• Question: Can science exist without religious theroies?

    Asked by amyhoughton to Andrew, Daniel, Hayley, Peta on 23 Nov 2011.
    • Photo: Daniel Scully

      Daniel Scully answered on 23 Nov 2011:

      Science and Religion deal with different parts of life…

      Science deals with the things we can see, the things we can measure.

      Religion deals with the things beyond that, which we can’t see, which we can’t measure.

      So they can co-exist well.

      Problems occur when they try and say about things from each other’s area. Refuting scientific evidence with a religious doctrine is going to be a mistake. But so is attempting to apply scientific to things where it is not possible to obtain evidence.

      …in my opinion.

    • Photo: Hayley Smith

      Hayley Smith answered on 23 Nov 2011:

      There have always been conflicts between people’s scientific views and religous views.
      There was a great debate in my final year Cosmology course at University around this – it was interesting to see.
      I think religion answers a lot of questions that science can’t and vice versa too…
      A lot of scientists where I work are very religious, some are not at all religious – I think it’s about the same mix as in any profession…

    • Photo: Peta Foster

      Peta Foster answered on 23 Nov 2011:

      Yes science can exist alone, but that does not mean that there is not place for religion. I think science is wonderful because it leaves room for religion. I am agnostic i would say and so i just do not know what is out there in terms of religious matters. I do feel spiritual though and think it is a good idea to live to be the best person you can be 😀

    • Photo: Andrew Cairns

      Andrew Cairns answered on 23 Nov 2011:

      Yes, I think that it is quite universally accepted that science can exist without religious theories.

      The question of whether religion can exist with science is interesting though – there are many scientists who say that it cannot and that anyone who thinks it can are wrong or bad scientists. In this category are Richard Dawkins, a prolific writer, and Peter Atkins. I believe that this type of rhetoric is just as wrong as religious rhetoric that says scientists are wrong, and we must be balanced in views on how the world works/how we got here/ etc.

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