends to trust spiritual leaders more than science, then this knowledge can help us to present our arguments using religious sources that will be meaningful to them.
The point is not to patronize another person, but to instead validate them. Nothing shows greater respect than taking the time to create a thoughtful argument and then presenting it in terms that make sense to the other individual.
Thus, rather than promoting ourselves in our own mind as better than the other person, we instead work with them, to mutually build our communities. Celebrating the wisdom that they bring to the table, and striving to validate that wisdom by showing respectful acceptance.
The Research Shows That A Balanced Approach Leads To Greater Success In Life
It is worth noting that the research is very clear. Those who look to both religious and scientific sources for truth are more successful in life. A high degree of both religious knowledge and scientific IQ has a positive correlation with increased income, better relationships with others, and increased happiness.
It is beyond the scope of the Unitist mission to tell you that you should seek to become more religious or more scientific. That is a highly personal part of who you are. We will however say that the data shows a strong correlation between being both highly religious and scientific and being successful in life.
