Religion Versus Creationism

Religion Versus Creationism

  • Submitted By: anca25
  • Date Submitted: 07/06/2011 9:59 AM
  • Category: Miscellaneous
  • Words: 4281
  • Page: 18
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THE CONFLICT BETWEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION

Differences between science and religion:
Scientific findings and religious beliefs are normally quite separate: 
Science deals with the study of nature, its forces, processes and development. It is based on the analysis of evidence. It assumes, as a working hypothesis, that processes and events happen due to natural causes, not through divine intervention. It rarely intrudes in matters of morality, the existence and nature of deity, spirituality, etc.
Religion deals with matters of faith. Its main basis is often revelation from a deity - either orally transmitted from generation to generation, recorded in a sacred text, or revealed to individuals through prayer. Most faith groups teach of the existence of one or more deities who created the Universe, and continue to play a major role in managing it - sometimes bypassing the laws of nature to create miracles. A main function of religion is to teach moral principles, mankind's relationship to the god(s) or goddess(es), behavior towards other humans, spiritual matters, etc.
The main battles between religion and science are in areas in which they overlap. Here, both often hold conflicting positions.
Areas of overlap and conflict:
Some of the areas where science and religion overlap, and make conflicting claims, are:
Cosmology, geology, astronomy, etc. Many believers within the conservative wing of Christianity claim that the Earth is less than 10,000 years of age. They interpret the creation and universal flood stories in the Biblical book of Genesis as being literally true. 95% of scientists reject a literal interpretation of the book of Genesis. They believe that the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old, that no world-wide flood has happened, and that humanity, the world and the rest of the Universe evolved. 
Linguistics: Most conservative Christians claim that the Tower of Babel story in the Biblical book of Genesis describes precisely a past event in the...

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