Others point to an earlier split, like Giordano Bruno who was burned at the stake in 1600 for claiming other solar systems exist. But this is only in the West.
Elsewhere different patterns emerged, unique to each culture. For example, prior to the 16th century, the Islamic world led scientific research in astronomy, medicine, chemistry, geography, physics, optics, and mathematics. Unfortunately, due to a 13th-century Mongol invasion and the fall of Baghdad, this period of open scientific inquiry, known as the Golden Age of Islam (8th to 13th century CE), was replaced by conservative doctrine and censorship.
In the 21st century, the rift has worsened, partly due to dogmatic religious thinkers who dismiss well-researched scientific claims, as well as reductionistic thinkers, like Richard Dawkins, who use scientific materialism to dismiss faith-based beliefs. For some, however, there is the conviction that all of this will soon change. This won’t simply be a twist on Voltaire’s famous quip “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him,” but rather a hybrid approach linking god, consciousness, other life forms, machines, and evolution.
