Do you think Science and Religion can co-exist in a society?

[Edwardo Piet]

I don't think it's impossible. If people just be nice to each other then maybe. 


I think it's possible to hold scientifically proven worldviews while still being religious. 
After all, religion and science have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

So in my opinion - why not? It is possible. It's just a question of whether people are willing or not I guess.

Interesting. In my religion (I'm a Jew, btw), we're taught that Torah is the same as science, and science is the same as Torah. If the science is in, and it doesn't match what we think the Torah says, then we misunderstood the Torah. Whoops! We should then go back and try to figure out where we took the wrong turn so we can correct our misinterpretation of Torah. If however, the science is not in, then we default to what we think the Torah says.

Cherry-picking at its finest

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Cherry_picking

[Lek]

So the definition of planet is broader now, in light of further discovery. Pluto itself is unchanged. Anything else? You did say there were many things.

The "multi-regional" theory of human evolution vs the currently accepted theory of "out of Africa" theory.  

The continents are unmovable.

The universe is static, neither expanding or contracting.

Neanderthals didn't exist at the same time as humans.

Neanderthals didn't have sex with humans.

Diet soda is safe to consume.

These are just a few, but if I went back a thousand years the list I could go all day.  I know that science is always discovering new answers, but the point is that at any given point in history we were wrong about many things.  In fact I feel certain that many people died because they trusted in a scientific "fact".  The truth is that science doesn't provide the answers to everything, but is just one of different avenues for discovering truth.

[Edwardo Piet]

Neanderthals didn't exist at the same time as humans.

Neanderthals didn't have sex with humans.

Both of those statements are false.

And humans did originate in Africa.

And the continents are not unmovable. You're forgetting plate tectonics and continental drift.

[Lek]

Neanderthals didn't exist at the same time as humans.

Neanderthals didn't have sex with humans.

Both of those statements are false.

And humans did originate in Africa.

And the continents are not unmovable. You're forgetting plate tectonics and continental drift.

That's exactly what I'm trying to point out. They were accepted science at one time not too long ago.

[Simon Moon]

Neanderthals didn't exist at the same time as humans.

Neanderthals didn't have sex with humans.

Both of those statements are false.

And humans did originate in Africa.

And the continents are not unmovable. You're forgetting plate tectonics and continental drift.

I believe he is stating science that has changed over the last 100 years.

[Cyberman]

Which is what you would expect of a set of disciplines designed specifically to refine themselves in the face of updated information. It's sort of the opposite of religion, which is basically "measure with a micrometre, mark with chalk, cut with an axe".

[Aegon]

Co-existence works for me.  Facts are facts.  But we also must remember that many things people considered scientific facts 100 years ago are not accepted as such today.  I also don't accept science as the ultimate method of discovering truth.  If science hasn't or can't provide an answer I'm open to pursuing that answer by other means and have found answers by doing so.

I suppose I know what you mean. But to embrace the tenants of most religions, particularly Judeo-Christian beliefs, is to reject science to some degree. You just can't have it both ways. They directly and fundamentally contradict one another.

Now that's not to say that the two can't co-exist in a society; the fact that we are making better scientific progress than ever before even though religion is still plays such a huge role is proof that they can co-exist.

[Lek]

I suppose I know what you mean. But to embrace the tenants of most religions, particularly Judeo-Christian beliefs, is to reject science to some degree. You just can't have it both ways. They directly and fundamentally contradict one another.

Now that's not to say that the two can't co-exist in a society; the fact that we are making better scientific progress than ever before even though religion is still plays such a huge role is proof that they can co-exist.

What are some tenets of the christian faith that would contradict science?

[The Grand Nudger]

You mean...other than the dragons and rib people and demons and special creations and magical resurrections and ghosts, just as a tiny random sample? That you're about to launch into some pretty serious doublespeak might be indicative of you already -knowing- the answer to that question.....

[Lek]

You mean...other than the dragons and rib people and demons and special creations and magical resurrections and ghosts, just as a tiny random sample?  That you're about to launch into some pretty serious doublespeak might be indicative of you already -knowing- the answer to that question.....

Very insightful.