SCIENCE AND RELIGION

Are Science and Religion in Conflict?

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of science and religion in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on the conflict between science and religion; in addition, the research analyzes the historic nature of the conflict between the scientific and religious conceptions. The research analyzes distinct arguments corresponding several concerns on which science and religion does not agree. Finally the study analyzes evolution and creationism in order to shed light on the contrast between science and religion.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Discussion5

Historic Conflict between Science and Religion5

Evolution and Creationism9

Conclusion10

Appendix13

Are Science and Religion in Conflict?

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to explore diverse arguments in order to enlighten the fact that science and religion are in conflict. This paper will present different arguments to analyze the relationship between science and religion; in addition, the analysis will explore diverse reasons behind this controversial debate. No, science and religion are not compatible because they both contradict each other in many ways, they both use different techniques to present the explanation. People in the world simply use religion as the answer to questions that they do not know. If they do not understand something, if something is too complex for someone, they simply use religion to make sense out of it. Religion seems to fulfill the need for some sort of truth. An example of this would be the question of how the entire universe first began.

Scientists do not have an exact answer to this question; they do not know how the universe began. There are only theories that propose the answer; some suggest that it all started with the Big Bang. However, it still does not explain how the materials were present before the Big Bang. In other words, where did the materials come from? As mentioned by Richard Dawkins in the documentary, science does not make up facts, it isn't afraid to say “I do not know” when it does not know. In many religions, its followers believe that God created the universe. They believe that since there are no other explanation to why and how certain things happened, they simply say that God created the universe. They lie to themselves simply to have the satisfy themselves.

Discussion

There are several contradictions on which science and religion contrast each other. One of these contradictions between religion and science would be homosexuality. According to the bible, there are various verses that imply that homosexuality is a sin and that they will go to hell. On the other hand, science does not see this as an abnormal activity. Homosexuality is common in animals in the nature. It is a natural activity that can be accepted (Proctor, 2005). This is completely against many religious beliefs. In addition, a great historical example of how religion does not accept science would be between the Catholic Church and Galileo.

At that time, the Catholic Church believed that the Earth was in the centre of the solar ...