Why Science And Religion Are Not Compatible

Throughout human existence, there has been constant controversy between science and religion.  For instance, Galileo, in spreading his ideas of a heliocentric solar system, failed to convince the Catholic Church and was punished for his blasphemous scientific theories.  Under the rule of Edward VI, two heretics were executed for denying Christian beliefs.  Scientists use the scientific method to test ideas and let their work speak for itself.  Theists share supernatural experiences and teachings by testimony and holy texts with the expectation of tolerance.  Each purport to be the way to learn truth about human existence and the universe.  Some theists even claim that science and religion are complimentary, in that science gains truth by recording and studying natural phenomenon, while religion seeks to gain knowledge by way of the supernatural.  Supposedly, the universe is composed of both, but that is assuming the supernatural is real.

Methods of acquiring knowledge conflict in both science and faith.  Science includes the scientific method, which requires physical evidence before determining if a conclusion is true.  Thusly, if scientists begin their experiments with conclusions, like "the Christian god is real," such carelessness would destroy their credibility.  Conversely, believers of the supernatural create conclusions and then seek supporting evidence, of which there is none.  The biblical authors say the Christian god is real, but this claim isn't scientifically verified.  If there is no physical evidence, then a hypothesis should remain as such or be discarded, but theists tend to ignore this part of the process.  Essentially, believers reverse the scientific method, which in and of itself goes against a scientist's principles.

Alternatively, in response to the conflict of evidence collection methods, believers say that the supernatural cannot be tested as it is beyond the natural boundaries of the scientific method.  This statement is not only wishful thinking, but it gives the false assumption that science cannot test for the supernatural.  If a cause and an effect occur, it can be scientifically recorded.  For example, if a devastating hurricane destroys a city, but everyone survives, believers like to say that their god was merciful and His act of kindness was a miracle.  Yet, they don't consider the natural phenomenon of safety preparedness for the zero fatalities.  Statistics are available to measure these events.  Additionally, some people hear noises in their homes and assume ghosts are present, when in fact old water pipes or a foundation shift is the culprit.  Saying the supernatural exists and is outside the realm of the natural is simply not true.

Then there is the argument from some that science is a religion.  In Kansas, the Christian group, Citizens for Objective Public Education (COPE), "claim that public schools 'promote a non-theistic religious worldview by allowing only materialistic or atheistic explanations to scientific questions.'”  They say the teaching of evolution, which is a scientific theory, is indoctrination into the religion of atheism or secular humanism.  Such a claim is inaccurate on multiple accounts and widens the rift between religion and science.  Firstly, atheism is not a religion and neither is secular humanism.  Secondly, science is not biased toward atheism.  If there was scientific evidence for the supernatural, then atheists would be encouraged to change their mind.  Thirdly, evolution doesn't really say anything about atheism or secular humanism other than the fact that humans evolved with the ability to have complex beliefs, and that includes belief in the supernatural.  Also, don't confuse all beliefs, ideas, or scientific facts to be religious.  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, religion has several definitions: "1. the belief in a god or in a group of gods. 2. An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods. 3. an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group."  Scientists do not adhere to the first two since there is a consensus that the supernatural doesn't exist.  The third is so vague that anything of interest, like football, knitting, eating, or politics, can be considered a religion.  Yet, none these interests have a religious tax-exempt status as determined by the United States government by the people.  This is why atheists and secular humanists don't receive a religious tax-exemption.  This is why scientists don't receive a religious tax-exemption.  All three groups are simply not considered religious.

There are many theists who claim that such scientific theories as evolution are harmonious with Christianity.  Such people are more moderate in their beliefs and take a more figurative approach to the biblical story of Adam and Eve; in that women like Eve didn't come from a man's rib.  Yet, this approach is problematic because the veracity of the entire Bible comes into question if even one story is not understood literally.  If the Adam and Eve story is just a fable, then the flood, Noah's Ark, and Jesus walking on water could be too.  Essentially, if a Christian believes in the theory of evolution, they must perform a mental gymnastics routine in order to accept the supernatural bits included, since the Bible does not explicitly state what stories to read literally and metaphorically.  Otherwise, such a scientific theory and supernatural belief system are deemed incompatible.

Are We Intelligently Designed?

The short answer is yes and no.  Most people question how they came into being and what it means to exist.  Is there an intelligent designer?  If a supernatural creator put us here, what were his or her motivations?  What is our purpose for living?  Yet, what many people seem to ignore is the likelihood that nothing paved the way for the human species, other than millions of years of selective reproduction, or natural selection.

To understand these questions, we must first know how we each individually got here.  The birds and the bees discussion is quite handy.  Most caring parents at some point or another discuss this with their children at maturity.  Yet, it appears that when people question their existence, they don't think about the birds and the bees.  Each individual can determine whether or not their parents are intelligent, but the problem is that they take their mom and dad out of the equation completely and look toward a god for help in understanding their questions.

Human parents are the creators of baby humans and their parents were their creators.  The logical conclusion here is that there had to be a first human, the first common ancestor.  Surely, they were created by a god right?  No.  Evolution points to tranistions between species.  We have to look further into the past at the first single-celled organism as the common ancestor to all life on Earth.  Was that cell intelligently created?  Science tells us that the world and universe are constantly changing.  Particles enter and exit each other all of the time.  The first lifeform came into being because the particles needed to sustain life came together.

If we look at statistics, the likelihood of such particles coming together was astronomical given that Earth has water, a fluid substance.  We call this chance and people don't like that they were created by chance.  Chance makes it more difficult to determine self-purpose.  The question then becomes if we weren't created by a god, then what is our purpose for being here?  Humans are silly creatures.  We must know why and how everything works.  People also like having mentors help them through the difficult and winding path that is life.  They like thinking that there is a supernatural sky daddy watching over them.  They like wondering if this sky daddy gave them a pre-determined destiny.

The cool thing about not having a divine purpose is that we get to decide our own purpose.  Just as we have our parents to thank for our existence, we also have our parents to thank for our specific skills and talents, due to genetics.  Such skills and talents are often what people use to determine identity, friendships, love interests, and occupations.  Other than that, it is up to each person to figure out how they want to live, given that they live in a country that supports free will.