Phillip Scarboro

Science vs. Religion

Dr. Thompson

12/4/2013

When I found out what our final paper was going to be about, nothing

instantly popped into my head. How am I going to find a big similarity

between Acts of Faith and either Intelligent Design Uncensored or Critique

of Intelligent Design? Acts of Faith is a completely different type of book

than either of the other two. Acts of Faith is a book based mostly on

personal experiences that Eboo has been through while the other two are

informative books on completely different ends of the spectrum. Then I

started thinking hard about it and looking deeper into all three books

searching for a similarity. When it finally came to me, I realized there

actually is a common theme between Acts of Faith and Intelligent Design

Uncensored, you just have to think. Both books stay true to the theme

that you should learn to accept others views, even if you disagree with

them and that just because someone thinks differently than you, it doesnt

make them wrong.

Throughout Acts of Faith, Eboo is encouraging the reader to do whatever

they feel right when it comes to choosing a religion. He never tries to tell
you that Islam is the only right religion and he certainly does not try to

convince you to practice Islam. He does say how Islam has improved his

life immensely, but he also tells how he learned a lot from other religions

along the way. He tried many different religions and eventually found that

his original religion, Islam, is the right one for him but he just wants a

world where everyone can pursue whatever religion they want and live in

peace and unity. P. 115 Acts of Faith, The Interfaith Youth Core was about

bringing young people from different backgrounds together to engage in

social action and reflect on how their different traditions inspired that

work. This quote does a good job of showing what Eboos goal was when

not only starting the Interfaith Youth Core, but its also the message he

tried to spread throughout the entire book.

In Intelligent Design Uncensored, the theme was a little bit harder to see

but it was certainly there. Throughout the book, the author was telling the

reader that it is important to keep an open mind when it comes to the

issue of Intelligent Design. On pages 47-48, the author describes the way

in which biologists examine things in nature. He tells how on one end, you

must constantly keep in mind that what they see was not designed, but

rather evolved. He then tells how design theorists recommend remaining

open to the possibility that living things appear designed. He does not

credit or discredit either strategy. He simply describes them as equals.

The author wanted the reader to see how the scientific community treats

people who support intelligent design and it is clear he wants it to change.

That is where the similarities are. The author of Intelligent Design

Uncensored wants the same thing for scientists who support intelligent

design as Eboo wants for people pursuing their religion. Equality for all,

and the opportunity for all people to pursue whatever they choose, without

being judged or discriminated against.