what do you think is more enlightening and why :science or religion?

Question

IF you had to choose(either one or the other not both) what is most benifitial for man, what would you choose science or religion

Answer 1

Let's seeee....the institution that has given us technology and medicine...and the computers we're chatting on....oooor the one that gave us the Inquisition, the Holocaust, the Crusades, and suicide bombers. It's a tough call.

Answer 2

I'd choose science. Religion may be good during hard times, but it doesn't result in advancement. Science is responsible for the creation of the printers used to make Bibles. The technology to make churches is from science. The refrigerator and oven: science. The computer and internet we're using now: science. Medecine is scientific. Praying for God to cure diseases doesn't work all that often. Science has made our lives better and longer. Also, science has the benefit of honesty. Relgious ideas are never fully rejected regardless of any evidence that is found. Scientists, however, will admit that they were wrong and will look for the truth. This concept comes in handy. Could you imagine what would happen if people working with medecine thought like clergy? They would find a drug that makes a disease worse and still claim that it is the true cure. Thank God that scientists search for the truth instead of searching for ways to rationalize their own beliefs.

Answer 3

Science is clearly more beneficial to man...When was the last time a war was fought over a scientific theory? So far as enlightenment goes I'd have to say that science is more enlightening than religion because science can actually answer some questions while religion basically doesn't bother questioning. PEACE!

Answer 4

Science and the scientific process is willing to do something religion is not - admit when it is wrong.

Case in point: When the archaeological community was all excited about the discovery of a stone age tribe still living the way they had tens of thousands of years ago, everyone got very interested - it was even taught in schools. But as more people investigated they found it was just not making sense and declared it was a fraud - and it was!

The process of science is to ask questions and look for better answers. This keeps us from sitting back and saying "we know it all" - we DON'T, but we are willing to try and learn and improve.

Sadly, people often see religion as the end of the line. It is used to state "this is THE answer and beyond that you don't need to ask". This limits us and pushes a lack of thought. It is HARDER to learn advanced maths and physics, but it is not impossible. It is EASIER to simply throw up your hands and say "god did it" and end your mental exercises.

Answer 5

There is no dichotomy: I choose both.

The application of scientific principles makes my life easier and more enjoyable : traveling, entertainment, study, food production, health, etc.

But science is based on sensory perceptions (oftentimes extended by sensitive instruments) and can only go so far before it hits a barrier; beyond that what? This is where religion comes in. The scientists who reject religion are limiting themselves. The theists who reject science will find it difficult to live in the present world.

However, science is not to be confused with evolution. Macro-evolution (one species gradually changing into a more developed species) is NOT scientific. Contrary to what evolutionists would have us believe, macro-evolution is strictly philosophy.

update: in response to the question asked below by one respondent, "If you were sick, would you go to the doctor or to a religious man"; my answer is, "If you were terminally ill and the doctors cannot do anything more for you, where would you go?"

Answer 6

Both go hand in hand and greatly benefit mankind. The problem comes when they are mis-used. When religion is used as an excuse to oppress, kill, imprison, or hurt other humans its a great harm. Also, when science produces weapons that aid in actions like total war and nuclear bombing, where the civilian population is targeted in order to cripple the enemy, then science sucks to.

In the end both are a sword which is wielded by the carrier and can be used to either oppress mankind or free mankind from its oppression.

Peace Upon You

Answer 7

Since you asked about enlightenment, I would choose spirituality. I'd rather not use the term religion, as that has two aspects that have nothing to do with enlightenment: the maintenance of ritual and orthodoxy, and canon law.

Answer 8

Science, it is willing to change with new evidence and is not rooted in the past. Religions are based on the past and boast that they do not change with the times. To argue that archaic beliefs are better than something that evolves and changes and LEARNS from new information is a far more intelligent choice.

Answer 9

Uh...science. What has religion done? Religion has only given people comfort and plenty of bloody wars, killing off many innocent people along the way. Science, however, has consistently helped further our knowledge of the world we live in.

Answer 10

Why make a distinction? They both attempt to answer our most pressing questions and in doing so, give us some degree of comfort. Both are also built on assumptions that you must accept if any resulting answer can be considered correct.

Two heads, same horse.

Answer 11

in the past, when religion was dominant, they called scientists heretics and burned them for witchcraft
now, when religion is forgotten and science is more important, people have somehow lost their morals, their belief in God and in good, everyone's a sceptic
so none of them is perfect, they both compliment eachother for us to live our lives in a community, we cant live without the other
I'm a muslim and islam orders us to seek science, and at one time, the islamic state in the past was one of the most prosperous communities in the worls becaus rhtey were able to seel both science and religion at the same time.. not only that, but literature, music, poetry, art, architecture.. everything
that's my point