Han Maimed , What's your plan for the weekend ?
neutral
user
I plan to travel around Harvard University and know more about it . To tell you the truth , I plan to apply for Harvard after graduation from high school . It ’ s better to get to know it . What about you ?
neutral
assistant
I get together with my Christian brothers on Saturdays .
neutral
user
Oh , my God ! John , I didn ’ t know you are religious . You just look like a scientific kook , like Leonard in the Big Bang Theory .
surprise
assistant
Come on , Han Maimed , don ’ t make a fuss . A lot of Americans , including many scientists , believe in religion .
neutral
user
But I ’ m really surprised . I thought science and religion are not compatible , are they ?
neutral
assistant
Yes , they are compatible . Actually , the U . S . is both the most developed and the most religious country in the world .
neutral
user
I've heard about it a little bit before , but I don ’ t understand . How can people believe in God since they know God doesn't exist ?
neutral
assistant
That ’ s a little complicated . You ’ ll get to know it when you are acquainted with the U . S . history later on . Religion was and is a part of American people ’ s life . Guess what ? Even Harvard University , which is a highly academic institution , is in a sense the product of religion .
neutral
user
Really ?
surprise
assistant
Absolutely ! It was founded by a group of Puritan immigrants from England .
neutral
user
Why was it founded by the Puritans ? Where were the atheistic educators ?
neutral
assistant
Because most of the first English immigrants who came to the United States were Puritans .
neutral
user
How come ? I mean why most of them were religious people ?
surprise
assistant
That ’ s because in the 16th and 17th century , there was a series of religious reforms in England . Many religious separatists were persecuted and fled to other countries .
neutral
user
So , you mean people didn't enjoy religious freedom in England ?
neutral
assistant
Yes , that's why Puritans moved to the New World , where they believed they could establish a heaven for Puritans . Later on , it was these Puritans who founded Harvard College .
neutral
user
Why did they want to found a college ?
neutral
assistant
Many Puritans had received classic style of higher education in Oxford University and Cambridge University back in England . They hoped that their descendants could receive this kind of education as well .
neutral
user
Oh , I see .
neutral
assistant
Actually Harvard was first named ' New College ' , without a formal name .
neutral
user
When did it begin to be called Harvard University ?
neutral
assistant
In 1639 , it was renamed after its major benefactor John Harvard . Interestingly , JohnHarvard himself was a clergyman .
neutral
user
It seems that Harvard was predestined to be influenced by religion .
neutral
assistant
Therefore , it ’ s not exaggerate to claim that had there not been religion , there would note Harvard .
neutral
user
Wow , I didn ’ t know that religion had played such an important role in Harvard history .
neutral
assistant
Religion has been playing an indispensible part in Harvard history as well as the U . S .
neutral
user
I finally begin to get to know Harvard . It seems that my knowledge of Harvard is rather poor . I have a lot work to do before applying for Harvard .
neutral
assistant
Remember that Harvard is a part of the United States . So you have to know the U . S . history and culture if you want to have in-depth knowledge of Harvard . The two are closely related .
neutral
user
That ’ s right . I have a lot to learn from you .
happiness
assistant