Before major scientific breakthroughs occurred, religion sought to explain the world and how it works. Then people began studying and seeking answers outside of biblical reasoning, and the two entities became conflicting. However, Pope’s arguments that divine order can coexist with evil and chaos create a logical explanation for religion and science to exist together. His rhyming “An Essay on Man” blends religion, science, and good old fashioned poetry to defend his position.
For starters, Pope asserts that God knows the way systems work and can see the entirety of the universe as compared with the relatively miniscule field of vision for mankind (90-91). Although British society had advanced to such an extent that science and education became the norm, Pope also noted that cultures must begin in a primitive setting. He points out that the Native Americans saw God in nature, but he further asserts that such beliefs lead to happier outlooks -- rather than seeking slaves and gold (92-93). If discovery and education lead to corruption, are the supposed intellectual superiors truly moral and just?
At the end of the day, human beings need religion and science to live a more balanced life. Religion provides the moral compass to direct mankind through all situations, while science explains how and why things work. Alexander Pope’s “An Essay on Man” brilliantly argues that science and religion can coexist, even when people question how evil can exist under God’s watchful eye. After all, evil exists in balance with good, just as light coexists with darkness.
Work Cited
Pope, Alexander. "An Essay on Man." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puchner. Shorter Third edition. Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013. 90-97. Print.
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