Can science and religion coexist?
Science and religion can coexist, despite their differences when it comes to
knowledge of the world. Science and religion provide us with different
perspectives of the world we live in.
Our modern society is a mixture of many cultures and beliefs, so it is not
surprising that opinions will sometimes conflict, and one prime example of this is
the controversy over science and religion. These two views may seem to be in
conflict, but I feel that science and religion are, in fact, compatible.
The basic goal of science is to explain natural events, explore their causes,
predict their future behavior, and control those events. Through this process,
mankind gains a greater understanding of his past and gains knowledge that can
be used to change the future. Studies in science have led to discoveries that
make our lives easier, safer, and longer. Science achieves these goals by using
human intellect combined with scientific instruments to understand the patterns
of nature. The scientific method of understanding the universe uses reason to
systematically test hypotheses.
Religion’s goal is to propagate certain beliefs about how people should live.
Followers of religion usually believe in a supernatural creator who determines
whether certain actions are desirable or undesirable. Some religions even
promise an afterlife. 86% of the world’s population claims to believe in a higher
being even though religion is achieved through faith, something which cannot be
measured or observed, but only experienced subjectively. Given this information,
it would seem that these two views are very different , but certain similarities do
exist.
Both science and religion have evolved and changed over time. Many years ago
science involved a great deal of superstition. Religion has also changed its
methods: In the past religion was forced violently upon people, Fainally, both
science and religion disagree within themselves: Scientists argue interpretation
of data much as religious people argue interpretations of ancient texts.
Significant differences also arise when comparing science and religion.
Science explores the natural world and believes only what can be seen, tested,
and repeated using evidence.Religion acknowledges the existence of
supernatural forces as a matter of course. These are accepted on the basis of
personal feeling or intuitions so therefore, cannot be scientifically proved or
disproved.
The greatest difference between science and religion, however, and the one that
I feel causes the perceived conflict. Some religious groups view science as a
threat to their beliefs. They fear that science is attempting to disprove the
existence of the supernatural, thus destroying the basis of their morality. Some
scientists treat religious followers with disdain and view religion as nonsense
because it cannot be discreetly measured or understood, thus the societal
constraints imposed by religion are foolish and should be eliminated. Even
worse, some individuals deliberately muddle the two in an attempt to further
some personal agenda, for example, politicians who campaign against stem-cell
research because it is “immoral.” By clearly defining the role of science and the
role of religion, and by removing personal bias, I feel that most individuals would
see that science and religion are compatible, and that, in fact, embracing both
ideologies allows a full understanding of the world we live in and the quality of life
we experience.
So the conflict between science and religion is only in the minds of those who do
not understand the aims of establishments. Commonalities exist between the
two, but, in essence, they are separate. Each represents a way to look at the
world, but choosing one exclusively will not give a valid veiw. Science and
religion are compatible because they address different aspects of our lives, and,
therefore, cannot be in conflict with one another.
