Re: paleonet science-faith relationship

[Dee Ann Cooper <deeanncooper@xxxxxxxxx>]

science and religion are not mutually exclusive ...
they are compatible.  the Biblical account says that
God said "Let the earth bring forth ... "  and "Let
the waters bring forth ...".  This, my friends, is
evolution .... highly simplified.  God doesn't make
life in the account ... just commands it to begin. 
There are many other examples in the
Christian/Judeo/Islamic holy books and in other
religions.  Read St. Augustine's early essays. 
Science is an attempt to explain how all of this works
and religion is an attempt to explain why.  

--- Judith Harris <harrisj@valornet.com> wrote:

> I agree with you. What I meant is that they are two
> different  
> endeavors. On the part of science, to understand the
> material world.  
> On the part of religion, to do right and good, to
> use our hearts and  
> to be kind. They are, of course, connected within a
> single person but  
> they are different endeavors.
> 
> Judith
> 
> On Dec 15, 2005, at 12:22 PM, Dr. David Campbell
> wrote:
> 
> >> "Science cannot be involved in religion and
> religion cannot be
> >> involved in science."
> >
> > Part of the problem is defining the type of
> involvement.  Religions
> > typically include a number of moral directives
> that are good for
> > science, e.g. don't lie, don't steal, etc. 
> Religions also tend to
> > encourage doing good work.  One doesn't have to
> have a religion to do
> > good, honest work, but religion can provide a
> strong impetus for it.
> > At a more abstract level, religion can provide a
> suitable (or
> > unsuitable) framework for doing science.  For
> example, the combination
> > of belief in the orderly and physical nature of
> the world and of
> > belief in the value of doing work (found, among
> others, in Judaeo-
> > Christian-Islamic views) is conducive to doing
> science, whereas
> > believing that natural phenomena are produced by
> the whims of numerous
> > unpredictable and competing deities is not.
> >
> > On the other hand, science can provide some input
> regarding certain
> > religious claims.  Archaeology and related fields
> are often relevant.
> > Religious claims that are more in the superstition
> line (e.g.,
> > astrology) are often amenable to scientific
> testing and disproof.
> >
> > -- 
> > Dr. David Campbell
> > 425 Scientific Collections Building
> > Department of Biological Sciences
> > Biodiversity and Systematics
> > University of Alabama, Box 870345
> > Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0345  USA
> >
> >
> >
> 
> judith harris
> emerita professor
> university of colorado museum
> boulder, co
> harrisj@valornet.com
> 505-756-1813
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 




Dee Ann Cooper, BS, MS, PG
Phone: (409) 751-6907
Address: 17890 Nonie Lane, Lumberton, TX  77657