
Science and religion have long been pitted against each other, with some believing that they are diametrically opposed at their deepest philosophical levels. The conflict thesis, which originated in the 19th century, maintains that there is an inevitable intellectual conflict between the two. However, others argue that science and religion are completely separate and unrelated facets of life, with science dealing with facts and religion with values and morals. While some religious scientists may compartmentalize their beliefs, keeping them separate from their work, others believe that science and religion are not only compatible but can also enhance each other. For instance, science can help religion address complex questions such as medical ethics and climate change, while religion can provide moral grounding for the practical application of scientific discoveries.
What You'll Learn
- Science and religion are two non-conflicting bodies of knowledge
- Science and religion are diametrically opposed at their deepest philosophical levels
- Science and religion make claims to the same intellectual territory
- Science and religion are compatible and can help each other
- Science and religion are incompatible ways of viewing the world
Science and religion are two non-conflicting bodies of knowledge
Science and religion are often viewed as two non-conflicting bodies of knowledge, with science dealing with facts and the material world, and religion concerning itself with the spirit, values, and morality. This perspective suggests that each domain has its own separate sphere of influence and authority, and that conflict only arises due to misunderstandings or excessive zeal on either side.
This conciliatory perspective is widely held, especially in America, and is reflected in the large number of religious scientists and religious people who accept science. Many early scientific leaders were devout Christians, and even today, many scientists identify with a religion and find no conflict between their scientific work and their faith.
The compatibility of science and religion is further supported by the idea that science is not the only source of facts and knowledge. Religion, for instance, can guide the practical application of scientific discoveries, as seen in the development of modern medical ethics. Additionally, science cannot answer all questions, especially those related to values, ethics, and God's existence, which are within the domain of religion.
However, this conciliatory view has been criticised as naive and inconsistent. Critics argue that science and religion are fundamentally opposed at their deepest philosophical levels. The supernatural religious worldview assumes the existence of transcendent, immaterial forces and a designed universe, while science assumes a naturalistic, materialistic perspective where all forces behave objectively or randomly. The scientific method, which relies on controlled experiments and empirical evidence, is incompatible with the untestable, unmeasurable, and non-random occurrences common in supernatural religions.
Furthermore, both science and religion make "truth statements" about the universe, and conflict arises when these statements contradict each other. For example, evolutionary biology and cosmology have shrunk the boundaries of faith, and religious doctrines such as creationism have hindered scientific progress in certain fields.
In conclusion, while some argue that science and religion are two non-conflicting bodies of knowledge, others highlight the inherent philosophical and methodological differences between them, suggesting that the "war" between science and religion is a result of conflicting ways of viewing and understanding the world.
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Science and religion are diametrically opposed at their deepest philosophical levels
Science and religion are often seen as two conflicting bodies of knowledge, with science dealing in facts and religion in values and morals. However, this idea of peaceful coexistence is misleading. Science and religion are fundamentally opposed at their deepest philosophical levels, and their conflict is inevitable as they make claims to the same intellectual territory—the origin of the universe and humanity's relationship to it.
The traditional Western religious worldview assumes that the universe and its inhabitants are designed and created by forces or beings that transcend the material world. This supernatural worldview asserts that the material world reflects a mysterious plan that is knowable only to a select few, and criticising or questioning this plan, especially on moral or ethical grounds, is strongly discouraged. In contrast, science assumes that there are no transcendent, immaterial forces, and that all forces within the universe behave in an objective or random manner. The nature of these forces and scientific knowledge, in general, is revealed only through human effort and inquiry. The scientific method, which involves controlled experiments, is incompatible with the religious worldview, which requires the consideration of untestable, unmeasurable, and non-random occurrences.
The findings of science are often welcomed for their practical value, but the scientific method itself is often treated with suspicion or scorn by religious believers. This is because it reveals the material workings of the mysteries of life that once inspired religious awe. From the religious perspective, the goal of science seems to be to push belief in the supernatural to increasingly remote realms, threatening its existence altogether. However, the goal of science is not to disprove the supernatural but to understand the universe through a naturalistic lens. Scientists assume that the universe is neutral, indifferent to human concerns, and open to all questions, even those concerning human ethics.
While it is possible to define a non-supernatural religious worldview that does not conflict with science, the traditional Western religious worldview, with its assumption of a divinely designed and created universe, is inherently at odds with the fundamental assumptions and methods of science. This incompatibility between science and religion has been remarkably easy to dismiss, but it underscores the deeper philosophical divide between these two worldviews.
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Science and religion make claims to the same intellectual territory
The question of whether science and religion are at war is a complex one, with some seeing them as enemies, others as completely separate, and others still as complementary. While the "warfare" model assumes an inherent conflict between the two, it fails to account for the many instances of overlap and mutual benefit.
