Do you believe Religion and Science should stay seperate?

Answer 1

I think it's impossible for Religion and Science to every truly be separate.

Religion inspired a lot of early scientists and continues to do so in modern times. While scientific method should remain pure and not tainted by religious beliefs, religion is an important part of many scientists' lives.

Where would we be today if there were not a raging debate between evolution and creationism? If science and religion were completely separate, there would be no room for such discussions. The fact that they are intermingled gives people an option to choose what they believe in. It inspires our minds to think in ways that would not be possible if the two were kept apart.

I am not a religious person, but I believe strongly in education and in learning about all aspects of people's belief systems. To have any kind of understanding of the world and her people, you must take into account both science and religion. They are driving forces and you can't completely isolate them.

Answer 2

Interesting. Are you proposing that a Chemist, Computer Scientist or other scientist should not have a religion? I'm not saying that they should or should not, just that having religious beliefs should not preclude a person seeking a career in science.

Certainly religion should not supress scientific findings or theories and science should not ... hmmm not sure what science should not do to religion, as it should deal in facts and not beliefs.

Religions and their followers need to embrace science and understand it. This may cause some problems with there beliefs, but if faith is believing in something that can't be proved, the situation will not have changed much - i.e. if evoluntion is proved, then creation cannot be proved, you can still have the same level, if not more, of faith.

Science on it's side, definitely needs a deep understanding of ethics and responsibility; not just so that the ultimate earth destroying weapon is not created, but so that experiments and research is conducted in a humane and earth friendly manner.

Answer 3

I do not believe they are separate. I can see where this question comes from, but it discounts the fact that there are many scientists that believe in God, and many believers that accept the precepts of Science.

I think that the conflict occurs primarily in the theoretical aspects of science, in discussing the age of the Earth, and origins of the human species. It is in this area that Scientists act like religious fundamentalists, totally discounting anyone that has a dissenting opinion or that questions the status quo.

Quite frankly, there are many holes in these theories. This is especially true with regards to the origins of the Universe. No matter how you slice it, those theories cannot explain how everything came to be out of nothing. To argue that it did is a return to the era of spontaneous generation, where people thought that worms came from mud (ironically, this is not far from what the theory of the origins of life on Earth).

Religion and Science are just fine together. How about we stick with what we can observe and know? That which is useful for advancing technology and our society. Then, at least that first day of Science class can be justified. When they talk about scientists being unbiased observers of our world. There is no practical reason to concern ourselves with the rest, other than as a hobby.

Answer 4

The problem for religion isn't with science, it is with those who assume that science must absolutely begin with the idea that we can know everything about our universe. Humanistic viewpoints have given the western world an unrealistic view, that we are supreme ourselves and should therefore be able to have access to every bit of knowledge that the universe has to offer. There is no problem with using our brains (which are far more advanced than any computer will ever be) to determine these things... it is just almost laughable that the very people who pride themselves on the view that we can find everything out through science, deny the basic fact that we are amazingly complex. I have no issue with science as long as it is used responsibly, and its not when we believe our incredibly complex structure as humans and as a universe happened by chance. That's not smart, its ignorant. Science should not be driven by trying to find out why we exist apart from a greater power, and as long as it does it will never be worth listening to

Answer 5

Real Religion is the real science. Materialistic scientists and philosophers generally use such words as “maybe” and “perhaps” because they do not have actual knowledge of complete facts. Therefore their instructing others is an example of cheating. Humans commit mistakes, are in illusion, they have imperfect senses, and have the tendency to cheat others.
Science means it must be correct. That is science. If science is theory, that is not science.
Everything comes from God, that means perfect science also comes from God, the problem is that most Religions they have just partial knowledge, the Bible and Koran, there is not complete information about God and His creation.

Answer 6

Yes. They have a very different focus. Science is a wonderful tool for understanding the physical world, but, oversteps when it claims to know everything about the human experience/soul. That is, unless your philosophy is grounded ONLY on materialist concepts, then, well, I can see the trouble.

That said, I don't see how appreciating evolution and practicing religion are a problem--unless you take everything literally.

Also, speaking of evolution...why do we only hear about Darwin? Many other people have influenced the understanding of evolutionary theory and there are some areas where Darwin was lacking. Sure, he got the ball rolling, but that isn't where the story ends. Fascinating stuff.

Answer 7

hmm...

well, if you don't mind me borrowing some wikipedia entries:

Religion is the adherence to codified beliefs and rituals that generally involve a faith in a spiritual nature and a study of inherited ancestral traditions, knowledge and wisdom related to understanding human life. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to faith as well as to the larger shared systems of belief.

Science in the broadest sense refers to any system of objective knowledge. In a more restricted sense, science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge based on the scientific method, as well as to the organised body of knowledge humans have gained by such research.

to make a brutal shortcut here, religion is the codified result of our (scientifically) ignorant forefathers trying to explain the world. Science is busy building a logical framework that examines and explains the processes in our natural world (excuse the horrible generalisations used here).

It seems then to me that the two are bound to clash. At the same I don't know if keeping them seperate is an option. Interesting question that merits some more pondering.

Answer 8

Authentic religion and authentic Science have room for each other.God is creator of the Universe, He gives us knowledge, one day soon, science will prove what we known all along, the world, the cells,cause & effect. Science can not duplicate things like how the leaves change colors, they can break it down to minut details, but can not duplicate the process. Science gave us the study & practise(practise) of medicine, to help mankind, but God gave the knowlege.They can not explain away Spiritual matters of Faith or miracles.
I am not afraid of science, neither is Creator God.

Answer 9

Yes, I do believe religion and science should be separate. Regarding religion and science I believe one compliments the other. MG

Answer 10

God gave us the ability to understand science. He gave people the knowledge and the path to study medicine and other sciences. I work in a hospital, which claims to be Catholic-oriented, yet tries to turn everything politically correct. Screw that. I'm a Christian and my patients know it. They know that every day my Christianity, my "religion" is the basis for what I do, how I do it and the fact that I go back every day. In my world, my science and my religion unite and intertwine every single day.