Science and Religion

[ManMachine]

---

I think one of the biggest myths is that religion / Theism is at odds with science. That is, the more we discover, the more it "buries" God.
This post typically looks at how "naïve" ancient religious were and that they did not have an understanding of the world, and the more we discover the world, it highlights how ignorant people were back then.

Science and religion answer DIFFERENT questions and attempt to gain different knowledge about the world.

Let me use an analogy.

Suppose we are in the late 17th century (the year the first motor vehicle) was built.

Lets suppose you are walking down a country track by yourself and you see this motor vehicle parked and their is no one around it. Lets also assume, you don't know what you are seeing, you never knew anything about a motor vehicle, you don't know its purpose. Basically, you see a chunk of metal in front of you.

You go up to it and look with amazement, you kick the wheel softly and you go inside and you think "what is this"?. Then slowly, slowly you turn the steering wheel and you realise the wheel turns etc etc. You turn on the engine etc etc and you begin to realise that this is a transporter. It transports you from location to location. It has a purpose. You are happy, ecstatic. You look around you and their is no one around The designer is not around, no one. No one knew anything about it. Days go past and you realise this is the best thing. You are happy. It is taking you from place to place. What a difference it has made to your life. Logically, it is reasonable to expect that this thing Is designed with the intent of transporting you. All at the same time, you are IGNORANT of the mechanics of how the thing works, ie, mechanics, combustion etc etc. You have no idea how it works. However, everyday, you are praising everyday in your mind the creator of this great machinery. "What a great designer, how smart is he etc etc". This person in my example is like the Theist. Based on what he sees, he is reasonable to conclude that this piece of machinery is designed, even though he has never seen the designer, never had any "a priori' knowledge of cars etc etc.

Now, as time goes along, other people see this car and they investigate it, observe it, test it and find out how it works. In my example, this is like scientists. They are working out how things work, gaining knowledge etc etc.

Now, aren't BOTH parties correct and rational? The person who found the car, even though he was ignorant on how it worked, he just praised the designer he never saw and basically said "someone did this".....and the mechanics who figured out how it works? Aren't BOTH views correct?

Science is the study of the natural world, how things work, ie, thunder, lightning, weather, oceans etc etc etc. Theology is the study of the designer ete etc.

I don't see the conflict. They both attempt to answer different questions and attempt to gain different knowledge.

---

Science (if we are to be so loose with the term) and religion are both social constructs and therefore both will be shaped by the needs of the people who construct them.

Religion offers hope through censorship, if you follow the rules (scriptures, dogma, etc.) you will have a better future (salvation, enlightenment, succor in times of crisis, understanding, etc.)

Science offers hope through censorship, if you adhere to the rules (scientific method, peer review, etc.) you will have a better future (longer life-span, better health, warmth, comfort, understanding, etc.)

It is no coincidence that these two constructs offer the same remedies to the human condition. They are both anthropocentric systems, specifically constructed to meet human needs.

It is not science or religion that are 'at odds' as you say, but the people who claim to represent them... because they are human.

And for however long we have left to wander this lonely rock, it will always be (in the words of David Byrne) the same as it ever was.


MM