I think the real problem with faith and science as demonstrated in the series of posts I have read today is really about semantics. Where one confuses the language of science for the language of faith, or vice versa, alarms go off, warning bells sound, and those who take deep rooted stances on both sides hear the call to arms. This can be avoided entirely by simply understanding that (1) the lexicons of these two areas are distinct, and (2) the questions which these two areas attempt to answer are similarly distinct.
Science does not deal with words like belief, faith, truth, or for that matter fact or law. It does not dictate morality or the mandates of conscience. After Einstein's theories, particularly the theory of relativity, Science deals with theories and evidence. A Theory in science is not a hypothesis, idea, or hunch, but is the best explanation for natural phenomena which is supported by sufficient evidence and has not been disproved. Religion deals with the lexicon of beliefs. Beliefs are mental acceptances in the truth of something. There is no requirement of evidence or that there be no evidence against the belief.
Science deals solely with inquiry of how processes happen, such as how life has become so diverse, how things float, or how things behave. It does not deal with the inquiry of why. The question of "why" is a philosophical question which implies higher meaning and requires faith or belief (mental acceptance in the truth of something) in that higher meaning. This is the realm of religion or faith. For example, while science can demonstrate how items float (items which are less dense than water will float on water), it cannot address the why they float (why did the Creator make them less dense than water). Science cannot and does not attempt to answer the why.
While it is important to maintain a healthy discourse between Science and Religion, it is equally important to note the distinctions between the two in order to gain a better, more full, understanding of their interplay. While, all people are biased based on our perceptions of reality, if we look at these two from a disinterested fair point of view, we can prevent the perversion of either by maintaining their separate spheres.
Slashdot Mirror
I think the real problem with faith and science as demonstrated in the series of posts I have read today is really about semantics. Where one confuses the language of science for the language of faith, or vice versa, alarms go off, warning bells sound, and those who take deep rooted stances on both sides hear the call to arms. This can be avoided entirely by simply understanding that (1) the lexicons of these two areas are distinct, and (2) the questions which these two areas attempt to answer are similarly distinct. Science does not deal with words like belief, faith, truth, or for that matter fact or law. It does not dictate morality or the mandates of conscience. After Einstein's theories, particularly the theory of relativity, Science deals with theories and evidence. A Theory in science is not a hypothesis, idea, or hunch, but is the best explanation for natural phenomena which is supported by sufficient evidence and has not been disproved. Religion deals with the lexicon of beliefs. Beliefs are mental acceptances in the truth of something. There is no requirement of evidence or that there be no evidence against the belief. Science deals solely with inquiry of how processes happen, such as how life has become so diverse, how things float, or how things behave. It does not deal with the inquiry of why. The question of "why" is a philosophical question which implies higher meaning and requires faith or belief (mental acceptance in the truth of something) in that higher meaning. This is the realm of religion or faith. For example, while science can demonstrate how items float (items which are less dense than water will float on water), it cannot address the why they float (why did the Creator make them less dense than water). Science cannot and does not attempt to answer the why. While it is important to maintain a healthy discourse between Science and Religion, it is equally important to note the distinctions between the two in order to gain a better, more full, understanding of their interplay. While, all people are biased based on our perceptions of reality, if we look at these two from a disinterested fair point of view, we can prevent the perversion of either by maintaining their separate spheres.