thunderbolt Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 Science and religion are, at present, largely separate spheres of knowledge, divided by, more than anything else, a difference in methodologies. Science is the process of inquiry aimed at building a testable body of knowledge constantly open to rejection or confirmation; it’s “truths” are provisional, fluid, and changing. Religion is the affirmation of a set of beliefs aimed at providing morals and meaning; its truths are final, confirmed by faith. Because we live in the Age of Science and no longer in the Age of Faith, temptations abound to use science to bolster faith. Such attempts at reconciling science and religion always fail for the fundamental reason that religion ultimately depends on faith. The whole point of faith, in fact, is to believe regardless of the evidence, which is the very antithesis of science. Michael Shermer (How We Believe, 2000, p123) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YDOAPS Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 /me claps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celsus Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 Religion is the affirmation of a set of beliefs aimed at providing morals and meaning; its truths are final, confirmed by faith. I think it is important to recognize that this definition of religion only applies to some religions, mainly the revealed ones. Other religions like Taoism while providing moral guidance and meaning actually do not claim to have absolute, unchanging truths confirmed by faith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderbolt Posted March 21, 2006 Author Share Posted March 21, 2006 I think it is important to recognize that this definition of religion only applies to some religions, mainly the revealed ones. Other religions like Taoism while providing moral guidance and meaning actually do not claim to have absolute, unchanging truths confirmed by faith. Bruce, you are right, and the context of this excerpt was around the Abrahamic religions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurisaz Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 I think it is important to recognize that this definition of religion only applies to some religions, mainly the revealed ones. Other religions like Taoism while providing moral guidance and meaning actually do not claim to have absolute, unchanging truths confirmed by faith. *shamelessly adds Asatru to religions of the above-mentioned kind* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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