Is Religion intrinsically anti-intellectual? Science delivers, religion only promises to deliver.?

Question

Knowlege tames nature by understanding it as it is; religion neither tames nature nor understands it correctly.

Answer 1

I think so. Science is in the business of resolving the mysteries of how; religion seeks to explain another (actually unanswerable,) question; "why". It's a fool's quest, the answer doesn't require scriptures & ceremonies & fighting, it is simply "just because". If we all accepted that, however, men would have no excuse to dress in skirts and silly hats and tell women what they "have to do", far fewer people would die in wars 'inspired by god', and the planet would be horribly overcrowded!

Answer 2

First, any scientist worth his degree will tell you that science has never attempted to tame nature, only to better grasp the principles by which it functions, and to use that understanding to effect changes beneficial to society; they will also tell you that science understands nature imperfectly at best, and that our current theories can in no way be called "totally correct".
Second, religion makes no attempt to do either of the things you mention, the purpose of religion is help people establish a better relationship with the Divine, however they come to understand it.
Science is the search for Fact, Philosophy is the search for Truth, Religion is the search for God. The weaver to his loom, the cobbler to his last; there is not, and never has been, a conflict between religion and science, the conflict is between science and such people as would use religion as tool for achieving wealth and socio/political power. Why all these supposedly "educated and intelligent" people can't figure that out is beyond me.

Answer 3

this is what popular fundamentalist religion does. people want to use the world to prove that their religion is correct, rather than using their faith as a spiritual response to the world. (look at the popularity of apocalyptic literature, especially in light of todays fascination with "end times" or eschatology.

people are asking the wrong questions about faith and religion. proper religion and faith needs to take nature and reason into account in its formulation.

I do not believe that religion only promises to deliver. is there a better way of phrasing your question? science delivers, religion promises to deliver... what? do they promise to deliver the same things? what does science deliver? (mathematics, technology, resource development, explanations -physics) does religion offer to deliver any of this? (I sure hope not!!!) where science offers to deliver answers, religion should seek to deliver meaning and value. (value, as opposed to 'VALUES' which often means a certain set of morals that have to do primarily with sexuality)

jmk

Answer 4

How about some new topic. This has been tattered about way to much on here....don't you have any new ideas......by the way if you are truly intellectual and into knowledge you know that what is known is still small and that intelligence is not what is already known but what a person is capable of learning....

Mike G stated things very well below

Answer 5

By, "religion only promises to deliver", do you mean that what religion teaches you doesn't actually come true? Because there are hundreds of prophecies in the Bible, and many of them have already come true. I also think that you need wisdom to understand the Bible, and knowledge of times thousands of years ago. To mostly understand the Bible, which was created by the infinite God, I would say that we need to be intellectual. We need to have open, teachable minds-otherwise we get confused when reading it.

Answer 6

God promises everlasting life in Paradise for those who have faith,belief and trust in Him.God keeps His promises.What does science promise? A higher intelligence level just because you decide to believe it is all based on facts that can't possibly be ignored? In essence,those who believe science over God are putting more faith in scientists,right? They can't possibly be wrong,because they are too smart to be wrong? Sorry,but Science is fallible,because man is fallible,because it is man who created science. God,on the other hand,is infallible. Believing in God doesn't make anyone less intelligent. On the contrary,it makes them smart enough to recognize the truth when it's right in front of them. But,say what you will about us "poor, unfortunate, uneducated,brain-washed fools" as you all seem to like to call us. Laugh at us now. You won't be laughing when your belief in science is no longer able to explain away certain things that one day is going to happen. What will you fall back on then? I don't think high intelligence is going to do you any good then. Of course,I know many don't believe in any of that,but they will.They most definitely will.

Answer 7

Religion tames human. And if theres no religion every one would be killing each other and rape and drugs and etc ..

And ofcourse the technology starts from religion in Bible "World is round is told" "Dinosurs exist is told" "Meat is harmfull is told" "Fat is harmfull is told" and many more things that human experienced after religion and started explorations..

Answer 8

science can only tell me how much alcohol will kill me and offer me a poision that will make me ill or die if I drink just a little.

Faith, prayer and community gives me the foritude to never drink again.

To be whole you need both.

Answer 9

Religion is faith - by definition it cannot be proved. Acute faith denotes lack of intelligent thought processes.

Answer 10

Well according to the bible wisdom and knowledge are bad, bad things.


Ecclesiastes 1:18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.