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RELIGIOUS STUDIES 13
Seeing a
Legend in the
Flesh... and
Alan Lightman
Vidhi Garg, U6E
After a tense build-up of several
months, it was finally the day.
On 20 September ten Bancroft’s
pupils were lucky enough to be able
to attend a ‘How to: Academy talk’
between Alan Lightman, a renowned
theoretical physicist and author,
and the world-famous evolutionary
biologist and outspoken atheist,
Richard Dawkins, most famous for
his book
The God Delusion
.
As someone
who has read
his book, I
was aware
of Dawkins’
strong
opinions on
certain aspects
of religion
and so was
incredibly
curious to see
how he would
approach
the topic of
discussing
a numinous
experience
with someone
who also shares his love for science. Despite
Professor Dawkins suffering a stroke recently,
he spoke eloquently in order to defend his
view that, in spite of the world indeed being
wonderful, there is no possibility or need for a
higher being in our society. He is famous for his
distaste of monotheistic religions in particular,
however, he also naturally recoils from the belief
of a supernatural being. Comparing Lightman’s
‘childish’ belief in a God due to his experience
of looking into a starry night sky on a boat to
believing in Santa Claus, he tackles his issues
through ridiculing his opponents in debates.
Dawkins is humorous when making his points
which makes him admirable in an almost ironic
way: although you feel it necessary to disagree
due to how condescending he can be, you are
still inclined to appreciate his wit. Being so close
to the man who coined the word “meme” in
his book
The Selfish Gene
, I felt nothing but
appreciation. As something that has become
somewhat of an internet phenomenon, it is hard
to believe that “the meme” was created in order
to scientifically educate, rather than entertain the
masses (including me) online. It was an honour to
see Richard Dawkins and Alan Lightman in person.
I discovered Dawkins to be as amusing live as he is
in his books and I will forever cherish this memory
that Bancroft’s has allowed me to have.
Removes’ Philosophy,
Politics and Economics Day
Saffiya Husen, L4W
Philosophy, Politics
and Economics day
was a fascinating
day for all the
Removes and
particularly relevant
at this moment in
our academic lives.
The day was divided
into the three
separate topics and
we learned about
what they are and
how they apply to
real life.
There were many
engaging and thought
provoking activities.
I particularly enjoyed
the group activity in
which we were told to
‘create’ our own island
and devise a set of laws
under which it would
operate in order to
achieve a harmonious
and guided community. My peers contributed
numerous ideas and processes which could benefit us on our island. Assuming
such responsibility was a taster for all of us as to what our lives will involve when
we begin working. We also considered a variety of careers in detail and had a
wider discussion about possible career paths. This helped me understand each
occupation more clearly and lead me to contemplate what I, personally, would
like to do in the future. PPE day benefitted us all because it introduced to us the
range of factors we must recognise when deciding which career to enter into. I
found this educational experience highly interactive and enjoyable. Overall, it was
a worthwhile experience that my year thoroughly appreciated.
Science v Religion Debate
Aria Bapna, U4N and Fawzan Siddiqui, U4S
Last term some pupils from
the L4th came together for
an exciting cross-curricular
debate. During the preparation
stages it was difficult to
decipher which team would
prove more convincing. The
two opposing teams, under
structured guidance from Ms
Mead, argued as to whether
scientific explanations for the
universe and life within, have
successfully provided proof
that there is no need for the
idea of God, in order to
explain creation.
Team Science argued using extended
theories of the Big Bang and theories
of evolution whilst Team God drove the
idea that whilst science provides a great
deal of ‘how’ humans came to exist, the
aspect of ‘why’ remains unfathomed.
“A timeless, supreme being, such as
an omnipotent, omnibenevolent and
omniscient God is justified to explain our
existence in terms of why we are here.
Logically, everything must have a cause,
even the Big Bang. Since Science has
not successfully proved, with evidence,
that there is no need for God to explain
why we exist, as there is at least some
room for such a supreme being in our
lives.” Students worked hard to prepare
and pre-empty the opposition; all ideas
were articulated with panache for an
entertaining debate for both science and
RS teachers alike.