The relationship between science and religion is frequently commented on, but rarely understood with clarity. Though very few people would deny the importance of religion or of science, it is difficult to see what their importance is to each other. On the hostility theory, they make incompatible claims, and they pose grave risks to each other, and to society. Which camp endangers society–religion or science–and which camp helps it is the point of disagreement. But on another theory, the two are not opposed at all. According to some commentators, religion and science work together to present a fuller understanding of the world by mutually enlightening each other. Still other people think that science and religion pose no risks to each other, but they do not support each other either; they are simply concerned with isolated sets of questions. Since it is unlikely that either science or religion will pass from the stage any time soon, it is, and will continue to be, orth our time to reflect on their relationship.
Bradley Sickler
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