Science Vs. Religion Topics

The work of scientists and the beliefs of religious leaders have clashed for hundreds of years.

The struggle between science and religion has been a major part of human history for hundreds of years. In modern times the two disciplines have sometimes been able to find common ground, but fundamental controversies still ignite the passions of believers and researchers. The origins of the universe, the creation of life, healing, the existence of the soul and human nature are all topics that illustrate the conflict between religion and science.

Creation

Almost every religion has a unique creation story that often involves a god or gods.

Some of the most fundamental conflicts between science and religion come from how people believe the universe and Earth came into existence. Most religions believe the world was created by an omniscient being or beings. Texts of the monotheistic Islamic, Christian and Jewish religions state that God created both the universe and Earth in six days. However, many astronomists believe the universe was created by a combination of happenstance events leading to the Big Bang. Along that same line of thought, geologists believe the Earth developed through physical, chemical and biological processes over billions of years. Scientists believe the world is around 4.5 billion years old while some Christians, based on their interpretations of the Biblical creation story, believe is it around 6,000 to 8,000 years old.

Natural History

Another point of contention between religion and science is whether human beings and other animals were created instantly or developed over time. Most religions believe a god or gods spontaneously created all living creatures, including humans. Hindus believe that the world was created by god Lord Brahma because he became lonely and split himself in half to create a man and a woman. Scientists believe, based on research, that life on Earth began as single-cell organism that evolved into multi-cell creatures and eventually humans. They point out genetic and physical similarities between humans and apes, something that angers some religious adherents because they believe God placed humans apart from animals.

Healing

Science has led to the development of medical practices that increase the longevity of human lives by curing illnesses and diseases and healing injuries. This has created difficult moral and religious questions. When an ill person is being kept alive by medical means like a ventilator, family members must decide whether to continue care. Based on religious beliefs, some people feel withdrawing care so a person's body can die is "playing God." Also, some people with strongly held religious convictions, such as Christian Scientists and Jehovah's Witnesses, believe medical intervention is unnecessary or proscribed by God. Many religious groups believe prayers or rituals will cure illness or injury. The Vodun and Santeria practices in some Caribbean nations make use of rituals to wish illnesses or accidents on enemies. However, several scientific studies have not been able to show prayer has any direct affect on illness or disease.

Soul

Many religions' adherents believe there are two elements to human beings, the physical body and the soul, or spiritual essence. While the physical body will eventually die, the soul doesn't. Hindus believe the soul can be reincarnated many times into another body until it reaches full spiritual and moral development. In Christian and Islamic theology, the soul moves on to an afterlife that is either heaven or paradise, or hell, a place of eternal torment. Some people who have had "near-death" experiences can describe these places. Scientists believe that what they see are hallucinations caused by electrical impulses in a dying brain and that the human body is a single organic structure.

Human Nature

Christians and Muslims believe humans fell from God's grace in the Garden of Eden.

Scientists have pinpointed two influences on a person's psychological makeup: genetic programming and environment. Humans are essentially neutral blank slates who are influenced by these two elements when it comes to their personality and actions. However, some religions state that humans are born with sinful natures and have fallen from God's grace because of the disobedience of the first man and woman. Humans were originally innocents but now they must have the moral guidance of God and religion. People who follow Shintoism believe human beings are inherently good and must work in life to ward off evil through rituals.

References

• ReligiousTolerance.org: Conflicts & Occasional Agreements In "Truth" Between Science and Religion
• Christianity.com: What is Christianity?
• University of California: Science and Religion, Reconciliable Differences
• JapanGuide.com: Shinto
• Washington and Lee University: Vodun Rites
• Washington and Lee University: Vodun Rites in Haiti

Resources

• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Religion and Science