Title of Assignment Is science just another form of religion, with people like physicist Stephen Hawking among its high priests? Are science and religions simply both similar social constructions? In your response to this question, specifically consider how irrational social factors influence everything, including science and religion.
Introduction
One of today's most disputable and warmed issues is whether the clash between science and religion could be accommodated. The verbal confrontation between science and religion is never out of the news. In this article, we will examine the similarities and conflicts between Science and Religion. Then we will observe the effects of separating religion and science and effects of irrational factors on both. At the end we will conclude with defining science as a form of religion.
Science and religion on the same path
It is generally perceived that science and religion are two opposite forces which can never fuse together. Science is based on methodologies and aims that are related to material dimension while religion is more focused on spirituality. It seems like all the ideas, system, and degree of religion and science oppose one another and are diverse. Science has a basis on tests and results while religion is based on experiences. Science uses experiments to verify an idea while religion uses feelings and spirituality to validate it. (Dixon 2008)
History shows us that, on the surface, there has always been a clash between science and religion. At the same time, science has not been able to present answers to all questions. In principle, science and religion have never been on the path of collision. Strategies could be assorted however target is identical: Search for unknown. (Full...
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...The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism. 5 Updated Edition. Shambhala.
Gary B. Ferngren, 2002. Science and Religion: A Historical Introduction. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press.
John Hedley Brooke, 1991. Science and Religion: Some Historical Perspectives (Cambridge Studies in the History of Science). 0 Edition. Cambridge University Press.
Jonathan Sacks, 2012. The Great Partnership: Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning. 1 Edition. Schocken.
Michael Clancy, 2010. Bishop says nun excommunicated for allowing abortion. National Catholic Reporter, 46(16), 1(2).
Robert W. Fuller, 2012. Religion and Science: A Beautiful Friendship?. Edition. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Thomas Dixon, 2008. Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction. Edition. Oxford University Press.
“The lack of conflict between science and religion arises from a lack of overlap between their respective domains of professional expertise—science in the empirical constitution of the universe, and religion in the search for proper ethical values and the spiritual meaning of our lives. The attainment of wisdom in a full life requires extensive attention to both domains—for a great book tells us that the truth can make us free and that we will live in optimal harmony with our fellows when we learn to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.”
Science and faith are generally viewed as two topics that do not intermingle. However, Andy Crouch’s work, Delight in Creation, suggests that there is an approach to both faith and science that allows support of scientists in the church community. There is an approach that can regard science as a career that can reflect the nature of God.
White, Andrew Dickinson, A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology, New York: D. Appleton and company, 1996.
It can also be opinionated. Scientists observe and experiment in order to prove or disprove something. Religionists only have to believe and put faith into God. Sometimes religion and science are exclusive to each other because they have a different perspective on certain topics. For example, scientists claim that it was the Big Bang that created the universe.
Price, Tom. "Science and Religion: Can Their Conflicts Be Resolved?" Science and Religion: Can Their Conflicts Be Resolved? 23.12 (2013): 281-304. Print.
Haldeman, I.M. Christian Science in the Light of Holy Scripture. Chicago: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1909.
Thus lets not forget the differences that they have which creates the conflict between them. Scientific testing is an exercise while praying that the use of good sense is two valid levels of observation of an idea. Conjecture of theories plays a far more important role in science than in theology for mythology. While religion reuses its myths, science generally disregards them when proven untrue. Science is a natural science that can be defined as the sociohistoric process of understanding the physical universe and our place in it....
Plantinga, Alvin, "Religion and Science", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2014 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), forthcoming URL = .
