Is Science Better Than Religion?

[ChristineES]

Better? It depends on what you're talking about. Science is good for a lot of things: Finding cures for diseases; finding new ways to explore our earth, the sea, and outer space; finding new and better ways to make our lives easier. It is, however, good at people finding new ways to annhilate people with bombs and bacterial weapons.
Religion is good for finding a purpose in our lives; finding our spiritual paths, etc. It is, however, used for an excuse for people to hate and/or annhilate people.

 

[Marisa]

Im just saying there is more than meets tbe eye. You dont have to ask what if questions about it. I find it limiting life to say the natural world is only what we know today (my words). Everything is part of the natural world, even things we dont know yet or will never know. I just find it confusing that some people cant say "maybe" and leave it at that.

But everything we will ever know will be known because it was knowable. In other words, part of the natural world. The supernatural, by definition, cannot be known, because it's outside our ability to investigate. I don't mean a sense of awe, everyone has that. You call it spirituality, I call it an appreciation of the natural world. I don't need to wonder if there's "something more" in order to fully experience and appreciate the natural.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

But everything we will ever know will be known because it was knowable. In other words, part of the natural world. The supernatural, by definition, cannot be known, because it's outside our ability to investigate. I don't mean a sense of awe, everyone has that. You call it spirituality, I call it an appreciation of the natural world. I don't need to wonder if there's "something more" in order to fully experience and appreciate the natural.

But thats what supernatural is. Its nothing special. Its not a "something beyond" thats a general belief. Its everything we see and cant see. What we know and dont know. The natural world emcompassas everything. So I would call what you have spiritual especially if that appreciation is the cornerstone of how you live your life. Thats religion.

I see nothing special about religion. I just talk with so many people who try to look beyond the stars when what we have is real "too." We dont know whats beyond the stars and that doesnt make it less natural than what we have today. I dont call it science since everything comes from the natural world.

 

[Marisa]

But thats what supernatural is. Its nothing special. Its not a "something beyond" thats a general belief. Its everything we see and cant see. What we know and dont know. The natural world emcompassas everything. So I would call what you have spiritual especially if that appreciation is the cornerstone of how you live your life. Thats religion.

I see nothing special about religion. I just talk with so many people who try to look beyond the stars when what we have is real "too." We dont know whats beyond the stars and that doesnt make it less natural than what we have today. I dont call it science since everything comes from the natural world.

If it's outside the natural world, it's beyond. You can call me whatever makes you feel good, it's of little consequence to me.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Now Im hearing disrespect in your "voice". We differ in how we express things. I see everything as the natural world. There is nothing beyond this world that is not part of it.

If you like to call it "beyond" or supernatural, you can And I do care because I like discussing differences not blow them away like trash.

If it's outside the natural world, it's beyond. You can call me whatever makes you feel good, it's of little consequence to me.

Why discuss, debate, and compare if you dont accept differences AND can talk about them and want to learn from them at the same time?

Productive discussion here..no insults.

 

[Marisa]

Now Im hearing disrespect in your "voice". We differ in how we express things. I see everything as the natural world. There is nothing beyond this world that is not part of it.

If you like to call it "beyond" or supernatural, you can And I do care because I like discussing differences not blow them away like trash.


Why discuss, debate, and compare if you dont accept differences AND can talk about them and want to learn from them at the same time?

Productive discussion here..no insults.

There was no disrespect intended. It really doesn't bother me how others classify me. I think the fact that we are discussing indicates that I rather do accept differences. It is not an insult to tell you that I'm comfortable with how you classify me. Sometimes people really do say exactly what they mean.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Thank you. The "really no consequence to me" sounded more "I dont care how you see it."

Im honestly not sure if we are saying the same thing in different ways or just saying different things.

There was no disrespect intended. It really doesn't bother me how others classify me. I think the fact that we are discussing indicates that I rather do accept differences. It is not an insult to tell you that I'm comfortable with how you classify me. Sometimes people really do say exactly what they mean.

 

[Ben Dhyan]

We live in a materialistic era...the very concept of religion has been degraded and, despite the unchanging liturgical tradition, become almost as materialistic as science in perspective wrt the big picture ...hence the endless debates and threads such as this one... The main problem is not with science, for it was intended to focus on the material universe....but with religion...the average religious practitioner is more ignorant about the true purpose of religion than they are about science...

Jesus taught...the divine Kingdom is not of this world...the world hates me...if you love me, it will hate you also... So if this is true....those of true religious faith on this forum will vouch.for their poor treatment by atheists and secular religious people alike, for whom contemporary science is the yardstick for what is true...

 

[Izdaari]

Is science better than religion?

It depends on whether the conundrum you wish to unravel is physical... or metaphysical.

