Science and religion « The HabitableZone

Science and religion June 29, 2013 10:06 pm bowser

A friend of mine has a Masters in Theology from a Roman Catholic University. I spent a recent day fishing with him, as he is a guide who has written several prize-winning books on fishing. We discussed religion a bit. He’s not dogmatic.

We agreed the purpose of religion is to offer comfort and security in this life and an assurance of Heaven in the next. The purpose is to alleviate anxiety by assuring a meaning in this life and the continuance of the ego in the afterlife.

I just watched the NOVA show recommended by podrock. It’s description of all the interrelationships necessary for life on Earth got me to wondering. Does science, with all it’s gains, with the multiplication of knowledge of our world and Universe provide solace or create anxiety in most of us?

I can’t help but think that the more understanding we have of the world around us, the more precarious and fragile our existence seems, and more anxiety would be induced by those seeking security. Religion would become more attractive.

Questions by johannes 2013-07-08 12:17:56
- THE beginning was not the only beginning. by podrock 2013-07-10 19:18:16
- Science doesn't need to explain anything. That's reliigion's job. by ER 2013-07-08 13:39:54
  - Interesting by johannes 2013-07-08 16:27:15
    - Who created the Creator? by ER 2013-07-08 18:28:01
      - Creativity and imagination go hand in hand. by johannes 2013-07-09 18:42:30
        
        Are you are saying that creativity creates complexity? by podrock 2013-07-10 19:03:28
        
        Yes by johannes 2013-07-10 21:09:45
        
        Are you saying that despite having complex brains by johannes 2013-07-10 20:04:40
        
        What I saying is that.... by podrock 2013-07-10 20:39:00
        
        I agree that we are extremely low on the totem pole of life in the universe. by johannes 2013-07-10 21:20:17
        
        Are you saying that by johannes 2013-07-10 19:58:10
        
        no. that's not what I am saying. by podrock 2013-07-10 20:08:24
        
        I'm real enough. by ER 2013-07-09 18:57:51
        
        Noooo Don't tell me that, by johannes 2013-07-10 17:55:11
        
        I have not read any of the posts J by Jody 2013-07-10 18:02:06
        
        That would be one way that the energy could continue to exist. by johannes 2013-07-10 19:36:12
Until I was about 12 I believed in god. by ER 2013-07-02 18:09:07
Curiosity killed the cat, religion kills curiosity.... by podrock 2013-07-02 15:03:46
- Co-existence. by bowser 2013-07-02 22:31:24
That is a pretty narrow purpose for religion, that you and your friend agreed to! by alcaray 2013-07-01 12:50:36
- Defining "awe" as always religious is an option, not one I'd take, though. by bowser 2013-07-01 22:15:17
My friend Barbara observes: by Jody 2013-06-30 09:25:35
- Hopefully, an appreciation of science can help us achieve that. by ER 2013-06-30 11:26:18
There's no solace in science for me. by ER 2013-06-30 04:53:18
- Where does our sense of awe come from. by RobVG 2013-06-30 08:51:31
  - Which doesn't really relate to the issue. by bowser 2013-06-30 18:46:14
    - Sorry, didn't mean to go off topic. by RobVG 2013-06-30 20:24:04
      - "If it harms no one," by ER 2013-07-01 07:26:30
        
        Religion doesn't harm people any worse than science. by alcaray 2013-07-01 12:55:24
        
        I disagree. by ER 2013-07-01 13:53:22
        
        Different levels of technology usually determines who gets to call who "slave". by alcaray 2013-07-01 15:22:43
        
        Religion uses science, not the reverse. by bowser 2013-07-01 13:48:58
        
        The Nazis stated reason for going to war was economic. by ER 2013-07-01 13:58:20
      - I didn't make my point very clear. by bowser 2013-06-30 23:08:45
      - Reminds me of the guy - - - by bowser 2013-06-30 23:00:18
  - I think you hit it right on the head. by ER 2013-06-30 10:18:09
For me, science satisfies my awe more than religion does. by podrock 2013-06-29 22:19:46
- I completely agree Pod. by Jody 2013-06-30 09:26:16

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