What do you trust more - science or religion and why?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$3 Answers
However, my trust in science is not 100% either. Even though pure science is based on questioning and challenging each and every 'truth', many scientists will deliberately argue in a certain direction, in order to support a 'truth' they believe in.
In the end, I trust science more than I trust religion. Science has caused less wars and casualties...
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$I look to science to admire the immense beauty of nature and the physical world. Molecular biology is a great example. How all these tiny chemicals work together so precisely in concert, replicating themselves in beautiful little cycles is awe-inspiring. The goings on of quantum mechanics are equally enthralling, that the laws of electromagnetism can be concisely explained in Maxwell's four formulas... I can go on forever.
I look to religion to admire the beauty of life and the human spirit. I pick and choose when it comes to religion. Much like it's a poor idea to study only one science in high school (it's legally mandated otherwise!), it's a poor idea for the spirit to be caught in one spiritual mindset. I admire Christianity for its message of service and ministry towards others, and its ability to bring hope to the most poor off of people is a testament to the power of the human spirit. The difficult-to-grasp ideas in Zen Buddhism celebrate the unity of all things on earth, and recognize the limits and foibles of human thought. Combining Eastern and Western viewpoints is essential to having a well-rounded "religious" understanding, in my opinion.
I find it impossible to "trust" one of these over the other, because when I do, I am denying a great deal of beauty that only the other can offer insight to.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Well put, although I think 'trust' and 'admiration' are two different aspects. Even though I sometimes admire a religion, I never trust them.
Science is self-correcting, Religion is self-sustaining.
@nycterent, would you care to explain why you thought the answer was unhelpful? Is it just because you disagree?
I could not agree more. Well put.
Trust as in believing in dogma is a very difficult thing to do, which is not how I look at religion. I trust it as a fantastic springboard into answering the philosophical questions that they were meant to answer. There's a "main idea" hiding behind all the rules, commandments, dogma, and so on. I trust the core of these religions and the insight they give to the human condition. Religions at their core are a type of philosophy. Not always scientific, but usually worth exploring.
Equally worth exploring, in my opinion, as science is. I wouldn't take its word as political truth. In terms of looking inward, however, science just does not satisfy. I don't trust it.
Just as I wouldn't trust science 100%, I wouldn't trust religion that much either. I guess the trouble is in what "trust" really means in this instance.
Thanks, mithrandir, you have me thinking some more.
And thanks so much for the nod, buddawiggi!
You have been nominated for Aug. 26 2009 Answer of the day !! Go check it out and giver yourself a vote!
excellent!
thats just my opinion
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
@mithrandir Has not science given us nearly all the weapons to fight these wars? Seems to me that though wars have been fought over differing of opinions in religion, science did the damage.
True. Every scientific breakthrough can be a blessing AND a curse. Prime example is Alfred Nobel, inventing dynamite, which was supposed to be "Nobels Safety Powder". We all know how that one went..
It's a bit like the NRA stating 'guns don't kill people, people kill people'... If that is true, why allow people to have guns?