Why does science and religion have to be poles apart...?

Question

If you read the Quran (Islamic holy book,compiled in 600 AD and never altered), there is a detailed description of "The Water Cycle", "The growth of a baby from Sac to Full form", "Description that the earth and moon and planets spin on their own axis" (not known until 1800's, "Detailed description of how milk is formed", "Clearly stated all life is aquatic" etc etc..
And not just the Quran, such stories are in the Holy Bible also.

Please if you have a point reply, insults are not required here, intellect and debate are

Answer 1

They don't but allow me to explain.....

You see the reason they can and do coexist is this:
Religion explains why
Science explains how.

Religion attempts to give a reason for why things are they way they are. Why humans are on the Earth and what they are expected to do here. Science explains how things work. The reason things fall to the ground and the reason birds can fly.

Disagreements between the two are a result of one of two things:
1) One trying to do the others job (religion trying to explain how things work or science explaining why things are.)
2) One of the two contradicting the beliefs or traditions of the other.

We can see examples of this all throughout human history not only in modern times. Aristotle for instance was condemned to death by the religious authorities in ancient Greece. The well-known cases of Newton's and Galileo's confrontations with authority are also good examples.

In the conflicts we see today such as the debate over Darwinism can be explained by the first reason for scientific and religious conflict. In Abrahamic religions it's taught that God created all animals as well as humans in a day. This is a conflict because the church is attempting to explain how not why. Now that we have scientific evidence to suggest that this view is in fact wrong we see conflict.

Reason two can be said of the debate over stem cell research. Science in this case is conflicting with religion's tradition of scared life. Even though stem cells may be valuable to medicine, the loss of potential life is enough to draw opposition from religious forces.

In summary this reply was not intended to be a broad overview of the entire issue at hand, but much rather a simple explanation of the conditions that exist. It's important to explain that while at times science and religion are not poles apart, they fundamentally differ in their goals. While there are several occasions of them coexisting (as they should), this is by no means necessary of forbidden. A complete view of the world we live in would require an understanding of both science and religion.

Answer 2

Science is based on the foundation that knowledge can be attained by verifiable means. It has existed in some form since the beginning of mankind. This also includes Astronomy. People for a long time understood cycles by observation and noting changes and consistencies. However, we understand now through modern science that sometimes what we observe isn't always what really exists (ex. The Earth is not the center of the solar system).

Religion throughout history often times has borrowed verifiable knowledge when it can be used to push an agenda and influence societies. Intelligent Design is an attempt at borrowing particular aspects of science to fit into a model that pushes the agenda for religion.

Anytime religion and science are mixed you have to ask why and usually there are agendas being pushed behind the scenes to get them to mold together. Intelligent Design in schools is the best example of that. If a scientist is driven by religion then his tests and results will be unconsciously manipulated. That's why its so important they stay separate. Remember: Its not about right or wrong - its about what exists.

Answer 3

Science grew out of religion, religion was invented to try to explain nature. Rain? God did it. An earthquake? God was angry. Did you know Charles Darwin undertook his voyage on the Beagle to prove the Biblie correct? In fact he never stopped considering himself a devout Christian, all his Origin Of The Species ever did was show how, once a species had been created, it evolved into other forms. He never stopped believing in God.

And it is true that while Europe was locked in the Dark Ages, Science flourished under Islam. However around the year 1100 the powers that be in Islam decided that Science had gone far enough and they said it could go no farther.

I think religion would be WAY ahead to accept Science's new discoveries as they come along. Didn't the Catholic Church look silly finally having to accept the Sun at the center of the Solar System, after denying it for 500 years!? But at least they finally accepted it. Look at it this way--the new things science discovers only proves more glory of God! The Universe at 18 billion light years across is far more glorious than that understood by either the Koran or the Bible.

Answer 4

One culture's Holy Book may state that objects fall to the ground when released; such a statement would not 'prove' the divine inspiration of the book, only that the book contains at least some non-false statements.

Religion and Science do not have to be poles apart, however it has always been Religion which tries to argue or distort the findings of Science.

Science is not out 'to disprove religion', Science is only trying to discover how the world and the universe work by direct observation and logic, without making reference to anyone's 'sacred scriptures' be they Jew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Zen, Tao,...

Answer 5

They're not. They both have the same goal.

The reason that religion has found itself at odds with science boils down to politics usually. The idea that the Earth revolved around the sun, for example, challenged the beliefs that the Catholic church was trying to instill in people. And you have to take into account that religious authorities often don't want their followers to know the truth.

Also, religion is based on faith, whereas science is based on facts. Science has no room or tolerance for faith. To the scientist, everything must be proven by experimentation. With religion, you just have to believe.

Finally, religion is based on moral principles, whereas science doesn't always abide by morals. Sometimes, scientific experiments involve doing things explicitly forbidden by religion.

Answer 6

My boyfriend and I debate this daily. He is a scientist but has a great sense of spirituality. He always brings up the point that newton thought had an intelligent design in mind when he thought of gravity and such, so some of science is based on ideas of religion

Answer 7

Science and Religion don't have to be poles apart.

Science, in it's purest form, desires to answer the "whys" in life. In many cases, this has led to validation of information found in the Bible, lending credibility to it and its teachings.

HOWEVER, too many scientists have taken an activist approach to this "inquiry." Instead of following the scientific method through its steps to come up with a scientific principle and, eventually, a scientific law; they start with the principle/law and try to authenticate it. That is why, despite the many evidences against it, they still support evolution as the ONLY viable explanation for our origin.

Answer 8

I've seen these so-called "descriptions" before. Most of them have barely ANYTHING at all to do with what the person is trying to make them explain. Like the water cycle one probably says something like "And the rain falls down upon the land, and men drink from the rivers" Seriously? Because someone saw it raining they understand the water cycle? Right... Come on, let's see one of these "descriptions" so everyone can see what I mean.

Answer 9

Science often contradicts what is written in these books. To accept science would be to invalidate "the word of god". The more that happens, the less people are likely to believe in religion. However, it is only religions that have these kinds of books that are most offended by science. Religions that deal with the spirit tend not to get offended.

Answer 10

Because modern scientists have their own religion: materialism.

They keep bashing on traditional religions, failing to point out that most scientists in history were religious, and there is much good science recorded in books like the Bible.

Why? Because THEY want to be in charge of people's minds, and create their own ethical system.