Science vs. Religion?

Question

Christians are constantly finding flaws in science, scientific research and scientific theories. One Christian asked earlier what new groundbreaking ideas has Richard Dawkins had of his own...or even slightly original.

This made me wonder about religion, Christianity specifically.

Since I believe that religion squashes free thought and new ideas, please tell me who in the Christian world...whose career is in religion...has something to say that adds to what you already know about your religion? Where is the evolution of ideas in your religion?

atheist

fourmorebeers: You assume wrong. You misread that first paragraph if that's what you got from it. I am a proponent of Dawkins. The person who wrote the post knocking Dawkins said that. I was paraphrasing that person.

Notice that not one Christian has given a name of someone that has add to...or given new ideas to Christianity. And believe me, it can be cleaned up.

Link: Sorry about the mistake in your identity...but I quickly looked at your profile and it told me nothing. Your religious stance wasn't as important to me as what your question made me wonder about the Christian side of what you asked. I apologize. Now I know.

Ardent Atheist: Thank YOUUU...I need that! LOL!

Answer 1

Science and Religion cover different ground, so there shouldn't really be any conflict. Those that chose to "antagonise" the other are looking to create strife.
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I'm not a Christian but there are quite a number of Christians who came up with ideas of note. Here's a few to getting on with...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquinas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley

Darwin studied theology (I'd guess it would be Christian).
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regarding my own religion. I personally EVOLVE it, based up on what works, both for me and the world.
"That which doesn't evolve dies."

Answer 2

I'm not Christian. I'm non-combatant in this mini-war, as I affectionately call it.

But I think you'll find this interesting. It's called the 'omega point theory'.

It looks like science and Christianity agree on something.

Please do your own research, as you may come up with some different information than anything I can provide.

My own beliefs do not cover the differences between Christians and Atheists. In other words I do not particularly care how the universe came to be, or why, who, what, where when. I focus only on how I can improve the future.

May peace go with you wherever you may roam

Answer 3

There is no competition between science and religion. This is a Western European Renaissance philosophy based on the suppression of science by the Catholic Church in the "Dark Ages" of Western Europe.

As if Western Europe was the "cultural" center of the universe, or even the most technologically advanced culture at the time. P-uh-Lease.

Christianity flourished during this time in areas other than Western Europe and so did science, education and technology. They co-existed peacefully. Even Christianity and Islam co-existed peacefully in some places then as they do today.

Look at the more "homogeneous" nation of India where many different religions have co-existed peacefully with science and technology for thousands of years, including denominations of Christianity.

This western European renaissance "superiority" philosophy should be stamped out and any one who spouts propagandist trash like this forced to study the "dark ages" for the rest of the world.

Answer 4

I disagree that religion squashes free thought and new ideas. Not all religion anyway, I do agree that some do, especially the extremists of any religion. I am Jewish, reform Judaism, and I have only experienced encouragement in studying, discussing, arguing and thinking--always reaching farther--searching for more understanding. Knowledge and spritituality is offered and it is up to you to choose what you need and want. Nothing is forced down your throat. Learning about other religions is expected and encouraged. Atheists are not rejected or demeaned or shunned or anything. On the contrary, they are accepted and valued. Religion and spirituality is such an individual choice, no one has the right to force their religion on anyone else. We only have to look at history to see what happens when that occurs. Sadly, it seems, we humans are incapable of learning from it.

Answer 5

Religion evolved from mankind misinterpreting scientific text written in the Laws of Moses.Mankind gave a non scientific religious interpretation to scripture originally written in scientific text by a scientific mind that predates human scientific knowledge.

Answer 6

I have had enough discusion about religion.For me any kind of religious belief is just getting me so annoyed.Atheists,like me, are atheist because we don't want anything to do with religion.I am afraid religion has a potential to squash my wholesome free thought.`

Answer 7

Well you are certainly ignorant of history since modern science owes much of its foundations to Christian scientists.

You are also woefully ignorant of what you call Christianity since there are innumerable names who have brought to us a better and closer understanding of God - all through history -and our very society and civilisation has been built on such understanding.


Admittedly your kind of ignorance is tearing it down now - that is a wilful ignorance.

Time and space forbid the listing of so much and is it really worth it? I despair of such wilful shutting of the eyes.

If you are representative, it would appear that Atheists are more in the business of squashing old established thought and understanding and wilfully ignoring the obvious.

Why don't you study history, would it not help to broaden your mind and correct your ignorance?

Answer 8

Why would there need to be an evolution of ideas, particularly in Christianity? So far as most Christians can tell, it seems, the same guiding principles of early Christian life work as well for us now as they did when Christ introduced them.

Save for the occasional argument over Tongues or worship music, the whole Love the Lord... & Love your neighbor... seems to have worked well for 2000 years, on an individual level at least.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Answer 9

Bible is about evolution:
Babe --> Child --> Man.
Babe - can't discern law is "both good and evil".
Child - gets tossed to <--> fro by winds (spirits).
Man - puts away childish things: laws(ordinances).

Don't confuse Christ-ians with Jesus-ians & X-ians.
Christ is the end of the law(sin & death): Romans 10:4
Jesus is about "division" and not peace: Mt 10; Lk 12
Sacrifice is what God will not have: Matthew 9:13; etc.

As for religion, Bible distinguishes two sorts of religion:
- IMPure religion: most churches would fit this description
- Pure religion: paid a visit to afflicted, not ransom to trolls
Pure religion: arrived undefiled and remained unspotted.
POINT: His Grace is smarter than Romans 8:2 Law Law.

Atheists prefer science to religion, as if the 2 are different;
Yet both shld be based on what's "evident" from "evidence".
Eg: that no man justified by law is "evident"(from evidence).
If you're man of babe-->child-->man, law can & will kill you.
Eg: if justified by law, Christ(end of law) of "no effect" to you.

Science and Religion often have this in common:
Scientists change their findings to get more grant $.
Religions change their findings to get more donor $.

Keep challenging scientists and religions.
Although I do not enjoy it, I do welcome it.
For how else can truth be known to be truth?

But hey, there's a diff between a truth and "the truth".
A truth (about law) is Law is the ministration of death.
The truth (about grace) is "grace is sufficient", period.
The truth has no mention of l-w(sin & death) whatsoever:

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 10

I think the difference is that Christian don't claim that anything new exists in our faith, it hasn't changed in 2000 years. We can learn to apply the principles of our faith in each new situation though.