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cheyanne

(733 posts)
27. why religion and science have nothing to do with each other
Sat Mar 22, 2014, 12:56 PM
Mar 2014

There seems to be some idea floating around that religion and science are talking the same language . . .but they're not. They are self-contained belief systems based on totally different modes of thought.

Take the word "belief"

science: an idea based on repeatable physical or theoretical experiments using the scientific method

religion: an idea based on the revelations of or inspired by a supernatural being known as "god"

or the word "how"

science: an explanation of the process by which something happen

religion: an explanation of why something happens

Both religion and science may stray from such strict definitions of these words.

A scientist may say that because he doesn't need the concept of god to explain the universe, there is no such thing.

Or a religionist may say that because science doesn't include a god, it cannot be true.


Science has never proven a religion wrong . . . to any believer . . .

So what do we do about religions that deny science?

Not much. Fundamentalism arises in times of change. People who have lost their livelihoods, their homeland, their hope for the future will turn to the nearest theory that provides them with a defense to change: the ideal past. And the more change there is the more defensive the religions become.

But the past never returns. An idea never dies but the support for it will dwindle until the next paradigm shift.

Recommendations

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Religion tends to be incredibly myopic. Arugula Latte Mar 2014 #1
An interesting analysis and she makes some very valid points about the usefulness of this cbayer Mar 2014 #2
The most important takeaway, cbayer, is what we should do when they conflict. trotsky Mar 2014 #3
I don't think the author of the article would agree that religion can be of value el_bryanto Mar 2014 #6
Religion can of course be of value to an individual. trotsky Mar 2014 #7
I'd agree - but then I've always felt that science and religion/philosophy el_bryanto Mar 2014 #8
100% agree with this Dorian Gray Mar 2014 #31
And Templeton funds these studies because that's their mission. longship Mar 2014 #4
I didn't really get the Templeton connection until recently. cbayer Mar 2014 #5
Well, I agree that they have no common standing. longship Mar 2014 #9
They are not succeeding in Texas. okasha Mar 2014 #11
Well, there's this. longship Mar 2014 #12
The creationists influence a relatively small number of schools and students. okasha Mar 2014 #13
That's good to hear. longship Mar 2014 #15
You're very welcome. okasha Mar 2014 #17
Jerry's metaphysical naturalism tolerates no dissent. rug Mar 2014 #10
No, that's an obvious falsehood. Donald Ian Rankin Mar 2014 #14
That's an obvious misunderstanding. rug Mar 2014 #16
No, you're simply wrong, I'm afraid. Donald Ian Rankin Mar 2014 #18
That's simply because he lacks the power to do so. rug Mar 2014 #19
What evidence do you have for that? Donald Ian Rankin Mar 2014 #24
It has nothing to do with the First Amendment. rug Mar 2014 #25
I understand how the word "vapid" in the title of the article LiberalAndProud Mar 2014 #30
He's not the best at it but he's comfortable with it.. rug Mar 2014 #33
Thank you. LiberalAndProud Mar 2014 #34
Who's Jerry? edhopper Mar 2014 #20
The OP author, Jerry Coyne. rug Mar 2014 #21
This message was self-deleted by its author edhopper Mar 2014 #23
Jerry Coyne wtote the articlr. okasha Mar 2014 #26
Oops edhopper Mar 2014 #28
Seems to me that edhopper Mar 2014 #22
why religion and science have nothing to do with each other cheyanne Mar 2014 #27
Welcome back to the religion group cheyanne. cbayer Mar 2014 #29
I think many people are resistant to change or take a reflexive defensive stance as it happens. pinto Mar 2014 #32
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