Science and Religion dialogue has been a bitter-sweet topic for many people over the years. The controversy is not only common between one sole community, but affects a variety. The beliefs held about these topics has the potential to personally effect an individual, whether it be positively or negatively. In the United States, we draw only a fine line between religion and science, often failing to realize that the two benefit each other in copious ways but are not meant to interpreted in the same way. Due to this perspective, people seem to be influenced to pick one or the other, when in reality we should treat both science and religion with the same respect and recognize that they are completely separate from one another, along with having individual purposes. John F. Haught, a distinguished research professor at Georgetown University, published a book titled, “Science & Religion: From Conflict to Conversation”. In it he evaluates each side, persuading the reader that the truth is that both realms may benefit from each other despite the differences emphasized. John F. Haught introduces his audience with four approaches on Science and Religion. Haught’s third approach, contact, is of major significance to aid in the response of: “Does Science Rule out a Personal God?”
The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment paved the way for people to think about knowledge differently through the development of independent reasoning, emphasis on discovering truths separate from religion, and the rise of individuality. The Scientific Revolution had sparked changes in ways of thinking of knowledge by emphasizing that knowledge isn’t always derived from religion. For example, Galileo Galilei, a rising physicist of that time, argued that “the Bible is not chained in every expression to conditions as strict as those which govern all physical effects” (Galilei) in order to defend the heliocentric idea that many people opposed at the time. In making this comment, Galileo demonstrates that science and religion can coexist, and there are times when these
Christianity has no conflict with science but it does with the idea of scientism. Science is based on observation and methods; whereas, Christianity is based more on personal experiences. Our world is very vibrant and distinctive and just one perspective cannot fully explain the world. Our planet is unique because all the natural laws are in harmony. By observing our planet people have concluded that every law is perfect and right for people who live on it. All the forces and elements are in balance to sustain our life. Every detail was has a specific purpose to it. Science supports that everything in the world is surprisingly “fine-t...
...wever, in the best interest of advancing education and an enlightened society, science must be pursued outside of the realm of faith and religion. There are obvious faith-based and untestable aspects of religion, but to interfere and cross over into everyday affairs of knowledge should not occur in the informational age. This overbearing aspect of the Church’s influence was put in check with the scientific era, and the Scientific Revolution in a sense established the facet of logic in society, which allows us to not only live more efficiently, but intelligently as well. It should not take away from the faith aspect of religion, but serve to enhance it.
Barbour, Ian G. Religion in an Age of Science. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1990. Print. (BL 240.2 .B368 1990)
At first glance, many facets of science and religion seem to be in direct conflict with each other. Because of this, I have generally kept them confined to separate spheres in my life. I have always thought that science is based on reason and cold, hard facts and is, therefore, objective. New ideas have to be proven many times by different people to be accepted by the wider scientific community, data and observations are taken with extreme precision, and through journal publications and papers, scientists are held accountable for the accuracy and integrity of their work. All of these factors contributed to my view of science as objective and completely truthful. Religion, on the other hand, always seems fairly subjective. Each person has their own personal relationship with God, and even though people often worship as a larger community with common core beliefs, it is fine for one person’s understanding of the Bible and God to be different from another’s. Another reason that Christianity seems so subjective is that it is centered around God, but we cannot rationally prove that He actually exists (nor is obtaining this proof of great interest to most Christians). There are also more concrete clashes, such as Genesis versus the big bang theory, evolution versus creationism, and the finality of death versus the Resurrection that led me to separate science and religion in my life. Upon closer examination, though, many of these apparent differences between science and Christianity disappeared or could at least be reconciled. After studying them more in depth, science and Christianity both seem less rigid and inflexible. It is now clear that intertwined with the data, logic, and laws of scien...
First off, it is important to realize that religion and science have to be related in some way, even if it is not the way I mentioned before. If religion and science were completely incompatible, as many people argue, then all combinations between them would be logically excluded. That would mean that no one would be able to take a religious approach to a scientific experiment or vice versa. Not only does that occur, but it occurs rather commonly. Scientists often describe their experiments and writings in religious terms, just as religious believers support combinations of belief and doubt that are “far more reminiscent of what we would generally call a scientific approach to hypotheses and uncertainty.” That just proves that even though they are not the same, religion and science have to be related somehow.