Oftentimes science and religion are set up to be at odds with each other. Scientists scorn religious people for being willfully ignorant; religious people accuse scientists of being immoral and pompous. In The Monstrumologist, Dr. Warthrop is the quintessential scientist through and through, and although it would be in his character to scoff at people who have religious tendencies, he actually shows a good deal of respect for them. He doesn't subscribe to any religion himself, but as long as it doesn't get in the way of scientific progress he will use religious tenets in order to get what he needs.
Questions About Religion
- Why do you think it was important to Will Henry's mother that he have a firm religious foundation? Consider his father's investment in science to help formulate your answer.
- Will Henry admits that he's not particularly religious, so why does he turn to prayer in the matriarch's den? Give evidence from the text to support your answer.
- How does Dr. Warthrop use religion as a tool of manipulation? Are there any ways in which it weakens his arguments?
Chew on This
Science is Dr. Warthrop's religion: When in doubt, he relies on science to give him the answers that he needs.
If he had been more religious, Alistair Warthrop (Dr. Warthrop's father) wouldn't have declined the way that he did in his twilight years.