Is it okay to compare and contrast science and religion?

[Sushan Ekanayake]

The author uses her knowledge regarding quantum physics and other philosophical studies to challenge and see the true meaning of the religious teachings that the world has known and believed for decades.

But as far as we know, religious teachings are a set of beliefs that are based on various historical events, cultural values and even mythical stories. Some of these things cannot be either proved or neglected by either science or philosophy.

Considering that argument, is this okay to compare religions with science as the author has done via this book?

This discussion reminds me of another book on the site called The Biblical Clock. That book made a very good case for both religion and science. I think it's perfectly ok to compare the two, as it may even create a stronger argument for both if there is intergration.

I reviewed that book. It was not a fair comparison as I see. The author wanted to prove the biblical facts. When he could do that scientifically he used science for that, but when he couldn't, he tried to use arguments and philosophical ideas. So the direction of such a comparison will depend on the intention of the one who is doing the comparison

[Sushan Ekanayake]

According to me religion is a belief and science is theory. Comparing these two is a little tricky because it depends on the person who is comparing. Science can be used either way to prove the religious beliefs or to deny them.

That is my point as well. Scientific facts can disprove religious beliefs. And also, when you scientifically explain the religious marvels, the marvel vanishes and what remains is just a phenomenon which the ancient people could not understand. So a comparison between these two will discredit one of them, and in that case a comparison is not appropriate

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I believe the answer to this question is purely opinion based, as there is no incorrect or correct answer. I feel confident that a believer of either side would find arguments to refute the other side. Personally, I do not believe it is ok to compare and contrast science and religion as they are vastly different. Science is based on facts and truth, while religion is based solely on belief. It is not a seeing is believing sort of thing.

Seeing is believing is not applicable for religion as many facts are to be believed, not to be seen or touched. In contrast, science deny the facts which are uunable to be seen or touched. So, one have to take a side according to what he/she believes in a comparison between these two topics and inevitability it will discredit the opposite side

[Sushan Ekanayake]

The author uses her knowledge regarding quantum physics and other philosophical studies to challenge and see the true meaning of the religious teachings that the world has known and believed for decades.

But as far as we know, religious teachings are a set of beliefs that are based on various historical events, cultural values and even mythical stories. Some of these things cannot be either proved or neglected by either science or philosophy.

Considering that argument, is this okay to compare religions with science as the author has done via this book?

I think people spend a lot of time trying to apply science to religious beliefs to explain what is unexplainable. I think it is difficult for many people to just accept religious teachings and so they try to use science to explain all things. I am not sure that there is really a comparison between the two.

There are religious facts that an educated person would be reluctant to just accept, since they seem either unreal or impossible. So in such instances they try to find a solution through science. More or less a comparison occurs there. So if the religious facts are disproved, it will be discredited as the result of that comparison

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I prefer it when science and religion are compared. Religion is a human creation that has existed in numerous forms throughout the world. Studying the science behind different aspects of it can be fascinating. Meditating, which is a common Buddhist practice, is found to increase a human's lifespan by creating connections between telomeres in the brain. Science can look toward religion in order to learn more about the history of the world, as well as learn more about trends across humanity (e.g. animism).

That is quite insightful. Yes, there are religious marvels that actually have a scientific explanation, and finding them will be interesting. In such cases, comparison between religion and science won't be harmful, but help the two to co-exist

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Religion was developed based on some sort of science, I believe comparisons should be made to explain some of the things that have been forgotten by people or ignored. I appreciate author's intention here.

I don't agree. All religions or religious teachings are not made in a scientific background, and some are merely the ideas of corrupted men to manipulate the society. In that case, yes, it is good to compare the two to find out and reject such fraudulent religious teachings

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I used to think it's abnormal because things about God are spiritual, while science is physical until I read that the earth is God's. Everything should be able to prove his existence, and the good news is that it's been happening.

