Why do Science and Religion have to fight? In essence, aren't both looking for pure "truth"?

Question

One does it an old way, one does it a new way. In the end, shouldn't they merge?

I would say that Science is ahead in this argument because Science questions itself and the "truth" about the universe, (physics, mathematics, etc...), on a fairly regular basis. Theories are proven and disproven and nobody gets offended much. Religion seems to be more of a, "because I said so! Now NO MORE QUESTIONS!", type mentality. Religion also cast Science as heresy back when scientific minds were first emerging. I would also say that there is a lot science cannot explain that religion has views and insights on. I am not trying to bash either side here.

Ideally, both would be explaining the same thing right?

Answer 1

Religion is not "looking for truth": Religion is convinced that it HAS "the Truth", and that everyone else is either misled or evil.

Science tries to find naturalistic explanations for the world because only natural phenomenoa can be examined and tested. It does not try to address "supernatural" phenomenoa because by definition it cannot be tested or examined.

Science is not a way of life, it is a tool. Religion is a way of life...and increasingly has been insisting that we put down all our other tools.

Answer 2

Religion is like saying mom put a pot of tea on. Science says a pot formed of alloy is being heated because of kinetic energy causing the molecules in the H2O to increase in activity etc. So science stresses to validate what the faithful already know.

But when science cannot explain something, it will ignore the very component making science what it is supposed to be; logic. Thus comes forth theories and assumptions. Things of which are a far blinder and more dangerous a leap of faith than the so called religious fairy tales it ridicules. That is where the problem occurs.

Some of the BEST scientific minds in the world are discredited because of this lunacy. Science has often times proved to be of great technical proficiency. Yet at the same time irrational and lacking in good ole plain common sense.

Religion is wisdom and no amount of technical data can compensate for this.

God bless

Answer 3

Yes, the ultimate goal of both science and religion is truth. However one arrives at the truth, that is the goal. However, I must disagree that religion as a whole views science as heresy. In the Vedas, every topic of science is discussed, including mathematics, biology, physics, astronomy, philosophy, etc. In fact, advanced scientific knowledge can be found there, with no contradiction between scientific knowledge and religion, including evolutionary theory, although evolution is discussed in a different perspective.

Answer 4

Science doesn't care about Truth. They seek to examine the world around them and come up with conclusions based on available evidence. Those conclusions aren't called Facts or Truths they are Theories. Science is a good way to analyze Questions. Faith seeks to promote Answers and Truths, some of which haven't been updated in thousands of years despite any evidence that shows them to be false. I always think a well examined Question is more valuable than any Answer.

Answer 5

This is an interesting question, and I know what you mean, but I don't think I'd say that they're really explaining the *same* thing. Science tries to explain the physical. That's it. It doesn't include the supernatural in it's considerations. It looks for things that can be observed and tested. Religion is based on faith. It is about believing in something even without evidence of that something's existence. In fact, religion actually prides itself on it's independence from evidence. That's why believers take such pride in their faith.

Answer 6

that was the medieval synthesis, agreed upon by Christians, Muslims, and Jews; that since God is the creator of all things, truth cannot contradict truth. Therefore science and religion, or, as they would have said back then, natural philosophy and theology, cannot contradict each other.

In terms of religion correcting itself, in the 4th century Augustine said that if natural science and reason are clearly found to contradict what I think Scripture to mean, I have to check and ensure that I am not imposing my own meaning on Scripture. In other words, he accepted the possibility of erroneous interpretation.

For most of the history of philosophy, until the Reformation at least, theology was considered to be objective and qualified. It includes, true, divine revelation as a datum, but it also included natural science. One of the criticisms of Scholasticism by the Reformers was that it was too naturalistic, and not pious enough.

Answer 7

Dear Brother

Religion came first before Science through our great Grand Father Adam and religion explains nothing but God the Almighty creator and His Creation Nature.

Science observes the Nature and starts its exploration. So far Science had come up with many many theories, which were comended and awarded at their discoveries and later the same were turned down with further exploration and discoveries.

So we can also make an assertion that Science itself is in conflict with in, while we cannot deny its esefulness in our daily life.

Yes there were times, when a scientist was given a capital punishment for coming up with the theory that earth is round and not flat. But days have changed now with our religions too.

It might be of interest to you that our Holy Book Quran possses numerous theories about God and its creation nature, explaining about planets and its constellation, creation of man and its stages right from his stage of a sperm, about the creation of animals and plant life with water, pairing male and female in humans, animals and even plants, formation of Milk in the bellies of animals, it is the human skin which senses the burning sensation etc etc, which are proved day to day and so far there is no conflict in its explanation even though Holy Quran was revealed 1450 years ago. Well I am not talking now on my religion only but as all religion in general.

Religion is Nature and Nature is Religion and the Science starts from observing Nature.

Let me place the following saying of the Great Scientist Sir Isaac Newton, who said about his own inventions, that He is just collecting the pebbles from the sea shore.

Let us make use of both Nature and Science for the benefit of Humanity.

Answer 8

There is only a "fight" when some suppress or refuse to look at data because it comes from someone that does believe in God. Data should stand or be refuted on facts alone. Religion or lack there of really isn't germane to the issue. For example the Intelligent Design point of view is suppressed on grounds that it supports or is backed by religion. When, in fact, many of the scientist involved aren't Christian or any other religion. Evolutionist seem to fear debating the dispute openly.

Answer 9

No, I don't think most religions are looking for absolute truth.

Science is, objectively, seeking facts. Science poses questions and looks for answers that are supported by hard evidence; sometimes the answer is not what the scientist originally hypothesized.

Religious people usually base truth on subjective feelings/experiences on what they think is true, or want to be true, or believe to be true-- they've usually already decided the answer. Then they'll look to see what they can find to support their belief, and ignore anything that contradicts it.

Answer 10

I believe Science and religion both have allot to offer. I would disagree with allot in the science realm suggesting that science is quick and easy to admit mistakes. There have been plenty of frauds perpetrated by those in the science realm. And they have at times tried to control what information the public is allowed access to. There is a book from 1984 called the criterion by Jerry Bergman where he gives many detailed accounts of highly qualified scientists experiencing various degrees of discrimination for questioning evolution. They still do but many have resorted to using pseudonyms