The Hard Look

Spirituality and Science

Do spirituality and science have to be contrary to  each other? Regrettably, just defining either concept seems almost hopeless now and then. On the other hand, describing them is much easier, so let’s begin there.

Science isn’t system, but an approach to knowledge, a technique. Scientists will debate forever about the definition of science, but still agree it is the most valuable or productive technique of understanding the world. What are its necessary characteristics? They are objective observation, the deriving of principles and “laws”, and predictions grounded on these. (When it makes things, it is also technology.)

Science can be easily distinguished from religion by the truth that all of the knowledge it creates might be proven incorrect Religious “knowledge” is commonly sacred, and untouchable, while scientific knowledge is always being overthrown or fine-tuned by further application of science.

While religious belief is the foundation of religion, evidence is for science.

This explains why “creationist” science is not really science. A creationist “scientist” will not permit his religiously based beliefs to be disputed by new evidence. He will openly tell you that his “faith” is more significant to him than the evidence. He only uses the pretense of science to support his preconceptions. Many scientists, on the other hand, have reversed even their own theories, because the essence of science is to go where the evidence leads you.

Spirituality And Science merged

It seems that spirituality and science oppose one another, but this would only be true if all spirituality was grounded on faiths. Spirituality, though, can be seeking higher points of experience, asking the deepest questions, and seeking the true “self,” which in no way makes it opposed to science. As a matter of fact, since science is such a productive technique of finding new accuracies, it can be applied for spiritual exploration and discovery.

I a belief in God contrary to science? Not so long as it is established on experience instead of faith, and it is open to change. Spiritual systems of beliefs can be a handy method of organizing and using our knowledge and experience, like many additional scientific theories or paradigms. To be scientific, though, they must be open to change.

If prayer brings you serenity, why not pray? When the evidence indicates it to be a phenomenon requiring brain chemicals, why not accept that too? It is scientific spirituality, by the way, that has lead to the technology of brain wave entrainment. Now you will be able to buy CDs that give you the same spiritual experiences as religious meditators.

Being spiritual then, can mean forever looking for higher levels of experience, and looking for the solutions to the deepest questions. Science help in this quest. Since every answer raises even deeper questions, there is no extinguishment of spirituality by way of science. If spirituality is the pursuit, then science may be the most effective means of keeping on it.

Computer Science in College

In December 2009, the National Science Foundation (NSF) held the Computer Science Education Week, designated by the US House of Representatives “..in recognition of the transformative role of computing and necessity of rigorous computer science education at all levels.”The said event emphasized on the need to include more computer science courses for secondary level students, citing the foreseen demand for information technologists in the next several years; and that, while several of the employment opportunities will not require full degrees, “..all of them require a solid background in computer science.” (NSF, 2009).
 
Advancement in the computing science field will most definitely be heightened by seeking higher and continuing education. In fact, the popularity of computer science, along with other related programs, saw an increase in the last year throughout several colleges (Markoff, 2009); making it one of the most sought-after college majors in the US.

Generally defined, this field of study involves the examination of computing theories and their applications. Computer science majors delve into how computers operate, various programming languages, algorithms, operating systems, understanding the internet, website development, information systems, and many others.
 
Basic requirements for a computer science degree include at least 120 credit hours worth of various courses which include applied mathematics, natural and physical sciences, humanities, social science, and technical writing. Computer science students are prepared to be experts in the application of mathematical and computing principles in developing and implementing computer-based systems and software as well as conduct effective research on computing and other affiliated disciplines. The Association for Computing Machinery indicates several career options for computer science graduates, a few of which are:
 
* Software design and implementation
* Computer technology application
* Management of IT infrastructures for organizations
 
Other career options include network administration, website and web graphics design and development, and computing research. The average salaries for computer science and computer engineering graduates, ranked among the top-earning degrees in the country, are both pegged at USD 61,000 (Pepitone, 2009). Combining a computer science degree with other fields of study such as biology, engineering, psychology, forensics, journalism, advertising, business administration, and several other courses should make way for even more lucrative careers.
 
Attending any college will surely require huge costs and going for a Computer Science degree is no exception. There are, however, financial aid options available. The amount of scholarships and grants vary with each college and are awarded to qualified students. Application for federal student aid begins with accomplishing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form which is available online. A number of top corporations also offer undergraduate scholarships as well as future employment opportunities in their respective fields. For those seeking acceptance into graduate schools, rendering hours as research or teaching assistants may help supplement tuition costs. In recognizing the statistical decline of women in the field of computer science, the committee on the Status of Women in Computing Research (CRA-W) also lists fellowships for women who wish to further their computer science education .

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