Why Science and Religion Can and Must Coexist

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Throughout history, religion and science have been in constant conflict with each other. The arrest and excommunication of astronomer Galileo1 for teaching that the earth is flat and revolves around the sun is just one example of this conflict. Many religious leaders2 and scientists3 today believe that science and religion are fundamentally different and will always contradict each other. But with what reason? Religion has always tried to answer our questions in an instinctual way, based on emotions, morality and scripture. Science, meanwhile, removes all emotion and focuses on facts and evidence. On the surface they seem to be polar opposites. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown4 is novel about a modern day conflict between the Catholic Church and a brotherhood of oppressed scientists that explores the reasons and result of this seemingly ongoing battle. Although science and religion often seem to conflict, they are mutually dependent ways of thinking that ultimately seek the answers to the same fundamental questions; how and why we exist - our creation and commission.
Many people believe that religion has already determined how we were created. But every religion has its own unique and often contradictory creation story. Some creation stories say the earth is really the back of a giant turtle5, others say that a goddess danced in the ocean to separate water from air6, and still others believe the entire world was created simply by one’s voice7. While there are thousands of these stories, even looking at a few of them demonstrates just how different they are. If religion really can explain how we were created, these stories should be the same. Given that they are not, It becomes obvious that these stories are “parables” rather than f...

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... International Version) - Bible Gateway." 9 Dec. 2013
8 "Library : The Faith and Reason of Father George ... - Catholic Culture." 2009. 7 Dec. 2013
9 "New images confirm Big Bang theory - Telegraph." 2013. 7 Dec. 2013
10 "The search for antimatter | CERN." 2013. 7 Dec. 2013
11 "CNS Movie Review: Angels & Demons - Catholic News Service." 2009. 9 Dec. 2013
12 "Fides et Ratio, Encyclical Letter, John Paul II, 14 September 1998." 8 Dec. 2013

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