Relationship among Religion, Biology, and Science - Essay Example

Relationship among Religion, Biology, and Science Introduction The burning question is if there will be any connecting bridge to link religion, biology and science. Biology is a branch within the science sector hence it will be covered as science. The recent ideological clashes in the United Sates on the debate about creationism versus evolution have led to the perception that science and religion has a wide gap between the two that seems unbridgeable (Brandt-Rauf, 2006). This is an indication supporting the fact that science and religion will never co-exist. Therefore, we are going to cover the relationship between science and religion and see how the two perceive the other. The paper is is going to handle three main religions common in the world mainly Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Christianity Main body Different geographical regions have diverse cultures and beliefs which are characterized as conflicting, in harmony or even with little interaction. Religion and science explain the natural laws and the universe using different methodologies. Science is mainly based on empiricism, reasoning and evidence. Empiricism is philosophical view that knowledge is and should always be based on experience. Empiricism is taken to be a fundamental starting point of science inclusive of the invention in religion. Scientific empiricism has the assumption that the scientists are independent, impartial and completely unrelated to the phenomena under investigation. In contrast, religion is based on sacredness, revelation and faith. Religion is argued to support its facts by use of supernatural powers that are hard to investigate in that they are not part of the nature. Religious investigators have difficulties in their investigations in that during the research; they defend their religion instead of explaining the problem under study. In United States, acceptance of the scientific facts such as natural selection especially in the line of human beings has been influenced by religion so much showing that religion and sciences are in a fight. However, the National Academy of Sciences has documented some facts that proofs of evolution are in accordance and compatible with some religious groups (NAS, 2008). According to Archbishop Habgood John, science is descriptive while religion is prescriptive. Schilling and Coyulson claimed that religion and science are related so much in that both revolve around a three-fold structure of experience, theoretical interpretation and finally practical application of the new idea. Coulson continued to argue that the fields of science just like religion brings it facts by creative imagination but not from mere figures (Brandt-Rauf, 2006). It is believed that most of the scientific inventions were first explored by Islamic scholars who were later joined by the Christians. Hinduism has linkages with science in that they are based on reasoning and empiricism (NAS, 2008). However, they claim that the science develops legitimate and important facts and knowledge to the world but in an incomplete manner. Buddhists perceives science as their subset in that it complements most of their beliefs. Introduction of revolution in the field of science led to the development of a conflicting theory that religion and science differ in terms of politics, factually and methodologically. However, the theory is in contrast to other philosophers. According to the biological scientist Stephen Gould, religion and science are non-overlapping magisterial that addresses different and separate forms of life knowledge and aspects (Brandt-Rauf, 2006). The two belongs in a separate realm with science explaining the “how” and the religion explaining the “whys”, therefore; the two will neither meet nor require to meet. The Baconian and positivist vision in science seem to act as a tool that grants human power to progress ahead and eliminate all forms of ignorance within the society and modify it towards betterment (Nelon, 2009). Religion conflicts with science so much in particular facts such as naturalism as supported by Plantiga Alvin. For example, Christians totally disagrees with natural selection and evolution as supported by science. They argue that they were created by the supreme one God in His own image and; therefore, they are true images of God with little diversities. This seems to be supported by science that all human beings have similar genetic material implying that all races have a common ancestry. Same case erupts in other forms of life in that they were created by the supreme one. According to Neil Tyson, the difference between religion and science is that science relies on experimentation while religion depends on faith. The differences are supported by a scientist and philosopher victor Stenger who claims that religion and science are incompatible due to differences in knowledge approaches and the alternative natural explanations explained in the religious contexts. According to a neuroscientist by the name Harris Sam, science and religion are in completion and currently religion has lost the battle due to modernity and technological advancements (NAS, 2008). Buddhism theories support science in that they allow the investigation of nature. According to their principles, the activity IS referred to as "Dhamma Vicaya". Therefore, Buddhism relies on causality but not materialism. According to the Buddhist leader Tenzin Gyatso who holds position fourteen in the ranking of “Dalai Lama”, is that science and religion are based on critical investigations. Therefore, all facts that the Buddhist believes and are proven wrong by science, then Buddhism as a religion will have to shift towards the truth and appreciate the science findings (Yong, 2005). According to the Islamic religion, nature is an integral part of the Islamic view of the world, God and humanity. The religion claims that science is the study of nature AND ITis linked to “Tawhid” which refers to Oneness of God (Muzaffar, 2007). Islam perceives science and nature to be continuous with religion and God. The nature explanations in science are viewed by the Quran as the signs ending towards the Quran divine. In fact during the colonization of the Muslim world in the 17th centuries, science was deeply studied to aid the Islamic civilization that led to the development of the scientific methods (Brandt-Rauf, 2006). Currently, the issue of global warming was announced as a global problem by the scientists who perceived it as a threat to the nature in that natural systems are to run into distinction. Prior to the case, several Christians joined the initiative to stop the global warming. Afterwards Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and Jewish, backed the program in a unified way. The congregation planned to create a massive public awareness to inform their followers about the problem. This led to the Evangelical Environmental Network launching a serious campaign under the slogan “What would Jesus drive?” to focus on efficient fuel usage and global climate change (Wilcox, 2003).Therefore, the cat itself seems to be combined science and faith in terms of religion to support nature that is studied by science. Conclusion It is evident that the distance between science and religion is increasing hence the two are different. Religion and science are related by the virtual of infinity besides totality. The fact that both religion and science explain their facts in different ways and phenomena which are totally different, the two will never co-exist. However, it seems that natural disasters such as pollution and global warming, science and religion seems to join hands. This shows that, in some sense, the two conflicting parties can join hands together towards a common goal. However, it seems that the differences between the religious groups themselves can at no time agree on common things that are based on faith and nature. This means that faith and personality belief are independent and, therefore, never to mingle with science. Therefore, bridging the gap between the two is hard but as claimed that religion is losing the battle between sciences, then things may better in the future, but only time to tell. References Brandt-Rauf, P. (2006). Bridging the Gap between Science and Faith through Environmental Studies: Theoretical Considerations and Implications for Environmental Policy And Practice. New York: Forum on Public Policy. Muzaffar, I. (2007). Science & Islam. London: Greenwood Press. National Academy Of Sciences, NAS. (2008). Science, Creation and Creationism. Retrieved on 2014 May from http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11876.html Nelon, J. (2009). Psychology, religion and spirituality, New York: Springer publishers. Wilcox, J. (2003). What Would Jesus Drive and Should You Care? A Look at What It Means to Be Christian in today’s Culture. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press. Yong, A. (2005). Buddhism and Science: Breaking New Ground (review). Buddhist- Christian Studies, 25, (2005), pp. 176-180 Read More