  Below, you will find a famous essay about religion by the theologian Paul Tillich written in 1959, "A Lost Dimension in Religion." You can download and keep the PDF. Or, you may read similar (but longer) writing here: Paul Tillich. There is a second essay about science that is considered a classic: "What Makes Basic Research Basic?" by Hans Selye. It is unavailable directly online (amazingly). It was written in January 1959 for the Saturday Evening Post (1/24/1959), Vol. 231, Issue 30, p. 30. The Post abstract says that it, "Discusses the motives and values associated with basic research. The basic research of today produces both the lifesaving drugs and the destructive weapons of tomorrow. Its outcome will affect everybody, and in a democracy wose people decide how wealth shall be distributed everybody shares the responsibility of developing the nation's scientific potential. Bridging the gap between the scientist and the general public will not be easy. Some insist that basic research must proceed in the same spirit as 'art for art's sake,' and should not be appraised by its practical applicability. Yet, in defending this view they usually argue that even the most abstruse research may eventually yield practical results. According to the author in this article, the need is not so much to define basic research as to distinguish between greater and lesser basic-research projects." Read the excerpts and then write five more questions about what Tillich and Selye think about religion and science. "Question Again for Module 1, Critical Thoughts-Tillich/Selye." Send your notes by email to yourself (you will need them later in the course):
Then, go to the next learning activity, Clarify.
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