I don't want to disprove or discredit anyone's religious beliefs. What I believe is, religion is something else and science is a seperate entity. Those who believe in religious teachings can hold on to them while those who don't accept them can accept what they want. When one party tries to compare religion and science, then it will cause clash because inevitability one party will try to prove what they believe. So it is better not to compare the two

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I think science and religion aren't all that mutually exclusive, just that the connecting dots between them are still a long way from being discovered. Therefore, I feel comparing and contrasting them moves us further along the line of connecting them.

If the comparison is done with such good intentions, the results won't be bad. But the question is, are all the religious teachings and beliefs are scientifically correct? On the other hand, have they actually been taught by some divine God or just thoughts of a single human or group of humans? All these facts are yet to find and when they are finally found, the result can be pleasant as well as unpleasant

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I feel like there just aren’t enough parallels between the two to properly compare and contrast them without controversy. Science is always used to discredit religion which just alienates the two from ever being able to coexist and be comparable.

That is quite correct. Science has tried to disprove the religions in many occasions. Actually the scientists have tried to do that. That may have been due to either their personal agendas or because the religious facts are actually far from the truth. Still, anyone can take the side of either the religion or science and believe what he/she wants. So it is better to let the two be, without trying to compare or contrast them

[Sushan Ekanayake]

The whole point of scientific research is to remove all subjectivity and bias when looking for proof. Whereas religion is all about your subjective experience of it. Once you start comparing religion and science, you start introducing all that subjectivity and bias into science. People ultimately end up interpretating facts the way they choose and end up proving what they already believe to be true, regardless of which side of the the coin they land. People wouldn't compare science and philosophy in the way they always compare science and religion.

That is correct. Science is objective while religion is subjective. Yet the humans who do the comparison are subjective their preoccupations. So whatever the result of the comparison, they will still believe what they believed earlier and they will give some explanation for that as well. So, such a comparison won't give any actual results, which makes such a comparison unnecessary

[Sushan Ekanayake]

science and religion are two different subjects used to explain things. I don't think it would be right to compare it to one another, that's one of the most common reasons of unintelligent debate.

Yes, both sides have their own interpretations regarding the world and its beings, and all those interpretations help us to understand who we are and our environment. So both parties are necessary. It is not suitable to compare the two and try to make one superior or inferior. What is better is to know both aspects and apply them wherever necessary, appropriately

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I'm not sure they should be compared. They are directly in contrast with each other as science deals with logic whereas religion is based off on belief.

The core concepts are different when science and religion are considered. Science accepts experimentally proven facts which are objective, but the religious values the subjective facts which are based on beliefs of the devouts. So the two are parallel, but doesn't find any common ground in which they can be compared

[Maddie Atkinson]

According to me religion is a belief and science is theory. Comparing these two is a little tricky because it depends on the person who is comparing. Science can be used either way to prove the religious beliefs or to deny them.

That is my point as well. Scientific facts can disprove religious beliefs. And also, when you scientifically explain the religious marvels, the marvel vanishes and what remains is just a phenomenon which the ancient people could not understand. So a comparison between these two will discredit one of them, and in that case a comparison is not appropriate

Proving marvels happened scientifically doesn't get rid of the effect of the marvel. If anything, it proves that it did happen and that there was a reason behind it!

[Uche B]

To me, religion is a belief while science is a theory. so it wouldn't be fair to compare to different things that does not relate.

That was my thought as well. Since religions are not all about theory and proving the things that are taught, there will be a clash when trying to compare it with science

Exactly. Catholic beliefs are based on mysteries of faith, things which cannot be understood with human knowledge, while science is based on things which can be proven.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

To me, religion is a belief while science is a theory. so it wouldn't be fair to compare to different things that does not relate.

That was my thought as well. Since religions are not all about theory and proving the things that are taught, there will be a clash when trying to compare it with science

Exactly. Catholic beliefs are based on mysteries of faith, things which cannot be understood with human knowledge, while science is based on things which can be proven.

Agreed. Catholicism is mainly based on mysteries. Many are not in the scope of human knowledge. So they cannot be scientifically proven. In an attempt to compare science with religion, such religious values will be discredited, and it won't be a very pleasant experience to the devouts