What is religion?

Religion, or more appropriately religions, are cultural phenomena comprised of social institutions, traditions of practice, literatures, sacred texts and stories, and sacred places that identify and convey an understanding of ultimate meaning.  Religions are very diverse.  While it is common for religions to identify the ultimate with a deity (like the western monotheisms – Judaism, Christianity, Islam) or deities, not all do. There are non-theistic religions, like Buddhism.

What is science?

Science is a way to understand nature by developing explanations for the structures, processes and history of nature that can be tested by observations in laboratories or in the field.  Sometimes such observations are direct, like measuring the chemical composition of a rock.  Other times these observations are indirect, like determining the presence of an exoplanet through the wobble of its host star.  An explanation of some aspect of nature that has been well supported by such observations is a theory.  Well-substantiated theories are the foundations of human understanding of nature.  The pursuit of such understanding is science.

What is the difference between science and religion?

Although science does not provide proofs, it does provide explanations. Science depends on deliberate, explicit and formal testing (in the natural world) of explanations for the way the world is, for the processes that led to its present state, and for its possible future. When scientists see that a proposed explanation has been well confirmed by repeated observations, it serves the scientific community as a reliable theory. A theory in science is the highest form of scientific explanation, not just a “mere opinion.” Strong theories, ones that have been well confirmed by evidence from nature, are an essential goal of science. Well-supported theories guide future efforts to solve other questions about the natural world.

Religions may draw upon scientific explanations of the world, in part, as a reliable way of knowing what the world is like, about which they seek to discern its ultimate meaning.  However, “testing” of religious understandings of the world is incidental, implicit and informal in the course of the life of the religious community in the world.  Religious understanding draws from both subjective insight and traditional authority.  Therefore, some people view religion as based on nothing more than personal opinion or “blind faith,” and so, as immune to rational thought.  However, this is an erroneous judgment.  Virtually all of the historic religions include traditions of rational reflection.

How are science and religion similar?

Science and religion both have historical traditions that exhibit development over time.  Each has places for individual insight and communal discernment.  Analytic and synthetic reasoning can be found exhibited in both.  Science and religion have been and continue to be formative elements shaping an increasingly global human society.  Both science and religion have served to jeopardize and contribute to the common human good.

How can science and religion be related?  

RELIGION AND SCIENCE: The relationship between religion and science has been a subject of study since the classical age (1775-1825), addressed by philosophers, scientists, and others. Science and religion generally pursue the knowledge of the universe using different methodologies. Science uses reason, empiricism, and evidence, while religions include revelation, faith and sacredness. As you noticed, there’s no common points between religion and science but despite these differences, most scientific and technical innovations prior to the scientific revolution were achieved by societies organized by religious traditions. Much of the scientific method was pioneered first by Islamic scholars, and later by Christians.

Religion: their impact for human beings

The impact of religion on human behavior touches every aspect of our lives. Every person on earth has their own view of what religion means to them. Some people’s religion is to have none at all.

Religion can limit freedom. Religion controls actions with a set of rules and guidelines, restricting the capability of faithful followers. An example is in islam it is commanded to not eat pork or consume alcohol, preventing muslims from eating it. This may be perceived positively or negatively, but either way, it certainly does have the power to make some people to set course in a certain path.

Religion impact human behavior in every aspect of our lives by having to live by those codes, morals snd rules. It is implanted in our brain that religion is how we think, how we act, how we choose. People usually tend to seek guidance from God if troubles exceed their capability. This would be during exam time, when suddenly a lot of my friends start praying to God, because only he can control the outcome of their marks. Meaning only he has control, they’ve just got prayers and efforts. This is how religious belief and practice emanates; religion influences humans by attempting to influence their lives to believe they hold no significant individual power.

Science: their impact for human beings

The impact of science on society is very visible. Progress in agriculture, medicine and health care, telecommunications, transportation, computerization and so on, is part of our daily living now. The goals that had not been generally discussed, largely for lack of intelligent understanding of the process and its possibilities are very much a reality now. Humans have now the power to blunt the hardships of existence, from pain and disability and the prolongation of individual life. Scientific advances have sharpened our perception of future prospects. From time to time we also see major scientific breakthrough, like the advancements in understanding the genetic code.

The advent of science has altered the life of man. He has been able to venture deep in seas and discovered new lands.

The successive discoveries and inventions in the fields of medicine, agriculture, communication etc. have given the conveniences, comforts and power to humans but in no part of the world are human beings happy, at peace with themselves, living without violence. The aim of developments in science were to usher in an era of peace and prosperity. But on the contrary it has lead to greater violence, sorrow, tension, new diseases, environmental crisis, war to name a few. On the one hand Science has been a boon to mankind and on the other it has also proved to be a bane. Moral values are being ignored, the social fabric of the society is breaking up and environment is in crisis. The same nature which gave him such valuable resources, is now being abused and ignored. In his pursuit of excellence, man ignored his foresight.

With all his scientific discoveries and technologies, man has proved his superiority over the other beings in nature. His thoughtless acts has caused irreparable damage to his own self as well as to the environment. Science made man civilized but in the process he has abused and ignored nature. Even though with genetic engineering we might develop new power but will it be used for the benefit of mankind and for the earth at large.