Religion: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:08, 14 March 2006

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Religious knowledge, according to religious practitioners, may be gained from religious leaders, [[sacred text]]s ([[scriptures]]), and/or personal [[revelation]]. Some religions view such knowledge as unlimited in scope and suitable to answer any question; others see religious knowledge as playing a more restricted role, often as a complement to knowledge gained through physical observation. Some religious people maintain that religious knowledge obtained in this way is absolute and infallible ([[religious cosmology]]). The particulars of religious knowledge vary from religion to religion, from sect to sect, and often from individual to individual.

In contrast, the [[scientific method]] gains knowledge by testing [[theories]] by interaction with the world (checking it against [[facts]] or [[experiments]]) and thus only answers [[physical cosmology|cosmological]] questions about the [[physical universe]]. It develops [[theory|theories]] of the world which best fit physically observed evidence. All scientific knowledge is probabilistic and subject to later improvement or revision in the face of better [[evidence]]. ItScientific should be noted, however,theories that scientific theories withhave an overwhelming preponderance of favorable evidence are often treated as facts.

Many early scientists held strong religious beliefs (see [[Scientists of Faith]] and [[List of Christian thinkers in science]]) and strove to reconcile science and religion. [[Isaac Newton]], for example, believed that [[gravity]] caused the [[planet]]s to revolve about the [[Sun]], but credited [[God]] with the design. In the concluding General Scholium to the [[Principia Mathematica]], he wrote: "This most beautiful System of the Sun, Planets and Comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful being." Nevertheless, conflict arose between religious organizations and individuals who propagated scientific theories which were deemed unacceptable by the organizations. The [[Roman Catholic Church]], for example, has historically reserved to itself the right to decide which scientific theories are acceptable and which are unacceptable. In the 17th century, [[Galileo]] was tried and forced to recant the [[heliocentrism|heliocentric theory]]. The modern Roman Catholic Church accepts most common current scientific theories, to the extent that they can be shown not to conflict with the Church's [[doctrine]].

Many religions are often considered to conflict with scientific knowledge. In the case of [[Christianity]], many theories exist as to why that is. As early as the 17th century, during a period some call the "[[Scientific Revolution]]", the Christian churches had to deal directly with this new way to investigate nature and seek truth. This perceived conflict may also be partially explained by a literal interpretation of the [[Bible]] adhered to by many Christians, both currently and historically. This way to read the sacred texts became especially prevalent after the rise of the [[Protestant reformation]], with its emphasis on the Bible as the only authoritative source concerning the ultimate reality.{{fact}}