Galileo Galilei, Charles Darwin, Carl Sagan, and most notably Richard Dawkins had been known for their crusade protecting science from religion. Throughout the age, science and religion co-exist together with religion as a source of inspiration for scientist to know more of the nature. It had sparked many inventions however, it seemed that religion will be in conflict with science with many scientific discovery contradicting religious beliefs.
Science and religion is in conflict these days as religion refuse to change and admit the fallacy of their beliefs. Religious institution inclined to adopt the stand of “I'm always right, your theory is nonsense” due to the strong belief that the “holy book” speaks literal truth as it is “direct word of God” without considering the possibility of inaccuracy of the “holy scriptures” as it is written by man who are bound to make mistake, the same with scientific textbooks. The Galileo Affair and rejection of Theory of Evolution by many churches had shown the stubbornness of religion. Religion itself is unable to admit its mistake as it will destroy the foundation of the religion itself. The Theory of Evolution contradicts the creation myth in the Bible (and also the Koran) had been rejected in many countries including USA and Turkey. Theory of evolution suggest that all living beings comes from a common ancestor which adapt and evolve slowly through natural selection. It suggest that birds and mamals comes after reptiles and human and apes share same ancestor, much of what contradicting the 6 days of creation. The theory itself is mocked by several creationist who defend the biblical creation myth, notably Kirk Cameron who suggest that if the theory is true there should be such thing as “crocoduck”. It is hard for religion to accept science that contradicts to their beliefs therefore making it hard for science and religion to co-exist together.
Religion despise the very nature of science that question religious teaching, branding many scientific research as blasphemy, contributing to the impossibility of religion and science to exist together. Genetic engineering had been condemned as “man playing god” due to the very nature of the research could lead to birth of a new species. However, it should also be noted that selective breeding and cultivation could also lead to new species artificially. Animal was not domesticated until human learn that like them, animals could also breed. The farm animal we have now is the product of selective breeding done by the hands of humans who breed them for food. As these animals lose their need to hunt, they lose their survival skill that is needed in the wild which obviously lead to creation of new species. Genetic engineering only do it in different way at much faster rate. Galileo's Helio-centrism which widely accepted today, is against several verses in the bible which suggest that the earth is the centre of universe. Because of his strong stance in protecting his theory, the Catholic Church of that time charged Galileo with house arrest for heresy. Hence, science and religion could not mix as religion adopt aggressive stance against science.
Science despise the supernatural nature of religion, many modern day scientist cite it as illogical. From the perspective of science, religion could only serve as pseudo-science, nothing to do with knowledge, just a mere superstition beliefs serving to explain what science will never be able to explain such as origin of universe or afterlife. Richard Dawkins had once compares religion with myth, and state that there is no difference between them. Scientist had questioned the accuracy of “holy scriptures” several times, not only on the issue of “Origin of Species” but also on the age of the earth and the universe, the existence of God, extra-terrestrial beings, the power of prayer and miracles. Scientist rejects the idea of using supernatural intervention as an answer to unexplainable events as it does not give an answer of how it actually happens. Thus, religion and science could not mix as scientist dismiss the reliability of the “holy scriptures” due to superstitious nature of religion.
Even though it seems that mixing religion and science comparable to mixing water with oil, there is still a way for them to exist together. A wise man once said “build a bridge not a wall”, there are groups trying to mix both both religion and science. Another way to avoid conflict between both side is to took them separately.
Several liberal churches, notably The Progressive Christians in America have tried to mix science in their religious teaching. The liberal wing of Christianity accepts science as fact and the “holy scripture” as moral guidelines not as source of information as they believed that the bible is subjected to prejudice and its scientific accuracy is questionable as it is written by man who are bound to make mistake and it was written when the world only knew a small percentage of scientific knowledge that is known by modern man. Science on the other hand continue to evolve, continue to be reexamined. However, there is not many of this kind of religious institution in the world, there is only a small percentage of this kind of religious institution and this kind of religious institution is often condemned by others. Most simply reject scientific finding that oppose the “holy scripture” and labeling them as blasphemy.
Several scholars had agreed that religion and science should be taken separately to avoid conflict. They have to be treated as two separate magisteria a view commonly known as NOMA. Science and religion occupy two separate realms of human experience. Spiritual realm for religion and the physical realm for science. Several scientist and theologists agreed to this view that science and religion should be taken separately as there is no way for science to prove or disprove religion and there is no way for religion to give logical explanation on natural happenings. Even though several religious leaders, mainly Pope Pius XII and Pope John Paul II accepted this view, religion often poke into the magisteria of science. The recurring debate in America on Theory of Evolution and 6 days of creation is a fine example that it is difficult for both side to respect the limit of one another. Francis Collins once cited that there is no way to separate religion and science as both are partially overlapping each other. There is no distinct line between both magisteria making it difficult to classify some issue, whether they should be handled by religion or science.
Ok, that's all. I'll try different approach next time.
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