What is the most important difference between religion and science that makes them seem to be in conflict?

Question

Like , for instance, if Religion and Science were two humans, what would their greatest problem in dealing with each other be?

Answer 1

Evidence.



It's like the difference between your doctor and a "psychic healer".

Answer 2

People don't think that religion and science are the same because of these reasons: Religion gives God credit for creating everything but Science tries to figure out why things are the reason it is or to define the reason it is the way it is and is in denial of what God has done.

If Science was a human it would always be going over Religion's head trying to find answers and always searching & would ignore religion but if religion was a human, he'd always point to God for doing this or that for him.

Answer 3

As just about everyone else has said, science is based on concrete evidence, and religion is based on faith.

But I would like to add that, as a Christian, I always chuckle when I hear people say that they don't believe in God...they believe that there is a scientific explaination for the creation of the universe. As far as I can tell, God and science are one in the same. Science could be described as the study of God's creation. For those of us who believe in God, we might wonder and seek to explain how He makes one atom become a human being, and how He makes another identical atom become an oak tree. And the next atom a part of a drop of water in the ocean...and so on. It's really interesting if you think about it.

Answer 4

Ultimately there may be no distiction. For someone like Jesus or Buddha, their claims may be empirical, and their teachings meant to help others replicate the experiment. The difference is in the follow up; people who have not reached the level of those teachers doing the interpretation of data and changing the protocols. What is good in religion can be brought into science.

Answer 5

The thing is that they shouldn't ever have to be in conflict. Science can never explain religion and religion can never explain science. Its just that people go out of their ways looking for conflict when its not necessary.



They are two completely different ways of thinking. In formal Philosophy they would be described as concepts requiring different 'truth tests'. Science is based on empiricism, requiring physical experimentation to back up theoretical postulations.



Religion is based on faith. It is pure belief and is not subject to the rigors of the Scientific method. Apples and Oranges. No need for them to be fighting just enjoy them in their own sphere of influence.



The problems start when we start worshiping Science and we start trying to prove faith. That just doesn't make sense.

Answer 6

In religion, most people think that what happened to Jesus really did happen, and that because of it, Jesus was their savior, no questions asked. In science, researchers put all their time in trying to figure out why everything is the way it is. They would look for facts and evidence that are the reasons why something is like this, or like that.

Answer 7

Different epistemologies (theories of knowing). Religion emphasizes knowing through faith and through sacred texts which at least in the orthodox and fundamentalist traditions are considered unchangeable and eternal. Science emphasizes evidence as interpreted through theory that is always provisional and subject to debate and re-interpretation as new evidence and research develops. No scientist, no text, no theory is "sacred" per se. It is always subject to critique or revision.

Answer 8

the difference is religion is base a faith and science is base on fact and educated guess. but we all need some faith when we come across somethings we can explain. trust in GOD and we will all be OK.

Answer 9

science demand a proof while religion is based on faith. In other words scientific proofs and religious proofs are entirely different.

Answer 10

Religion requires faith; science requires proof.

Answer 11

I like "evidence" as the answer, but would like to add that the love of money is the root of all evil.

Answer 12

Imagination and Evidence.

Answer 13

the theory of evolution or the existence of god.

Answer 14

the myth and the facts..