The relationship between science and religion has been a common subject of interest in theology and philosophy. The main question regards the compatibility of religion and science. Religious beliefs can either be sometimes conducive to science while they may hinder scientific inquiry at times. Both religion and science are complicated socio-cultural endeavors that change with time and vary with culture. Religion and science are part of many individual’s life; science helps people understand different phenomena while religion helps give people meaning and the ability to deal with daily emotions. Both are crucial in the life of human beings; they have some similarities and differences, which all play an important part in making the world whole.
Religion refers to the belief in a superhuman who has the power to control the living and the universe. It involves having morals and practices that often connect humans to supernatural beings. Religion requires humans to have devotional and ritual observances and be guided by code in their daily living. It involves the natural and the supernatural world. On the other hand, science refers to a system of knowledge that involves the natural world and its phenomena. It involves unbiased observations, experimentation, and findings in the pursuit of knowledge and truth of fundamental laws (Focus, 2012). Religion is more concerned with the emotional and spiritual world, while science is concerned with the physical world and its phenomena.
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According to many individuals, scientific belief has nothing to do with religious beliefs. This belief is widespread, although it may be untrue. Religion and science share some similarities. In both, three essential elements can be identified: the content of belief, belief, and rationale. In both science and religion, individuals have what they believe in each. In religion, the content is often spiritual, particularly in search of meaning and fulfillment (Big Think, 2012). In science, the content of belief is logic and reasons behind various life phenomena. In science, people search for reasons as to why various issues, like death, occur, while most individuals use religion to console themselves about some discoveries. Also, the action of belief is evident in both religion and science, where individuals believe in both due to various cultural or social reasons. The action of believing is accompanied by reasons for belief, wherein both religion and science, individuals, have reasons for believing. According to Alpmo (2014), science is a religion; perceptions of how science is conducted and its correctness is similar to values in religion, which makes science a religion. These reasons are deep-rooted in the individual depending on their culture, ideologies, and attitudes. Generally, both are systems of belief, where individuals seek answers to various phenomena, either physical or natural.
Science and religion have several differences that make their integration complicated. Science involves issues of the natural world that are measurable or observed. If something cannot be empirically measured, it does not qualify to be scientific. In addition, science seeks knowledge through logic and reasoning through experiments to test different phenomena while religion involves the spiritual world where many aspects are unobservable or unmeasurable (Focus, 2012); this unverifiable knowledge cannot be termed as scientific. For example, religion believes in creation, science believes in evolution while religion follows creation; science does not believe in Intelligent Design since it is scientifically unverifiable (Alpmo, 2014) . In addition, science and religion disagree about the evolution of humans. Scientific reveals a lot of complexity is human cells, this cannot be formed through evolution and adaptation (Behe, 2008) . However, religion involves spiritual feelings, which a very personal. These differences make science and religion incompatible to a large extent.
Science and religion are intertwined through the scientific study of religion. The major questions among them revolve around identifying whether they are compatible. They have both existed from the past but never had distinctions like in the modern world. They are complex socio-cultural ventures that change with time and culture. In the past, scientific innovations were made through religious traditions. Nowadays, they are independent disciplines that play an important role in people's lives. Scientists tend to differ with theologists regarding various facts, which makes them slightly incompatible. The acceptance of some scientific knowledge is greatly influenced by religion. Nevertheless, both religion and science can be compatible depending on the perspectives taken by scientists and theologists.
References
Alpmo, P. (2014, August 17). Religion and science. Religionskunskap .
Behe, M. (2008, March 23). Bibeln vs Darwin Del. utbildningssyfte .
Can Science and Faith Just Get Along? (2012, April 23). Big Think . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-uSpnbYeQs
Science and Faith. (2012, December 12). Focus .
