Part 17/23:
One of the most touching parts concerns the relationship between science and religion. Greene reflects on his respectful encounters with religious scientists and the value of religious sentiment in human life. He emphasizes that religion’s role is often communal and emotional, providing comfort, moral scaffolding, and a sense of purpose—not necessarily factual knowledge about the cosmos.
He cites William James’s The Varieties of Religious Experience as a nuanced perspective that describes religion as a human response to awe and existential insecurity. Greene advocates that science and religion need not be enemies; rather, they serve different functions—science explores facts, religion offers meaning.