When Science Meets Religion: Enemies, Strangers Or Partners?

I have chosen the article, Does Science Threaten Religion? (p. 497) as my focus for this tutorial. I strongly believe the article uses the structural-functionalism approach as well as scientific sociology.

Within philosophy, there has long been a question about the relationship between science and religion. These two systems of human experience have undoubtedly had a lot of influence in the course of mankind’s development. The philosopher Ian Barbour created a taxonomy regarding science and religion that has become widely influential. His taxonomy postulates that there are four ways in which science and religion are thought to interact. The four categories are: conflict, independence, dialogue, and integration. By using articles from a select few philosophers, theologians, and scientists, it is clear to see the ways in which these two systems of human experience are categorized in the four categories presented by Ian barbour. However, it will be apparent that the category of conflict may be seen as the most dominant in regard to the interaction between science and religion.

When dwelling into the explorations about science and religion, one can find it quite amusing. "If science and religion are to continue to coexist it seems opposed to the conditions of modern thought to admit that this result can be brought about by the so-called

Faith Matters. (2010, April 02). Scholar says that religion and Science can coexist. Lab Activity: Chapter1. Podcast retrieved from

“In the Forest of Gombe” by Jane Goodall describes her own perspective of the correlation between religions and science through her experiences in the forest at Gombe where she finds comforting to recover from the loss of her husband. Developed several new concepts regarding life, Goodall comes up with the idea of the coexistence of science and religion. Agreeing with Goodall, however, the windows that Goodall sees through have no drawbacks.

The Pivotal Dichotomies of Science and Religion Science can help identify and elaborate upon the laws of nature, help humans ascertain an improved understanding of the universe, and enable people to acquire powerful thinking skills to generate innovative and beneficial ideas. However, in the recent centuries many scholars have addressed the numerous conflicts that have emerged between the fields of science and religion. Although certain similar factors can render science and religion compatible, many differences have caused a contentious divisiveness to permeate between the two fields. Many philosophers have contemplated and debated the relationship between science and religion.

In today’s world there is an ongoing debate between faith and science. The extraordinary advances of science have sometimes led to the belief that it is capable of answering by itself all of man's questions and resolving all his problems. Some have concluded that by now there is no longer any need for God. It has been said that one must choose between faith and science: either one embraces one or believes in the other. People seem to have faith belief in God as creator of life and some have scientific beliefs in the spontaneous generation of life from inanimate matter (Wright 111). Between faith and science there will always be conflict. A scientist who is committed to scientific research no longer has a need for God and vice versa is

From the beginning of time, science and religion have fought each other. Both trying to explain life and the things that go on in our daily lives. There are many topics where science and Christianity don’t see eye to eye. Both believe many different things. Religion believes in faith and science believes in observing the environment and phenomena that happens around us.

A whole section of his essay is titled Science as a Source of Spirituality. Doing these things furthers the essay’s popularity and appeal to groups outside of a scientific

When it comes to Christianity and science, neither side is truly at piece with the idea of an agreement. This feud between the two sides is usually applied by people who are atheists or don’t believe in any kind of spirituality and it applies to science as well. Christianity and spirituality produce unfathomable feelings in people. By speaking to peoples’ most profound values it makes practicing science difficult and they must be careful to approach these processes with familiarity, compassion and precaution. Unfortunately, it is rare people in the profession of science take into consideration these values. Although it isn’t their

Conceptions holding that science and religion should operate (epistemologically and philosophically) in basically the same manner lead to the Conflict or Integration models . At issue for philosophy, from the most formal seminars in leading universities to the most basic ideas of personal morality conceived by individuals world-wide, is achieving a supreme understanding of humanity and its role in the world. Should this understanding encompass both science and religion (Dialogue and Integration) or favor one or the other rather than some synthesis of both (Independence and Conflict)? How a specific philosophy answers these sets of essential questions determines how science and religion will interact and the role of each in a greater understanding of the world.

There is a long documented history of conflict between religion and science. As two institutions that have a considerable effect on society and global opinion, and ones that are based on very separate principles, conflict seems almost inevitable and history proves this. But in the modern age will it ever be possible for us to reconcile the ideas of two things that create and explain the foundations of our society?

The relationship between science and religion can be approached by three features: sociological, historical, and epistemological. In these views sometimes science and religion are compatible and in others incompatible, due to the reason that science is based on the objective of knowledge. However, religion utilizes knowledge of the objective just as knowledge utilizes the subjective. Like the book states, “Some people reject any science that contains the word ‘evolution’; others reject all forms of religion….. Evolution is science, however, and only science

There can be hardly any compromise between science and religion. Science deals with the material world that we know religion is concerned with a divine order that we imagine. Science believes in things that can be proved; religion deals with ideas that cannot be proved. Science depends on reason; religion on intuition. The scientist bases himself on material facts; religion takes its stand on spiritual ideas. The scientist works in the laboratory of the material world; the religious teacher probes into the recesses of the inward mind. The goal of science is achievement; that of religion is realization. The truths of science can be proved to all; the so-called truths of religion have to be taken on trust. Hence there is bound to be hostility between the man of science and the man of religion.

Distinguished scientist and Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Charles Townes, united two similar goals within the categories of religion and science (Powell, 2005). United by similar goals, Townes articulated that science seeks to discern the laws and order within our universe (Powell, 2005). Moreover, when referenced religion, Townes, referred readers to the understanding that the universe’s purpose and meaning, along with how humankind fits into both aspects (Powell, 2005).