Can Religion cope with advances in Science?

Answer 1

Well, advances in science may further religious belief as well as diminish some religious doctrines. Although there are many scientific breakthroughs that same to question religious doctrines, we are also discovering a lot that seems unexplainable without the intervention of some 'supreme' being. Consider DNA for example, it is so incredibly complex that some presume it must have been created by a 'designer', breakthrough's in physics too, namely quantum physics [consider quantum locality], perhaps do not suggest some almighty designer, but does however invoke mysteries as great as that of the religious mysteries many of us are thought growing up. I feel that the greatest blow to the main religions could be the discovery of life on other planets, intelligent or not, that would throw the likes of the New Testament into question. However, if we are to consider the Old Testament and the likes of older Hebraic stories [see: Nephilim/Nefilim] then the idea of extraterrestrials already having been here may not be too phased by extraterrestrial discoveries on other planets. All this must of course be dealt with a healthy dose of skepticism as well of course.

Answer

Religion will always cope with science for it is constant, and deals with how one should conduct their lives and teaches that there is only one true scientist, God.

Science is only one of the aids which God allows man to conduct for the benefit of mankind. According to the Dalai Lama;"If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality. By learning from science about aspects of reality where its understanding may be more advanced, I believe that Buddhism enriches its own worldview." Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Disclaimer; I don't know if all branches of Buddhism share the Dalai Lama's message. Modern Science Was Founded On A Christian World-ViewThis is something which is often forgotten given the current majority of scientists who are not religiously inclined. For many of the founders of modern science and scientific thought science was not at all compatible with religion. Since they believed in a creator who had made an orderly world they saw their endeavor as 'thinking God's thought after him.' Kepler and others specifically gave God the glory in their major works.

When science intrudes into areas which it cannot test or prove empirically then it ceases to be true science and becomes somewhat of a philosophy or a vehicle for pushing a certain philosophy. The facts of what exists do not have any conflict whatsoever with the Christian religion. In fact, the great order and complexity we find as well as what we know about how things 'work' only makes belief in a naturalistic origin of life more incredible.

Answer 2

Answer #1:

Mainly yes. Those who say that science flourished under religions like Islam and Christianity can never provide any causal link or give any reason why religion would help with scientific progress.

Arguing the other makes more sense because their very premises are irreconcilable. The basis of science and the scientific process is evidence and research. Religion is based on fiction and imagination. Faith is inherently without any evidence or explanation. Science has its foundations in explanations and empiricism.

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Answer #2:

No. Mainstream religion has little to say about science, aside from explaining in general terms many fields and phenomena that science is investigating. And a scientist who chooses his methods of investigation according to his personal religion doesn't last long in real science.

Answer 3

Religion can cope with advances in science, but only by adapting to the new realities. Believers can no longer realistically claim their ancient scriptures as literal fact. Long before the spread of Christianity, the ancient Greek philosophers saw no conflict in declaring that the earth revolved around the sun.

In the early years of Christianity, religious leaders feared the spread of science, because they knew that science would undermine much of what Christianity taught. The Dark Ages coincided with a time when the Church ordered all the ancient Greek texts to be destroyed, lest they spread ideas that conflicted with Christianity. Galileo was forced to recant his beliefs about the universe because the church feared the impact on church doctrine. Even during the nineteenth century, decyphering of the language of the pyramids was delayed because religious leaders feared that the hierglyphics would prove that the Egyptian civilisation had continued uninterrupted through the time ascribed to Noah's Flood.

Modern religions are adapting to advances in scientific knowledge. No longer are the faithful required to believe that the earth is the centre of the universe. Read literally, The Bible rules out evolution, but the Church is adapting and many Christians really can and do believe in theistic evolution. For example, the Catholic Church has held that evolution is not incompatible with its teachings, since the time of Pope Pius XII.