Is religion just plugging the gaps in human knowledge until science can one day explain everything?

Question

We never used to understand what the stars and the sun were.
Religion decided that it knew what they were and announced that they were the Gods.
Science came along and showed what they actually were.
Religions retreated from that idea and concentrated on explaining other mysteries that we weren't able to explain...yet.

Creationism vs. Evolution is just the most modern example of this age-old "religion says it can explain it first, science comes along, proves it wrong and actually explains how something works, then religion retreats into more, harder-to-disprove realms and ideas" notion.

Will there ever be a day when religion just has to admit that it's purpose was to fill in the gaps of the naturally inquistive human mind, that some people were able to make a lot of money out of it along the way, and let that be the end of it?

Answer 1

There will be wonder, and questions unanswerable, as long as there is life; we will never truly know what it is to die, nor return from death, and so, myths will continue to be sacred to us. Humans are storytellers, religion is a manifestation of the sacred art of storytelling, truly.

Telling the story matters much more than whether or not it's true, you just have to remember not to argue about the details too much.

I never was too fond of religions that tried to answer too many questions, I think of religion, or better yet, spirituality, as a way to personally feel connected with the world around you, and honor it, as well as yourself.

Science honors the world (or gods, whichever) through its curiosity, and eagerness to understand the ways in which we do connect with one another. Science is for the physical what spirituality is for the psychological.

It is naive to deny (or too readily accept) the teachings of science, as it is similarly naive to believe things you read in a religious text, rather than honor that text as a fine story, rife with metaphor and meaning.

Answer 2

"This is an exceedingly strange development, unexpected by all but the theologians. They have always accepted the word of the Bible: In the beginning God created heaven and earth... but for the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; and as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries."

- Robert Jastrow
(God and the Astronomers [New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 1978], 116. Professor Jastrow was the founder of NASA’s Goddard Institute, now director of the Mount Wilson Institute and its observatory.)

Answer 3

well that is the argument of the "God of the gaps" concept

Though most theists are honest enough to realize that this is an illogical stance.

As a result they chose one of two paths.

either they fundamentally reject any science that possibly conflicts with their theology, or they harmonize their theology by saying that God acts though science.

Answer 4

I suspect that day will eventually arrive, but it won't be any time soon.

People really don't want to let go of their great security blanket and realize that they are on their own in the world.

Answer 5

No

It's the other way around.

Relgion has it all explained and science is just trying to play catch up.

They are working on Walking on Water now, you know!

Answer 6

Take a couple of days to read this and find your answer.
http://www.godandscience.org/evolution/index.html
http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/god_of_the_gaps.html

Answer 7

Pretty much.

The so-called "God of the gaps" has been reduced to sub-atomic size, and will soon run out of places to hide...

Answer 8

No, the other way around. Science is man's feeble attempt to understand how God did it.

Answer 9

no
christians and such are in a state of denial that i have never heard of

Answer 10

no

2 points!