 

[Quintessence]

It may be worthwhile to make some distinction between sciences and technologies. Sciences themselves are honestly pretty useless to most people; it's the technologies that emerge from them that we use on a more regular basis.

Similarly, it may be worthwhile to make some distinction between religion and religious behaviors and religious meaningfulness. Religions themselves are also pretty useless to most people; it's the behaviors and meaningfulness that emerges from them that are significant.

 

[paarsurrey]

Is Science Better Than Religion?

Both are essential for life of human beings, science is limited in its fields while religion has broader scope. Like humans walk with two legs comfortably the same way science and religion both guide us in the way of life.

Regards

 

[Sapiens]

Is Science Better Than Religion?

Both are essential for life of human beings, science is limited in its fields while religion has broader scope. Like humans walk with two legs comfortably the same way science and religion both guide us in the way of life.

Regards

People can easily live without either, I submit that they live better with just science than they do with just religion.

 

[psychoslice]

I don't know about being better, but I think science is more with reality, where as religion is more metaphorical, only making sense where the inner being is concerned.

 

[RossRonin]

Religion does NOT keep one sane.

I beg to differ! Christians believe that if they commit all their concerns to God, peace of mind will ensue:

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

My own life being a series of crises, I can say honestly that I have accumulated sufficient verifiable empirical evidence to convince me that the above statement is true. So from the standpoint of Christianity I would say that religion can indeed keep one sane.

Nothing that's not in the natural world has any demonstrable power to affect me. It

Then why does music affect you? Music is nothing but organized vibration: that is the extent of its reality in the natural world. But it moves you. It can give you a spiritual experience. It can move heart, soul, spirit, and whatever it is that resides in our deepest recesses with something more profound than a fleeting emotion.

Science produces the musical instrument, yes. But the transcendent experience a musician elicits in us, within our innermost being, can only begin to be explained by the supernatural. There is no scientific reason why organized vibrations should make a person experience love, or hate, or sadness, or joy.

On the question of which is better for humanity, I think the answer is that we have to embrace both. The Christian religion approves science because it teaches that science itself proceeds from the God who gives wisdom, intellect, curiosity, creativity, and the power to infer and deduce: "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions," the scriptures declare. But the Christian scriptures also provide a moral framework within which science should function. "Love thy neighbor as thyself," and other such precepts ought to preclude the abuse of science, or at least give us pause before we invent the next weapon of mass destruction.

 

[Marisa]

I beg to differ! Christians believe that if they commit all their concerns to God, peace of mind will ensue:

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

My own life being a series of crises, I can say honestly that I have accumulated sufficient verifiable empirical evidence to convince me that the above statement is true. So from the standpoint of Christianity I would say that religion can indeed keep one sane.

I'm just going to go ahead and point out that the US has 2 things of note pertinent to this conversation: a very high number of people on anti-depressants, and around 70% of the population self identifying just as christian. Simple math tells us that religion has little impact on mental health and well being. If you find solace in belief, I'm not about to tell you that you're wrong to do so.

Then why does music affect you?

First, not all music affects me. Second, not all music that affects me does so in a positive way. Should I blame belief in mythical beings for music that makes my head hurt, too? I think you're engaging in a small sampling of confirmation bias here.

On the question of which is better for humanity, I think the answer is that we have to embrace both.

Yeah, I got no beef with that. I would point out that the OP's question was seeking opinions, and I'm certainly not going to tell anyone their personal preferences are wrong, wrong wrong!

 

[gnostic]

Is Science Better Than Religion?

It's an interesting question. Lots of people would say yes. Lots would say no.

But the question of whether science is better than religion is not a question scientists would necessarily ask. 'Better' or 'Worse' are, really, unscientific terms that don't carry much in the way of information beyond emotional predisposition.

So what question should we ask instead?

'Is Science a a more effective/efficient/appropriate method for solving problems than religion?'

The answer is: Yes, in many areas. But not all.

Science and religion are not related at all, so I don't see how we can really compare them.

Ii is like comparing oranges with doorknobs.

 

[JayJayDee]

True science, like true religion are not at odds. Both can work in complete harmony.

 

[outhouse]

So if this is true....those of true religious faith on this forum will vouch.for their poor treatment by atheists and secular religious people alike

You really think theist are treated poorly here ?


Do you think that fanaticism and fundamentalism are acceptable???

 

[outhouse]

True science, like true religion are not at odds. Both can work in complete harmony.

The can, but for the most part they do not. Its not the religions fault per say, but the theist that interpret the text with no education what so ever and find positions against academia.

 

[paarsurrey]

True science, like true religion are not at odds. Both can work in complete harmony.

I agree with you.
Regards