Do you think science and religion are incompatable?

Question

It seems so many christians disregard the big bang theory and evolution because they think it's nullifying god. Isn't it more likely that evolution and the big bang are tools of gods creation? (if there is a god) Also isn't the evidence in favor of these theories too overwhelming to be denied rationaly?

Answer 1

I don't think they conflict, if you believe in a god I think you could argue that evolution the big bang etc are the tools of god, from a religious perspective science is all about documenting god's creation (in excruciating detail)

Answer 2

On the contrary. Science and religion are the two great seekers of truth. True scientific findings can never conflict with true religious beliefs, for truth cannot conflict with truth. Which says a lot about people who cling to their religious beliefs even when they plainly conflict with facts that science has proven to be true. Maybe instead of trying to find "evidence" to "prove" science wrong, they should say, "gee, maybe my personal interpretation of the Bible isn't infallible after all. Especially considering that my interpretations conflict with those of most other Christians, and I have no more authority to interpret God's Word than they do". The Bible says God created distinct kinds. Evolution simply describes the process by which He did so. Where is the conflict? Of course death was here before sin! The dinosaurs died, didn't they? Death has been here as long as life has been here, and that was a VERY long time before humans, and therefore sin, existed. Can you imagine a world in which animals kept reproducing and never died? Or plants, for that matter! The whole earth would be a hundred feet deep in animals within a few hundred years.

.

Answer 3

God wouldn't have used evolution. First off, the Bible says He created distinct kinds. This goes directly against evolution. Additionally, evolution means that death and disease were here before sin, so when God finished creation, He called death and disease (like cancer, of which evidence has been found in fossils) very good. Try explaining that to someone who's dying of it. So evolution and the Bible are incompatible.

Answer 4

Dear Erock:

I have always felt that they go together, rather than it being one way or another. I also think of our Minds as an integrated thing. I believe we have the human Intellect (brain as it's symbol) and a soul or spirit that is in the Likeness of the Creator, for He only knew of Himself. He is spirit-mind and we are OF Him, but not Him.

Agnostic and Atheistic beliefs have been, (amongst a host of other "reasons," ) due to not wanting to believe in anything that can not be proven. We don't want to be duped! This will lead to not acknowledging there is anything but physical matter and the Intellect in humans. Nothing integrated. Just devotion to Intellect.

Science has decided God can not be disproved or thrown away, after all. Physics has found itself smack up against Him and is desperate to prove Him. (String theories (all 5) or M-Theory). But I feel He will never be capsulized as a mathematical formula unless soul or spirit-mind within, is willing to bring forth its Knowledge of its Creator (which it shares with His divine Presence) . Only soul/spirit can direct a Scientist to proper understanding of the Order of Creation. Science is, after all, inspiration - inspired to know of it's Self. But, then, at best, you would still have a cold calculation of Science - about the Created and it's Creator - with no experience of His divine nature; the ecstasy, the Unlimited-ness, the Unopposed force of the Creative Being, of Who we are a part.

I like to read short articles on the newest theories and have read through brief summaries on the String Theories (5 of them) and the Master Theory. They are electrical - electromagnetic in nature and even contain colors discovered under the Science of Quantum Chromodynamics. What is mind-blowing is the fact that ancient peoples of the world, like the Hindu Yogis, and Buddhists and Shamans of Ancient Mexico have spoken of having visions and dreams, through the ages, of things like "strings" in the String Theory! Mystical experiences that are of some likeness.

The Intellect is of logic and reasoning. It deduces and judges. God is Knowledge and Knowing - He contains cause of all life and all possible outcomes, within His Knowledge. But, that does not mean He caused or used all possible forms of life ! He simply KNOWS.

The Great Separation also has caused a failure in our willingness - to acknowledge that behind the Intellect lies Spirit: The Seat of our Knowledge. Until we understand soul/spirit - we can not know our Self.

Intellect is a mental exercise. It changes, shifts, and alters. But, Knowledge is unalterable.

I believe the evolution of earth contains the Creator existing along with it. I see this as integration of my thoughts.

Jesus taught:

"This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. You will be ever hearing, but never understanding; you will be ever seeing, but never perceiving. For the heart has become calloused. . ."

Maybe we will learn the possibilities for integration of thought further down the line. As a spiritually oriented person, I feel that God doesn't have anything to do with evolution, but exists within it. A physical world is the home of the human Intellect; but, spirit or soul lies behind that part of Mind - and can be brought to the Center of Mind when we are ready to "open" to it's Knowledge.

Sincerely, Lana

Answer 5

The problem is the word "religion" Religion depends on a set of rules and codes and dogmas that insist on being finite. No room to grow and change much from when they were originally indocterined. That is why I prefer the concept of spirituality. And I believe that as time has unfolded and will continue to unfold, the marriage of science and spirituality is revealed.

Answer 6

For evolution to be true, I'd need this explanation.

DNA is essential for life to exist but DNA can only be produced by life. How, when no life existed, did DNA come into existence? Let's not even get into the lack of evidence on fossil records.

Answer 7

I think that both a spiritual life AND reason are neccessary for a fulfilled life.

They operate in different spheres, though, and it's just as big a mistake to try to apply the methodology of reason to religion as it is to try to use religious mythology as the basis for a political movement.

We need to be as rational as Aristotle...and we must also be open to poetic imagination, to ecstatic experiences, and to meaningful mythologies (without taking them as fact)..

The real probelm is in trying to make one conform to the rules of the other, or trying to combine them.

Answer 8

Science is based on evidence and logic.

Religion doesn't care about evidence or logic. They already have a conclusion that suits them. If I told you that your beliefs, although logically consistent, are not the simplest possible explanation would you give a damn? I predict that you are in the process of not giving a damn right now. If so, then I suppose people like you and people like me will just have to disagree.

"Faith is believing what you know ain't so."
-Mark Twain

Answer 9

I think religion and science should go hand in hand.

God created everything. Therefore HE made up all the rules and then allowed us to have knowledge about them.
Religion comes from Him.
So how can the two differ?

Answer 10

Yes, I believe that the 2 are incompatable. Science attempts to rule out religion.