Final answer:
The Scientific Revolution diminished the power of the church in Europe and saw the rise of science as a secular field, which is a key factor in the emergence of the Enlightenment and the modernization of societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Scientific Revolution led to a significant shift in the way people viewed the universe and the role of religion and the church. Notably, the Scientific Revolution contributed to the assertion that the universe was orderly and rational, which challenged traditional Christian views and church doctrines regarding the cosmos and human intelligence. With figures such as Copernicus and Galileo promoting reason and empirical evidence over religious tradition, the influence of the church in Europe weakened, and science began to emerge as a predominantly secular field. Consequently, the correct answer is that the power of the church in Europe weakened, and science began to become a secular field.
This period of intellectual ferment was part of what led to the Enlightenment, a movement that applied rational thought to institutions, including religion, spurring the questioning of long-standing societal structures. Key events like the Reformation saw the church's authority challenged, leading to more freedom for individuals in belief and in power dynamics. The growth of scientific knowledge and the adoption by governments and educational institutions of a more rational, empirical approach to understanding the natural world marked this era as pivotal to modernization.
Therefore, the impact of the Scientific Revolution on religion was multifaceted, involving both theological disputes and shifts in institutional authority. The church's role in the dissemination and control of knowledge was significantly diminished, making room for scientific inquiry and critical examination of existing social and religious systems.