Discovery and Revelation: Religion, Science, and Making Sense of Things
An illustrated history of how scientific study and religious thought have influenced each other throughout the history of the United States.

Discovery and Revelation explores the evolving relationship between religion, science, and technology in America through the centuries as humans strive to understand the world and their place in it. With at least 40 significant and rarely seen artifacts from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, the book highlights the way religious and scientific ideas have influenced each other and informed cultural change.

Religious tradition has often adapted in response to scientific discoveries, while scientists have been motivated to undertake research both because of faith and in opposition to it. Delving deep into this intersection, Discovery and Revelation examines how these two approaches to understanding the world have changed the landscape of American society. It explores scientific advancements through artifacts like:
  • Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod: sparked debate about the relationship between weather and God.
  • Charles Darwin's "Tree of Life" sketch: represented his theory of evolution, which some objected to as being atheistic while others thought it reflected the intent of a Creator.
  • John Thomas Scopes portrait: photograph taken ahead of his time on trial for teaching evolution against Tennessee law forbidding denial of the Biblical account of man's origin.
  • Apollo 8's live television script: the crew caused controversy for reading from the Bible for their Christmas Eve broadcast.

  • Discovery and Revelation is a testament to the fascinating and multifaceted nature of faith and knowledge and how they've shaped our nation.
    1139847112
    Discovery and Revelation: Religion, Science, and Making Sense of Things
    An illustrated history of how scientific study and religious thought have influenced each other throughout the history of the United States.

    Discovery and Revelation explores the evolving relationship between religion, science, and technology in America through the centuries as humans strive to understand the world and their place in it. With at least 40 significant and rarely seen artifacts from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, the book highlights the way religious and scientific ideas have influenced each other and informed cultural change.

    Religious tradition has often adapted in response to scientific discoveries, while scientists have been motivated to undertake research both because of faith and in opposition to it. Delving deep into this intersection, Discovery and Revelation examines how these two approaches to understanding the world have changed the landscape of American society. It explores scientific advancements through artifacts like:
  • Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod: sparked debate about the relationship between weather and God.
  • Charles Darwin's "Tree of Life" sketch: represented his theory of evolution, which some objected to as being atheistic while others thought it reflected the intent of a Creator.
  • John Thomas Scopes portrait: photograph taken ahead of his time on trial for teaching evolution against Tennessee law forbidding denial of the Biblical account of man's origin.
  • Apollo 8's live television script: the crew caused controversy for reading from the Bible for their Christmas Eve broadcast.

  • Discovery and Revelation is a testament to the fascinating and multifaceted nature of faith and knowledge and how they've shaped our nation.
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    Discovery and Revelation: Religion, Science, and Making Sense of Things

    Discovery and Revelation: Religion, Science, and Making Sense of Things

    Discovery and Revelation: Religion, Science, and Making Sense of Things

    Discovery and Revelation: Religion, Science, and Making Sense of Things

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    Overview

    An illustrated history of how scientific study and religious thought have influenced each other throughout the history of the United States.

    Discovery and Revelation explores the evolving relationship between religion, science, and technology in America through the centuries as humans strive to understand the world and their place in it. With at least 40 significant and rarely seen artifacts from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, the book highlights the way religious and scientific ideas have influenced each other and informed cultural change.

    Religious tradition has often adapted in response to scientific discoveries, while scientists have been motivated to undertake research both because of faith and in opposition to it. Delving deep into this intersection, Discovery and Revelation examines how these two approaches to understanding the world have changed the landscape of American society. It explores scientific advancements through artifacts like:
  • Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod: sparked debate about the relationship between weather and God.
  • Charles Darwin's "Tree of Life" sketch: represented his theory of evolution, which some objected to as being atheistic while others thought it reflected the intent of a Creator.
  • John Thomas Scopes portrait: photograph taken ahead of his time on trial for teaching evolution against Tennessee law forbidding denial of the Biblical account of man's origin.
  • Apollo 8's live television script: the crew caused controversy for reading from the Bible for their Christmas Eve broadcast.

  • Discovery and Revelation is a testament to the fascinating and multifaceted nature of faith and knowledge and how they've shaped our nation.

    Product Details

    ISBN-13: 9781588347015
    Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Press
    Publication date: 02/22/2022
    Pages: 160
    Product dimensions: 7.00(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.90(d)

    About the Author

    About The Author
    PETER MANSEAU is curator of religious history at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The author of numerous books, including Songs for the Butcher's Daughter and Objects of Devotion: Religion in Early America, he writes frequently on religion and history for publications including the New York Times, Atlantic, and Wall Street Journal. ANDREW ALI AGHAPOUR is Consulting Scholar of Religion and Science at the National Museum of American History. A journalist and essayist, he writes frequently about contemporary intersections of science and religion.

    Hometown:

    Charlottesville, Virginia

    Date of Birth:

    November 15, 1974

    Place of Birth:

    Washington, D.C.

    Education:

    B.A., University of Massachusetts, 1996

    Table of Contents

    Introduction 7

    Part 1 Revolutions 17

    The Mechanical Monk 19

    And Yet It Moves 23

    Something of Ye Small-Pox 29

    A Pharmacist's Herb Garden 33

    Electric Fire 37

    Thomas Paine's Clockwork Universe 41

    An Almanac of Strange Dreams 47

    Religious Freedom and the Air We Breathe 51

    Part 2 Evolutions 57

    The Bible Surgeon 59

    A Family Affair 65

    What Hath God Wrought 71

    Our Celestial Visitant 75

    The Anatomy of the Soul 79

    Darwin in America 85

    Quilting the Cosmos 91

    Conflict or Agreement? 95

    Part 3 Complexity 101

    Her Heavenly Radium 103

    Religion on the Radio 107

    Trial of the Century 111

    Playing Dice with the Universe 119

    Immortal Life? 123

    Earthrise 127

    Your Brain on God 131

    The Technology of Prayer 135

    Conclusion 141

    Notes 144

    Index 154

    Acknowledgments 158

    Illustration Credits 159

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