Science and Religion

Re “Geologist Explores Faith-Science Dialogue,” Nov. 7.

Professor Linda Ritterbush has it precisely backward. Science can inspire awe and humility, while religion is characterized by arrogance and certainty.

What could be more egomaniacal than the idea that Man was created in the image of God? Who arrogantly rejected the truth about the solar system, Galileo or the church? The scientist, on the other hand, presents his theory or explanation with the proviso “I could be wrong.” In fact, a scientific claim must be falsifiable or it is not science. That seems like “humility” to me.

As for “awe,” I suggest that the professor turn her gaze from the microscope to the amazing pictures of the universe taken by the Hubble Space Telescope . Billions of galaxies exist up to 10 billion light-years away from this insignificant speck called Earth. Awesome, right?

BURTON W. ROCKLIFF, Ventura