I believe in science. And I believe in religion.
I believe in science as a brainchild of humankind, and in its inexorable, rational march across time to explain our enigmatic world. Science gives us increasing, although incomplete, knowledge of our universe; improving, although imperfect, medical skills to extend our lives; and accelerating technologies of utility and convenience. With science we have the potential to physically enhance our own form and environment, and we do so today with ever more frequency, albeit, with unfortunately mixed results.
And I believe in religion, also as a brainchild of humankind, and in its well-meaning efforts at interpretation. I don't believe in its specific explanations, at least not in those that include supernatural elements, because I'm a naturalist. But religion, as a biological characteristic, was crucial for early humans. I believe religion was born with our ability to reason, even as our species emerged into its present anatomy. Religion has served us well, when viewed on an evolutionary timescale.
Neither science nor religion would exist without intelligence, as is exemplified by the human mind. Both proffer explanations and both require faith to succeed, but only one has the appealing requirement of rigorous evidence. Modern science in human society is very new, relative to religion, having developed largely within the past four or five hundred years. I believe that science is on a continuing, although erratic, trajectory to supplant the metaphysical components of religion. The two are often self-contradictory, inciting conflict on our ever smaller yet more crowded world. As its mystical aspects recede in importance perhaps religion's remaining strength will continue to blaze: the humanistic philosophy of Do Unto Others with its moral, ethical and cultural underpinnings. For adherents of religion, more than anything else, can be, have been, and will continue to be, brought together in a common cause and an ethical culture.
I believe in science. And I believe in religion. The religion of Ethical Culture.
Nonsense! Science does not require faith to succeed. Science is a process that requires intellectual honesty, curiosity and combined knowledge.
ReplyDeleteReligion exists without human intelligence, ever hear of a Skinner Box?
Religion is a vestigial appendage of our evolutionary past, a meme, a [b]non biological virus[/b]. Children are especially susceptible to this virus, the strain depends mostly on what part of the world they live in.
Religion can't survive without belief in the unbelievable. Stop believing.
@realtyfreak -
ReplyDeleteAbout theistic religions, I agree with you completely. (Well, before I say that, maybe you could elaborate a bit about your reference to operant conditioning).
But your comments aren't really appropriate to the religion of Ethical Culture. It does something significantly different: all the good stuff about religion (community, good works, etc) with none of the bad (supernatural entities, miricles, eternal damnation, willful ignorance, and so on.)
Read the post a bit more closely before you throw the usual atheist rant.
@Terri-
ReplyDeleteI am a non theist, and I do like to rant, but I also proudly identify as a ethical humanist and I think that labeling Ethical Culture as a religion is extremely inappropriate.
All the stuff you think is good about religion happens in spite of a persons religiosity not because of it. People choose to do the good stuff AND ignore the dogma and inhumane teachings of their religion because of their humanity and their DNA.
Religion by any widely accepted definition is a belief in a supernatural power or an institution to express belief in a supernatural power. I stand by my assertion that religion is a cancer on humanity, a cancer that suppresses ethical culture even if it doesn't kill it outright.