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The way I see it (using an analogy that necessarily oversimplifies things) is that if this existence were like a computer game, and we were the characters in it
by sapientiae3 5y ago
The way I see it (using an analogy that necessarily oversimplifies things) is that if this existence were like a computer game, and we were the characters in it, then science attempts to understand the game, and religion (or perhaps more accurately theology) tries to understand the game developer.
- goto11 5y agoBetter analogy: Science tries to understand the game and where it comes from. Religion claims that some guy talked to the game developer, and therefore we all have to obey everything he says.
- sapientiae3 5y agoNot really - empirical science makes the assumption that nothing exists outside of the game (or at least anything that exists outside the game has to be proved from elements within the game)
- goto11 5y agoEmpirical science makes no assumptions like that. Empirical science cannot say anything meaningful about things which does not affect reality in some way, however indirectly.
- sapientiae3 5y agoThen in some way, we are in agreement. Science cannot say anything meaningful about things that don’t affect reality. Religion (or theology) concerns itself with the reason that reality exists. The purview of science is limited to phenomena that can be observed or experienced. The purview of religion (specifically theology) is that which cannot be explained by science (now or ever)
- goto11 5y ago> Religion (or theology) concerns itself with the reason that reality exists. All religions have a creation myth, but religion cannot be reduced to just the creation myth. That would just be deism which is basically a form of atheism. Religions believe that supernatural forces actually affect the world.