Comparing Science And Religion In Arthur C. Clark's The Star

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Do you believe in the theory of evolution or in the theory of God as the creator of humanity? Science and religion have always been in contrast with each other. They are conflicting because of their opposing epistemology, which is a branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge. Each branch has a different assumption of how things, that sometimes do not have an explanation, happen. There have been some cases in which scientists or religious people have not proven their theory, but they put all their faith in their different ideas. In the short story “The Star” written by Arthur C. Clark, we can see a conflict between science and religion, by presenting the central character as an astrophysicist and a Jesuit priest. This makes him be constantly opposing one another. …show more content…

The narrator is a religious man whose faith is shaken by something he learns while doing space exploration. He believes that science only assists to lead us to the existence of God. His work is inspired in the star Jesus was born, but he then learns that the supernova that extinguished a civilization was the star of Bethlehem. The star of Bethlehem had destroyed a civilization in order for that star to be visible on Earth. This makes the narrator put his faith in doubt and questioning many things about his religious beliefs, “But to be destroyed so completely in the full flower of its achievement, leaving no survivors—how could that be reconciled with the mercy of God” (390)? He does not understand why a race of beings had to suffer and die to make to make the star appear on Earth, so that a new religion or believe would come to humans. He starts questioning the power and benevolence of

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