How Do We Know What is True?

One of mankind’s greatest worries is the fear of the unknown. Humans tend to seek answers and explanations for issues they cannot understand. The issue arises when it comes to choosing whether to rely on religion or science for these answers. Science uses observation, discovery, experimentation and testing to understand the principles that govern the universe and its occupants (Humanists UK, 2014). Religion tends to fall more on the supernatural world for revelations, prophetic visions and divine books to provide answers for unresolved issues. Religion is more about having faith and belief in facts while science is all about providing evidence in support of facts.

The nature of science is based on proving theories with hard evidence. For a theory to be acceptable in science, it has to have a strong scientific explanation supporting it. Such explanations are achieved by observing the world carefully in detail in order to formulate ideas about why things behave the way they do. The ideas are then tested through experiments, refining them after every failed experience and then testing them to acquire the desired results. Therefore, a theory in science cannot be a simple opinion as opposed to religion. Substantial theories are those that have been confirmed through evidence obtained from nature (Humanists UK, 2014). These theories guide the world towards new revelations and discoveries. These processes involve systematic compilation of knowledge in order to explain and predict events in the world.

Science can be distinguished from religion since it concerns the natural world while the latter tends to look more into both the supernatural world and the natural world. Scientific explanations are not reliant on gods, angels, ghosts, goblins and demons or other unnatural forces such as miracles and prophetic messages. They base their theories on experiences that mankind can relate to more easily. It would be hard to explain the way demons and angels affect a reality in which no one has ever interacted or seen.

Religion tends to explain more aspects and points of the way people should live their lives with values and virtues drawn from holy doctrines. Religion is more about having belief. Hence, religion tries to divulge more on issues that science cannot explain such as the existence of a soul, God and the purpose of life. Religion can be defined as high level and in essence, science is deemed as low level search for knowledge. In its context, science has boundaries, while religion is more about having belief in the unknown even without proof as the scriptures of Christianity teach. To Christianity, science is just a branch of life that seeks to categorize and discover more about what the sovereign creator has provided.

In the Bible, most characters were guided by visions and revelations to explain various natural phenomena. The Bible indicates that the world will eventually come to an end, which has come into much scrutiny in the scientific world since most prophets have tried to predict the date, but the world still stands to date. The Book of Revelation and some sections of the book of Daniel describe events that will take place towards end of the world. Both books provide signs that will indicate that the end is near, and the systematic events that will follow. Professor Allen Kerkeslager a professor in St. Joseph’s University indicates that the author of the book of Revelation was completely wrong in his predictions. Further, he explains that no ancient books should be used to predict the future. However, science seems to have a similar concept of the apocalypse based on other factors. One of these factors is pollution. The rate at which the world is releasing waste into oceans and harmful gases into the atmosphere is increasing year by year. Most scientists have predicted that in the near future, the world might become inhabitable leading to the end of human life.

Science has shaped human life in numerous ways. It has led to medical breakthroughs that have saved many lives. Transportation has become easier, people can travel long distances using jets and cars. Science gave man the ability to predict the weather to save lives before natural disasters caused by tornadoes and storms actually happen. Man no longer has to rely on tilling the land with their hands, pray for rain for crops to grow, be subject to natural disasters and life-threatening sicknesses. Many have defined it as a liberator for mankind, a kind of god. Religion relies on visions and signs to learn of things that affect mankind. As seen in the tales of Joseph, David and many other personalities in the Bible, God tended to guide them using visions. However, many questions arise on reasons people should rely on unproven visions to guide their daily lives or to anticipate future events (Humanists UK, 2014). Many prophets have come up claiming to know what the future holds but their revelations and visions turned out to be false. Science became more acceptable since claims and revelations were tangible and could be proved.

In overall, the relationship between religion and science is very broad and goes back to centuries. However, one cannot dispel religious facts and beliefs just because they do not align with scientific mindsets. They also have evidence from nature and God’s presence and manifestation in the world. On the other hand, science is whole subject of theories and proof that have their fair share of proof. Both religion and science should be separated since they approach contemporary issues in two different ways.

Reference

Humanists UK. (2014, March 17). "How do we know what is true?" Narrated by Stephen Fry - That's Humanism! [Video file] Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk5IWzTfWeM