Introduction
The relationship between science and religion has been complicated for the vast majority of human history. Scientific methods were particularly notable when they could refute some of the major traditions and practices found in Christianity and other faiths. However, humanity still cannot uncover the whole truth about the universe, and it is critical to perceive religion and science as supplementary approaches to learning more about the natural world. Believing in God should not be regarded as contradictory to progress since it provides an alternative explanation to various phenomena and could be immensely helpful and beneficial. Ultimately, religion has a deep connection to the scientific approach, and they both can coexist and complement each other.
Conflict Between Science and Religion
The conflict between science and God is a shallow view that is based on the seeming contradictions between technology and supernatural events. They derive from a difference in values – rationalization and logic are integral parts of science, while faith accepts the idea that some phenomena cannot be accurately explained (Shults et al., 2020). While both are significantly more complicated in the natural world, many people perceive these discrepancies as an inevitable conflict.
This perspective is primarily noticeable in Western nations, such as the United States, where the majority of people (55%) believe that faith opposes science (Pew Research Center, 2020). In extreme cases, there is even a bias that individuals who believe in God are incapable of scientific progress, which is not true (Pew Research Center, 2020). These statistics transparently demonstrate that many people perceive science and faith as two entirely separate and frequently contradictory phenomena.
Coexistence of Science and Religion
Despite this prevalent view of the conflict, science and religion are complicated spheres that can coexist and complement each other. This is the primary thesis of the current essay, and many prominent scientists and religious figures support this perspective. In his lecture, John Lennox—a mathematics professor at Cambridge and a Christian apologist—explains the profound connection between academics and faith (Socrates in the City, 2018).
According to him, religion was the starting point of contemporary science, which started with Galileo, Kepler, and Newton, who also believed in God (Socrates in the City, 2018, 10:52). The core idea is that if there are natural laws in this world, which are consistent and logical, there must be a lawgiver. People can perceive it as God, nature, or another entity, but this fundamental concept creates a deep connection between science and faith. As a result, it would be inappropriate to say that these areas are completely incompatible or contradict each other.
Additionally, it is essential to mention that this perspective of coexistence is the dominant one globally. The study by the Pew Research Center (2020) has found that most people outside of Western nations acknowledge that there is no conflict between science and religion. This concept of harmony is particularly noticeable in Hinduism and Buddhism, where up to 76% of people believe that there are no disagreements between faithful teachings and science (Pew Research Center, 2020).
Moreover, these findings are consistent among believers and non-believers, further showing the depth of the connection. Several factors could explain this phenomenon outside of Christianity. For instance, the evolution theory does not explicitly contradict the core teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism, while it is slightly more problematic in Christianity and Islam.
Many points of conflict emerge from shallow education, and it is critical to discuss the significance of science and faith in this context. Strict adherence to either academic or religious concepts can indeed make a person close-minded and reject any alternative explanations (Catto et al., 2019). This relevant problem can lead to conflict and even violence in some cases when people become radical about their beliefs. However, as mentioned before, it is an issue of education rather than science or religion.
Catto et al. (2019) note the utmost significance of teaching students about various aspects of the natural world, encouraging critical thinking and curiosity. It is essential to understand science and religion as complementary elements that support each other and help people perceive the world around them from unique perspectives. This approach further promotes the profound connection between science and faith, showing that both can coexist.
Conclusion
The current analysis has shown that the connection between science and religion is profound and complementary. Both spheres can be used as instruments to learn more about the natural world and promote critical thinking. There is extensive evidence confirming this thesis, such as the prevalence of this view outside of Western nations and the fact that some of the most notable scientists in history were devoted believers.
In many cases, faith can drive progress by pushing people to ask appropriate questions about the natural world and look for possible solutions. At the same time, when people become radical or violent about their beliefs, this problem typically emerges not from the conflict between science and religion but from a lack of education. Ultimately, science and faith can and should coexist as they are both critical to understanding the natural world.
References
Catto, R. A., Jones, S., Kaden, T., & Elsdon‐Baker, F. (2019). Diversification and internationalization in the sociological study of science and religion. Sociology Compass, 13(8). Web.
Pew Research Center. (2020). On the intersection of science and religion. Web.
Shults, F. L., Wildman, W. J., Taves, A., & Paloutzian, R. F. (2020). What do religion scholars really want? Scholarly values in the scientific study of religion. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 59(1), 18-38. Web.
Socrates in the City. (2018). John Lennox: The question of science and God – Part 1. [Video]. YouTube. Web.