b'Everyone seems to know for a factthat religion and science have always hada hard time getting along.This common notion, that science and religion have experienced a long history of conflict or warfare, is called the conflict thesis by historians of science and religion. This article is divided in several parts. TheScience and Religion at War: first examines the historical roots and social context of the origin of the conflict thesis.the birth of a modern myth Later parts will then evaluate three historicalIn Dan Browns best-selling novel Angels and cases that are often cited in support of theDemons (also a 2009 movie), the hero of the conflict thesis: (1) that Christopher Columbusstory, Harvard professor Robert Langdon, was persecuted by the Roman Catholic Churchasserts that early scientists were branded alive, for holding that the Earth is a globe and noton the chest, with the symbol of a cross, and flat; (2) that the Church hounded, tortured,outspoken scientists like Copernicus were and imprisoned Galileo Galilei (and Nicolausmurdered by the church for revealing scientific Copernicus before him)truths. He also declares, Since for suggesting that theWhere doesthe beginning of history, a deep sun is the center of therift has existed between science solar system; and (3)the myth ofand religion, and religion has that John T. Scopesthe2defendant in the famousthe ages-longalways persecuted science.1925 Scopes MonkeyWhile Hollywood films are not Trialwas a martyr forwarfare betweentypically viewed as authoritative sources for historical truth, science who heroicallyreligion andhigh school and college taught evolution and paid the price by being thrownscience derive? textbooks generally are. behind bars. InvestigationAnd here one often finds the of these three casessame themethat the Christian will demonstrate that the languagechurch has resisted science and persecuted of warfare falls far short of historicalscientists from the beginning. Many textbooks reality. A more accurate understandinginclude references to popes who banned the of these events reveals a complexity ofnumber zero or excommunicated Halleys interactions characterized by both creativeComet, bishops who opposed vaccination tension and constructive dialogue. 130 AspireVolume 1//Fall 2019'