1st place — 2024 high school essay contest: Finn Mosher
FFRF awarded Finn $3,500.
By Finn Mosher
From the beginning of our history, humanity’s greatest asset has been curiosity. It turned a species of forest-dwelling apes into a world-spanning civilization, took us from the depths of the ocean to the reaches of space. But, for almost as long as we’ve had curiosity, it’s been restrained by another invention of humanity: religion. Whenever we’ve run into a phenomenon exceeding our capacity for comprehension, we’ve explained it with religion and spirituality. This is what makes religion a burden to a modern, progressive society like the United States, and why youth leaving organized religion en masse marks an upturn in humanity’s fortunes.
My history with religion serves as a perfect microcosm of why religious decline is important. Although raised agnostic, I converted to Christianity from ages 13–15, reverting to agnosticism before turning 16. During my most devout phase, I hoped to seek a career in corporate law. Since reverting, my ambition has shifted, and I’m now working to become an engineer in the field of astronautics, helping humanity understand the stars above.
These two phases of my life serve as a microcosm of the distinctive mindsets of religious people and “Nones.” When I was religious, I pursued study of a preordained system, a life entirely within the known, learning the intricacies of an inscrutable box crafted by a higher authority. This mindset originated from my religion, which told me there was no reason to attempt further understanding of the world. All necessary answers were found in the bible; anything not contained within was not ours to know. Now, two years apart from religion, I want to help humanity understand the universe, expand our limitless potential into the stars. Now, I believe that nothing in this universe falls outside of the human capacity for comprehension, as long as we keep our curiosity and drive for scientific progress fierce.
This newfound curiosity and respect for science is not unique to me. According to Pew Research, “Nones” are 275 percent as likely as the religiously affiliated to believe in a scientific explanation for everything, even one beyond current understanding, and 140 percent as likely to say science does more good than harm in American society. These numbers increase even further among atheists, agnostics and the highly educated, with seven-tenths of college graduates and four-fifths of atheists believing science does more good than harm.
The implications of this data are tremendous. With increasing “None-ism” among younger generations, the data predict a tremendous spike in both pursuit of and trust in the sciences. As Generation Z and beyond abandon religion, we will continue turning to science to understand the world around us. Our enduring human curiosity, the drive that’s taken us this far, is finally freeing itself from the haze of religions that told us we already knew everything we needed. As we stare down generational crises — antibiotic-resistant bacteria, new forms of warfare, climate change — this boost in curiosity and pursuit of science will prove crucial in keeping humanity thriving for generations to come.
Finn, 18, is from Walla Walla, Wash., and attends Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with plans to major in aerospace engineering. “I received the President’s Volunteer Service Award as a result of my time spent as the vice president of Washington State Future Business Leaders of America Industry Relations,” Finn writes. “I also spent some time in high school involved in environmental activism through my school’s Green Club, at which I served as treasurer.”