Science and religion do make claims to the same intellectual territory, particularly regarding the origin of the universe and humanity's relationship to it. The supernatural religious worldview assumes that the universe and its inhabitants are designed, created, and guided by forces or beings that transcend the material world. In contrast, science assumes that all forces within the universe behave in an objective or random fashion and that the universe is neutral to human concerns.
However, this does not necessarily imply a conflict between science and religion. Many religious scientists integrate their faith and scientific work, seeing science as a tool or gift from God to help people and explore the world. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many religious communities prayed for an end to the pandemic and for scientists' success in vaccine development, demonstrating a collaborative rather than combative perspective.
Furthermore, religion can positively impact science, such as in the development of modern medical ethics, and science can enhance spiritual life by revealing more of God's creation. While certain scientific discoveries, such as evolution, may clash with religious doctrine, most things studied through the natural sciences do not raise theological concerns.
The relationship between science and religion is complex and multifaceted, and it is challenging to reduce it to a simple "warfare" model. While there may be tensions and conflicts between specific scientific findings and religious doctrines, the two fields also have areas of overlap and potential for mutual benefit.
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Science and religion are compatible and can help each other
While some see science and religion as enemies at war, others see them as separate and unrelated facets of life. However, science and religion are not mutually exclusive, and they can coexist and complement each other.
Firstly, science and religion can interact and enhance each other. Science can purify religion from error and superstition, and religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes. For example, religion can guide the practical application of scientific discoveries, such as in the development of modern medical ethics. Many early scientific leaders were devout Christians, and some scientific leaders today remain religious. Science can also enhance the spiritual life of believers, as scientific discoveries can reveal the glory of God the creator.
Secondly, science and religion address different types of questions and have different goals. Science is a system of knowledge about the world and its behaviour, while religion is about morality, God, and the afterlife. Science assumes that there are no transcendent, immaterial forces, and its findings are revealed through human effort and inquiry. On the other hand, religion assumes that the universe and its inhabitants are designed and created by forces or beings that transcend the material world. This assumption is based on faith and revelation rather than empirical evidence. By acknowledging their distinct domains, science and religion can coexist without conflict.
Thirdly, science and religion can be compatible because they serve different purposes. Science provides factual knowledge about the world, while religion offers guidance on morality, purpose, and meaning. Science tells us what is, while religion helps us decide how we should behave. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, religious communities prayed for an end to the pandemic and trusted in scientific recommendations and vaccine research. In this way, science and religion can work together for the benefit of society.
Finally, science and religion can inform each other and promote mutual understanding. For instance, religion can inspire scientific questions and advancements, and science can deepen our understanding of religious teachings. While there may be tensions and conflicts between science and religion, they can also have a positive and constructive relationship.
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Science and religion are incompatible ways of viewing the world
While some see science and religion as enemies at war, others see them as entirely separate and unrelated facets of life. However, the two worldviews do make claims to the same intellectual territory, and this can lead to conflict.
Religion, on the other hand, assumes that the universe and its inhabitants have been designed, created, and guided by forces or beings that transcend the material world. The material world is thought to reflect a mysterious plan originating in these forces or beings, a plan that is knowable by humans only to the extent that it has been revealed to a select few. Criticizing or questioning this plan is often discouraged, especially when it touches on questions of morals or ethics.
The conflict between science and faith rests on the methods they use to decide what is true, and the truths that result. Science relies on observing, testing, and replication to learn about the world. In contrast, religion adjudicates truth not empirically, but via dogma, scripture, and authority – in other words, through faith.
The scientific method is incompatible with the religious, supernaturalist worldview. Untestable, unmeasurable, and non-random occurrences are commonplace in all supernatural religions and pseudosciences. This fundamental incompatibility has been remarkably easy to dismiss, and the findings of science have been eagerly welcomed for their practical value. However, the scientific method has often been treated with suspicion and scorn, perceived as responsible for revealing the material workings of the mysteries of life that used to inspire religious awe.
The goal of science is not to push belief in the supernatural to remote redoubts until it disappears entirely. Rather, a non-mysterious, understandable, material universe is the basic assumption behind all of science. Scientists must assume that the universe they are investigating is playing fair, that miracles do not happen, and that there is no arcane or spiritual knowledge open only to a few.
While it is possible to define a non-supernatural "religious" worldview that is not in conflict with science, the supernatural religious worldview is fundamentally incompatible with the scientific method.
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Frequently asked questions
The conflict thesis is a historiographical approach in the history of science that originated in the 19th century with John William Draper and Andrew Dickson White. It maintains that there is an intrinsic intellectual conflict between religion and science, and that it inevitably leads to hostility.
The consensus among historians of science is that the conflict thesis has long been discredited, with historians of science widely accepting a complexity thesis in the 21st century.
The "warfare" model assumes conflict from the start and is not very helpful for understanding evolution and Christianity.
The "accommodationism" claim asserts that science and religion are compatible and can even help each other.