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

[vorlon13]

Is topic actually FUBAR'd though ?

Religion can't exist with RELIGION, let alone science, as 70,000 Christian schisms has manifestly proven.

[chimp3]

Is topic actually FUBAR'd though ?

Religion can't exist with RELIGION, let alone science, as 70,000 Christian schisms has manifestly proven.

Good point. Scientists have done a much better job of cooperating and finding unity than the religious. When is the last time you heard of a string theorist blowing up a geologist ?

[Edwardo Piet]

A better question would've been

"Do you think Science and Religion can co-exist in an individual?"

Of course they can and do.

Even logically contradictory beliefs can co-exist in an individual. People make logical errors all the time.

Not only can religious beliefs that say nothing about the natural world co-exist in someone that has scientfic beliefs about the natural world, and not only can someone who does have religious beliefs that say something about the natural world, for example literal creationism that conflicts with evolutionary theory, but even logically contradictory beliefs regarding religion and science can co-exist in an individual: For example someone could believe that God created everything and yet everything also evolved. I don't mean they believe God created things and then things evolved afterwards. I mean someone believes that God never created anything but they also believe that God created everything, they believe that evolution 100% did everything and also 100% did nothing. Someone can even believe square circles are possible or 2+2=5 so of course these things can co-exist. It's called psychosis.

And cognitive dissonance is a thing, yo.

[Minimalist]

Basically, no.  Religion needs enemies to keep the tribe in line and make sure they keep filling the collection plate.  Science does not need religion at all.

As Mencken correctly noted:

[chimp3]

One of my favorite debates on this issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFAko80vgwg

[Alex K]

I don't understand how they do it, but these gentlemen apparently can...

[Aliza]

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.

[chimp3]

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.

If the science is not in why not just say "I don't know!" .

[Aliza]

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.

If the science is not in why not just say "I don't know!" .

Saying "I don't know" just sounds lazy, like we're somehow destined not to know. We're curious, and we like to know what's going on and how it all happens. We may not know how it all happens yet, but many of us like trying to figure it out. As for believing that the Torah has the answers when we don't otherwise know the science behind it, it's not really hurting anyone; it's just a religious belief. -One that doesn't happen to interfere with adherents having careers in the sciences. It answers the question for those who aren't really that interested or are too young or under educated to understand the complexities of the inner-workings of the universe. Having an answer, even if it's a very simple one, helps some people sleep at night.

[chimp3]

If the science is not in why not just say "I don't know!" .

Saying "I don't know" just sounds lazy, like we're somehow destined not to know. We're curious, and we like to know what's going on and how it all happens. We may not know how it all happens yet, but many of us like trying to figure it out. As for believing that the Torah has the answers when we don't otherwise know the science behind it, it's not really hurting anyone; it's just a religious belief. -One that doesn't happen to interfere with adherents having careers in the sciences. It answers the question for those who aren't really that interested or are too young or under educated to understand the complexities of the inner-workings of the universe. Having an answer, even if it's a very simple one, helps some people sleep at night.

Perhaps the idea that we don't know makes people uneasy and they have to lean on a mythical Sky Daddy to calm themselves. Like a young child with a pacifier.