ARE SCIENCE AND RELIGION CONFLICTING OR COMPLEMENTARY?

Kendrick Frazier, editor of Skeptical Inquirer, addressed the above subject, in particular his thoughts about boundaries.  Some of his bullet points:

• There is only one kind of science, while there are multitudes of religions.
• Most troublesome boundary?  Between science and religion.
• Science is concerned with understanding the natural world
• Based on evidence, not authority or revelation.
• All knowledge is tentative, adjusted to the latest confirmed evidence.

• Religion deals with humanity's moral, ethical and spiritual needs, where faith is at the heart of belief
• There are unchanging and unchallengeable eternal truths.
• Discourages skepticism and critical examination of cherished precepts.

• The matter of God or an Afterlife is beyond the scope of science.
• There are, however, some scientists who insist that anything supernatural simply does not exist and they should be forthright about that.
• As 90% of Americans are religious, there is difficulty in taking a scientific position without appearing to be arrogant or superior, as in following:

Next, Designer Universe?, by Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg.

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