Why do many religions ignore science in seeking truth?

Answer 1

Who says they do?

Let me add that you read at least the first chapter from the following book:

Science and Christianity: Conflict of Coherence?

by H.F.Schaefer III

Answer 2

Let's choose two people named Bob and Ann. Bob says that the ball is blue. Ann says that the ball is red. Both believe that they are correct. First, they try to convince each other that they are right by providing 'evidence' and 'proof' that support their belief and disprove the other person's belief. Bob completely believes that the ball is blue, and Ann completely believes that the ball is red. However, when no one succeeds in proving that what they think is right, they sort of.. ignore each other. This is sort of like the feud between religion and science, only a lot more complicated with many more variables.

Yes, some religions ignore science. Yes, sometimes science ignores religion. But it is also possible to compromise. Many religious people accept science, and say that science is just another product of God. Many scientists say the same thing, too. Some people have no opinion about these issues at all.

Put yourself in the situation. If you saw a ball that was green, and someone else was telling you that it was orange, what would you do? Your eyes clearly see that the ball is green. You might start thinking that you're crazy, or maybe that the other person is crazy. Who knows? Every person has their own mind, and every person can make their own opinion about things. Nobody can tell you what to believe, so believe whatever you like.

Answer 3

That is not always the case. In fact many great scientist were chritian monks like Francis Bacon or Joseph Mendel the father of genetics.
The antagonism between the church and science began later that we think: around the 15th century. Science was challanging some principles that the church held up for many centuries. By the way the most sevre contradictions are between scientific fact and church dogmas, not actual foundation of the religion.
I guess the main reason for the conflict is science is fliud and the scope of scientific knowlege is constantly changing, whereas religion is supposed to represent the ultimate truth, so when scientific discoveries contradict aspects of the religion it weakens peoples faith in it's validity, it threatens it.

Answer 4

First, religions don't ignore anything -- people do. That may sound like a purely semantic distinction, but it's not -- very few religions display such uniformity of thought amongst their followers that we can even come close to saying that "the followers of X ignore science."

And I wouldn't even say that some religious people ignore science so much as they downplay it. Even beyond considerations of "inerrant texts" and such, it doesn't take a genius to notice that what scientists insist is true in one century scientists in the next century reject soundly. Since your average American lacks solid science education to begin with, and since the areas of overlap and conflict with religion generally take place in more advanced scientific areas (such as evolution, cosmology, etc.), many people of faith, especially in America, decide that science is simply not a sufficient path to truth, and therefore in a battle between supernatural elements (whose existence or effects by their nature often can't be disproved) and science, God tends to win.

Answer 5

The position of "authority" on a subject is one of respectability and power. People turn too such men and the men can count on a number of perks. This is true of religious leaders and protectors of the current scientific status quo. In fact more resistance to new and innovative scientific notions comes from entrenched scientist today then from religious dogmatics.

This shows that scientists like religious leaders in the past are just as susceptible to fighting new truth to hold onto comfortable positions and notions. At times this infallibility has come to be political power and then the stakes are much higher, the new truth comes with a loss of political clout and the really stirs the powers against the notion.

In our society much of the scope of religious influence has fallen away, but we see the same behavior on the Left of the political spectrum as many of their pseudo science assumptions are called into question, anything based on psychology and sociology, much of it in the field of education where so much money and influence and comfort is at risk.

Answer 6

Science studies what can be proven. The truths religions seek often cannot be proven.

Answer 7

Most modern religions do not ignore science but science ignores religions. Science demands proof whereas religions require faith.

Answer 8

To me, religion starts with an answer, and tries to bend the question to make their view the only right answer. The best description I've heard was,

"Religion uses magic to make unanswerable questions into unquestionable answers".

Answer 9

Because science and religion are unrelated. Religious beliefs do not necessitate scientific reasoning. Scientific reasoning does not necessitate religious beliefs.

Answer 10

because the text in their fictional holy book calls anything that contradicts their particular religion blasphemy, which is a "sin" against their alleged "god"