What is the real difference between how science and religion each work?

Answer 1

Science and religion aren't based on the same principle to begin with, nor do they have the same purpose. Religion is a guiding vessel and a social attribute called spirituality that people in a common cult can share to lighten the burden of being part of the species homo sapiens sapiens (ie. the only species worried about the meaning of life).

On the other hand, science is derived from philosophy and is basically a way of looking at things based on the observation of evidence and conducting experiments.

Science doesn't require initiation/rituals and is not dogmatic in nature, that is, it is open to change and is thus not based on a belief system; though certain individuals normally tend to think one explanation to a phenomenon is more reasonable than another, there is usually no discussion as to whether or not given phenomenon occurred.

Completely opposite, religion requires faith to believe in what is recorded as history must be taken dogmatically and imposes several moral and philosophical values/rules/laws that must be put to practice by the followers of the given religion. Additionally, many religions offer punishments and rewards for these rules. In religion, it is normal that the individual discusses the possibility of whether or not the phenomena cited actually occurred rather than think on why they happen or how. Most questions as to the methodology are not explained in biblical texts.

Common in science are laws and theories. As you see an object fall, and repeat this anywhere on Earth, you discover a law. This comes FIRST. Then you start to ask why it happens. Theories come after hypotheses to explain certain phenomena. For example, bacteria evolve into different types depending on drugs used on them. One hypothesis is that all the bacteria that die from the drug are bacteria A, and all bacteria that don't die from the drug are bacteria B; and all bacteria A died while bacteria B took its place, no changes occurred. But then another scientist observes carefully and sees there is no bacteria B in there, he or she postulates that it was natural selection. Bacteria A changed genetically as it kept reproducing fast into Bacteria B and Bacteria C, of which A and C later died out to leave only bacteria B. If this is true, and results are seen to be the same in many experiments with variations only due to chance, the theory is valid.

Again, religion's mechanism is opposite: the actions and "facts" must immediately and unquestionably be taken as facts to be believed in "blindly" (sometimes memorized, literally and with the proper position mentioned in order to be cited within and of context for debate and study use). An example is God's creation of the world, the set of beliefs are laid out and one can question: Did a God create the world in six days? Instead of the obvious scenarios in science: a balloon getting filled up with air, a ball falling, a rocket flying. One can clearly observe scientific scenarios (unless too small or too large in which these scenarios are detected). But in religion one must thrust what is written and make a decision to live by the writings themselves.

As one last point, both science and religion can be used for personal gain. Religion can give certain people great power, can cause wars and can make a society turn into an organized civilization. Science can make weapons of mass destruction, can make certain people rich, can make some countries subdue others and at the same time it can cure illness, save lives, and improve our lives and that of all organisms on the planet.

Both science and religion have existed as long as man has existed, and even though many dichotomies exist between the two, they are both appropriate in the proper dosage and with the right intentions. Science can help mankind but we can destroy ourselves with science. Religion might have ideas that are primitive, yet these ideas can make nations and "move mountains"; the philosophy of religion, if followed properly would never start an "inquisition", it would make the world a better place. If humankind were to finally mature and adhere to the better part of everything, we wouldn't need a garden of Eden.

Answer 2

There are 2 main things to distinguish from- science, and scientism. Verified science you'll find is compatible with the Bible and its contents and therefore doesn't disprove God's existence. It's very important to understand that cases of scientism, such as Darwin's evolution theory, cannot be verified and therefore cannot be classed as "science". To say as a scientist the evolution theory is correct then that contradicts the ethos of science completely, which is that nothing can be deemed true or false unless verified. Religion and science are compatible, however scientism/materialism are not.

If you are a believer in materialism/scientism (that nothing exists beyond atoms), then where do explain morality? Why do we have a sense of right and wrong, why do we experience different emotions?

Answer 3

Religion has no need of physical proof because they know Gods Laws are intact and have no need to look for why they work.
Science is nothing more than figuring out Gods laws and why they work and how they work. However they who do this need proof to show that the law God decreed for that particular subject is measurable. Take as an example gravity. Gravity holds things to the earth and is measurable by how much pull there is from the earth.

Answer 4

less fact than either is willing to accept as truth.

For example Darwin's partner in the theory of Evolution was a man named Wilson. Wilson broke from Darwin on only one matter. The human mind. He published his ideas even after Darwin's had written him a Private letter asking him not to kill their baby, evolution. To this day the brightest minds on the subject of consciousness have not been able to complete Darwin's work. i.e. Edleman M.D. P.H.D. Noble Prize Winner work "Wider than the Sky" or "Second Nature".


Sorry folks Science offers better questions than answers. Those questions however, keep getting better as we continue to gather better facts about our perception of reality.

Answer 5

Religion is based on faith and science is based on verification.

Answer 6

Evidence, repeatable experiments, peer review and concrete predictions.

Answer 7

Science offers facts...Religion (Faith or belief in God) offers hope.

Answer 8

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