If religion is a human invention?

Question

Then how is it any different from science?

Science and religion follow the same path. They both strive to achieve understanding, they both work to rationalise omnipotent forces on a way that is easy for humans to digest. They both are based on rational argument.

We make buildings dedicated to the pursuit of god. Or the pursuit of science. But only the former is called a temple.

They have both developed over time as we have seen fit. We have exploited both for the sake of war and love. We have used these concepts as tools, from psychiatry to manipulation. We have picked up gods, and we have thrown them away.

Science is flexible, and throws away bogus ideas. Same as religion. Science gets forgotten, misinterpretated, feared of and attacked. Same as religion.

Relgion on its own says we ultimately don't have a choice. But we do!

Science on its own says we are robots, machines, unable to really choose. But we're not!

If science and religon are both just ideas, why are they in different boxes? Aren't they both just tools we use to define ourselves?

Smarty: good to see you back! Hoped you were gonna be around for this one!

Answer 1

Yes. Science is just like religion. Have you ever heard a really die hard global warming fanatic? They talk just like some TV evangelist. Or a died in the wool evolutionist.. they do NOT believe in any other possibilities.. THEY HAVE THE TRUTH. I think its hilarious! Have they looked up ever and seen how BIG this universe is? Somehow i dont think so.
But they KNOW what is true and false.. somehow they just KNOW!
Science takes faith.

Answer 2

Religon is a crutch for the unknown, science is a way of trying develop the unknown. Science puts things in 'real' physical terms for us (though it is always open for speculation) religon is a way of allowing us to take comfort in the unknown and give us comfort, give us a 'solid' explanation and destination. The unknown terrifies us that is a given, so religon was created. we got tired of ingorance and science was created. to sum it up, yes on a fundemental plane they are similar but very different, in that with science we recieve instatn graitfication, where we do not in religon (we have prayers that are unanswered and faith wavers, we do a science experment with results quickly following furthering our trust in science) the question in my opinion to be asked is why can they not be paired together? written religons I think are wrong, and science is shaky, however why cannot the concept of there being a human soul,ghosts,or another stop us after this is plausible, just unseen and not yet comprehendable for our stubborn and slow brains, it doesn't mean our actions nessacarily have consequences, but that there is more than this. There are so many phenomons and occurences that happen in all cultures that are on opposite ends of the earth that are so similair I find it hard to believe there isn't a common thread, or why is it that most people without any influences just have a feeling about there being another life? why can't religious concepts (not religon itself which is a crock) and science be intermingled?
I'm sorry if this is so long or isn't quite correherent, this question greatly intrigued me.

Answer 3

Science strives to achieve the understanding of how things work by providing proof. The first thing it will need is a premise. Experiments are designed and conducted to prove the premise. Science does NOT say we are robots and unable to choose.

Religion is not about understanding anything, but about having faith that someone out there has laid out some rules (some make sense and some don't). Incidentally, MEN said they had "heard god's voice" and gave those rules. Religion SETS bogus ideas, doesn't discard them.

The main difference is in the generation of proof.

Answer 4

It differs in that religion is based on faith, the idea that believing what it says in a few hundred year old book makes you a good person. Science is based on understanding reality, and promotes doubt in order to change. Religion changes to get more people involved.
Most of all science has some element of truth whereas at best religion makes you feel better

Answer 5

Feyerabend, huh? I just don't like that guy, but the idea is a little more complex than simple.

It's basically the fact that people tend to treat "science" as a whole, while "religion" they see as a certain religion or as another religion.

If you take "religion" as a whole too, and compare the change of religious paradigms with the change of scientific paradigms, you won't get such different results either. Actually, *one* scientific paradigm cannot change anymore than a religious paradigm can - it can only be replaced. But then hum, you have that concept of falsifiability, which does, by definition, *not* apply to any religion, yet, also by definition, *has to* apply to any scientific proposal...

Answer 6

Science isn't 'just an idea,' it's a set of methodologies for finding out how things work. And those methodologies clearly work, since we able to do things like send men into space, probe the space between molecules, and argue the subject on Yahoo Answers.

Compare that with religion, which is a set of methodologies for deciding how you would like everything to work, and then fearing to the point of violence anything that contradicts that fantasy.

Religion is for worship. Science is for creating solutions to problems, and defining new problems just for the satisfaction of solving them.

Religion does not require anything of you apart from your faith, which means that it requires you to surrender your critical faculties. Science requires you to hone your critical faculties to the finest point achievable.

But chiefly, Religion has given us nothing but pamphlets and group dementia, whereas Science has given us hope and progress and economy and trade and communication and understanding.

Answer 7

i agree totally. i don't know if you saw it, but there was a really interesting programme on the bbc last year by robert winston. he's a famous scientist but explored religion with a very open mind. it was really interesting. his conclusion was that religion and science were pretty much the same, both relying very much on faith. he didn't put himself above religious people as many scientists do, but acknowledged that both areas are in the same bracket. i can't remember what it was called but you should see if it's available for download. maybe try uknova.com or a similar site?
i would recommend it.

Answer 8

How does science on its own say we're unable to choose? People with addictions, cancer, diabetes, etc. are helped by science all the time. You don't even have to have the too-small breasts or too-big nose you were issued at birth, with science's help. If anything, science expands our world of choices. Conversely, religion is a way to narrow down choices, whatever religion you pick. Even as a Pagan, I am limited by my religion--for example, my respect for nature means I must be selective in how I throw away trash.

Answer 9

Religion is the natural constitutional position of the living entity as liquidity is the constitution position of the water.

There are two proses of acquiring knowledge to find the source of everything, the Absolute Truth. One is the ascending proses, that is done by our own research by our sense experience and sense perception. And the other one, is by the descending proses, acquire knowledge by a Superior Authority, God.

Answer 10

Science and religion are both man-made, that's true. But otherwise they are very different. Science collects findings and insights, tries to sort and categorize them, and uses reasoning and open discussion for achieving logical conclusions, not knowing the results beforehand. Religion, on the other hand, puts the doctrine first and then tries to confirm it with arguments and to invalidate any counter-arguments.

Answer 11

Many sociologists might argue that Religions is useful for society and that express that's a human invention. i think this may be Durkheims opinion or faith. One sociologist (no longer beneficial no count if it grew to become into Marx or Weber) defined faith in his learn because of the fact the 'opium of the folk'