Science vs Religion: how is it compatible?
noonespecial: Theist here:Science and religion both address certain and different parts of our existence. Science is the tool we use to look at our universe and ask what, religion is the tool we use to look at our universe and ask why.For example, science is perfect for looking at our earth and asking "what is it, what caused it, what's in it?" etc. Religion is perfect for asking "why is there a universe at all?" (or more succinctly, "why is there something and not nothing?")The problems start when you use science, or religion to ask or answer the wrong questions.Example: You can't use science to look for God because science only works on everything in the universe. If there is a God worth the title, he/she/it is not going to be in there. If you do, you're just going to find a whole lot of universe, like a character in "the sims" trying to use game elements to prove there's a player.Example: You can't really use religion to ask where the earth (and life) came form (what caused it) because its just one link in a (perhaps limitless) cause-effect chain that is the universe, fully defined within its own context. If you do, you end up with a cartoon-like image of a tiny god, contained within the universe using his god-powers to create static creatures to try to outsmart the big bad universe. It might make you feel warm and fuzzy, but it doesn't do much for the concept of God.The big problems come when people militantly use the wrong tool to answer a question. Then you get people staring up at stars that emitted their light 100 million years ago and insisting that it all started 6500 years ago, and insisting that they be allowed to teach that to your kids on your dime. And there begins the heavy twisting of mind.If you carefully think about the goals you are trying to achieve with each, I don't feel that science and religion are fundamentally incompatible.Edit: Had to search a bit for this Einstein quote but here is:"There is no conflict between science and religion. Science asks what the world is, and religion asks what humankind and society should become" - Albert Einstein