After Science, What's Left For Religion? (reject, salvation, beliefs, evolution)

[OneStraw Revolutionary]

Morality is only a part of religion. Science doesn't deal with moral issues. But religion and science do overlap in some parts, when religions offer creation myths and science offers creation theories for example. When religion wants to explain how the world works and why it came to be this way, then it is after the same thing as science.

[robtex]

Religion offers an emotional support system and expression on forumlas of morality. It assigns meaning to life for groups and communities. It presents the idea that the universe it not neutral (most religions do anyway) but non-neutral in structure.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

It's often said that science has progressively replaced religion in our lives. But is this true? Has science really crowded out religion?

No. The two are not related, and there is plenty of room in the world for both.

Science is a method of defining the world. Religion is our method of living in it.

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Has science replaced religion as a source of wisdom?

No, because science is a source of knowledge, not wisdom.

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Has science replaced religion as a foundation for living the Good Life?

No; the humanities can exist alongside, or even as a part of, religion.

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Has science replaced religion as a source of information about transcendental experiences?

*blink* What information has science presented about transcendental experience? (oh, I hope you don't mean the paranormal.)

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Has science replace religion as a basis for information about our origins and the origins of the universe?

No; neither science nor religion provide information about the origin of our universe, so there is nothing to replace. Creation myths (like all myths) are about us. The Big Bang (the most accepted cosmogonical theory) provides explanation beginning at the moments after the formation of the universe.

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Has science replaced religion as a basis for ethics?

No, science doesn't provide any basis for ethics.

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Has science replace religion as a basis for salvation?

No; science neither professes to nor provides salvation.

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Do you think that science has undermined or weakened religion? If so, how? If not, has science actually strengthened religion?

I think that the artificial schism that sprung up between science and religion weakened them both. I blame literalism.

Science has no real purpose in strengthening religion. Science is simply here to define things.

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Are there areas or issues that science will never replace religion in? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes; religion is that area.
Science will never replace it, because science is just here to define things.

[ALifetimeToWaitFor....]

I think the more appropriate question is, has science become a religion? Physicists in particular are debating the existence of God and are incorporating many morals into their search for the TRUTH.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by ALifetimeToWaitFor....

I think the more appropriate question is, has science become a religion? Physicists in particular are debating the existence of God and are incorporating many morals into their search for the TRUTH.

But the truth of what? That's the thing.

[ALifetimeToWaitFor....]

Truth can't be confused whether it be of religion, science, philosphy is what the educated human mind strives for and in the very end they will all merge into one. Because it is the truth.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by ALifetimeToWaitFor....

Truth can't be confused whether it be of religion, science, philosphy is what the educated human mind strives for and in the very end they will all merge into one. Because it is the truth.

But it does matter. It matters what the truth we find is about. Truth by itself, with no context, is meaningless. Truth is always the truth *of* something, and science seeks very specific things.

Observe, hypothesize, test, report, observe, hypothesize, test...
What truth is being sought there? (meaning what is the truth discovered therein about?) It is the truth of "what is."

Religion seeks truth about a different thing: "Know thyself." Religion is the truth of, "I am."

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

It's often said that science has progressively replaced religion in our lives. But is this true? Has science really crowded out religion?

No.

Has science replaced religion as a source of wisdom?

It has been a source of wisdom and a source of insanity. Though I would say it is not science itself, but rather the uses to which it is put that make it an asset or a liability.

Has science replaced religion as a foundation for living the Good Life?

If by the Good Life you are referring to hot showers and toilets, then I am all for it.

Has science replaced religion as a source of information about transcendental experiences?

Only in the hands of fakirs. Science is not concerned with transcendental experiences.

Has science replace religion as a basis for information about our origins and the origins of the universe?

Thank goodness, it has. Except for a few people in denial.

Has science replaced religion as a basis for ethics?

Science can help us learn things that are useful to know when considering ethical questions. But I have never heard, say, a commentary on the moral nature of bosons.

Has science replace religion as a basis for salvation?

This begs the question...is salvation necessary? And also, salvation from what?

Do you think that science has undermined or weakened religion? If so, how? If not, has science actually strengthened religion?

The only thing that has undermined religion is religionists who wouldn't know a false dichotomy if they ate one for lunch.

Are there areas or issues that science will never replace religion in? If so, why? If not, why not?

Can science tell me if I should get married? Divorced? Whether its ethical to perform some act, or fail to perform it? Will science encourage me to help my neighbor, or to learn to get along with those unlike me?