I often hear the argument that science is trying to destroy religion and vice versa. This is a pity, because science has nothing to do with religion, any more so than my field (graphic design) has to do with cooking. Science is a method of understanding. As a field, it is simply uninterested in what any religion has to say: you follow the scientific method, period.
Therefore, any time a scientist talks about religion, his background in science should be completely ignored. Listen only to the logic of the arguments.
Similarly, if you hear someone with a religious background talking about science, their religious background has nothing to do with science.
This is the reason that Creationist doctrines are absurd: They use religious principles to make scientific conclusions. This makes no more sense than using graphic design principles to make political decisions. Science is a method of reasoning; it should not be viewed as in any way threatening to religion. There are some scientists who may attack religion, but they are speaking outside of their field. This is fine, just as it's acceptable for me to speak on religion as a graphic designer, but again -- their background has nothing to do with their religious arguments.
It is true, however, that most of the attacking comes from one side. The unfortunate habit of Creationists and other unreasonable religious people to take science's progress (and in particular critics of religion who are scientists) as attacks on religion stews religious fervor on the murky-minded, creating a tension that is completely unnecessary. Both sides feel threatened, and strike back or create political defenses; all sound and fury over absolutely nothing.
Blame for this can be equally shared by scientists and pastors too eager to dabble in things they don't understand but whose field gave them God complexes. Similarly, blame for the war over nothing lays on them both as well.Labels: Christians, idiots, politics, religion, school, science |
