Do you think it's contradictory to believe in both religious and scientific concepts?

Question

For example, maybe someone believes in God and the afterlife and maybe even miracles and some other things in the Bible, but they also believe in things like evolution, the Big Bang Theory and that the earth and human civilization is much older than 6,000 years.

My mom is quite religious and even she was pissed when she found out they were teaching at my private Christian school that dinosaurs co-existed alongside humans.

In contrast, I had a co-worker who claimed to have a degree in micro-biology, yet he believed the earth is only 6,000 years old and didn't believe in evolution.

To be fair, it seems to be more common with Protestants. The school I went to was a Protestant one as well.

Daniela1982 · Accepted Answer

No, because I think that the past can support the Bible. Some archeologists have even found long lost cities from clues from the Bible.

This is a huge question that deserves an entire book. But here’s a short answer: Before archeological work began in the Middle East, critical scholars thought that entire civilizations mentioned in the Bible never existed, that it was all a big fairy tale. But now, 150 years later, hundreds of people, places, and things mentioned in the Bible have been shown to be historical and correctly reported in the Bible, including all the civilizations it mentions. This includes archeological evidence for about 50 specific individuals mentioned in the Bible, including both kings and queens (including David and Jezebel and Jehu, for example) and ordinary people as well, such as Baruch the scribe of the prophet Jeremiah, whose seal impression was discovered with what is most likely his fingerprint on it. Abraham’s city of Ur has been discovered, along with evidence of Hebrew slaves in Egypt. The exotic palaces of Ninevah and Babylon have been discovered, as well as the Jericho of Joshua and the Jerusalem of King David, including what is most likely David’s palace. The podium for Jeroboam’s gold calf has been discovered at Dan in the north, together with other “high places” of worship such as the temple at Arad in the south. The priestly benediction of Numbers 6:24–26 has been found on two tiny metal scrolls that predate the Dead Sea Scrolls by hundreds of years. Direct physical evidence has also been found of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, including burned destruction layers as well as arrowheads from both sides of the conflict. But there is also evidence of the reconstruction of the city in the time of Ezra after the return of the Jewish people from Exile in Babylon, including the rebuilt walls of the city.

When it comes to the New Testament, the synagogue in Capernaum where Jesus often preached has been found, as well as a boat that sailed the Sea of Galilee at the time, that matches the size and description of the fishing boats mentioned in the Bible (the “Jesus Boat”). The outer walls of the Temple from the time of Jesus (the Temple Mount) have been discovered, as well as plazas and stairways and shops that were there at the time, including areas where he and the disciples went, and where Jesus would have preached. The ossuary (funerary bone box) of Caiaphas, the high priest that turned Jesus over to Pontius Pilate, has been found, along with the Pool of Siloam to which Jesus sent the blind man to be healed. The Pool of Bethesda has also been found, where Jesus performed another miracle. We can look at and hold in our hands pottery that was in use in the time of the Bible, clothes, food remains, jewelry, even the bones of the people. Our understanding of the world of the Bible, and even the meaning of individual words in the Bible, has been greatly increased by the discoveries of archeology.

TheRealPepperPotts · Accepted Answer

No, I don't think so. I think it requires humility, curiosity, and flexibility to do so, though. If we can hold two opposing ideas lightly, and don't make the assumption we know everything, we have the potential for discovering great things about the universe and about faith. This is called dialectical thinking and is an advanced form of thought that often leads to the birth of new and original ideas.

The way I see it, faith is based on understanding that we don't know, but we can trust and grow. Science is based on understanding that we don't know, but we can learn and build. Both are important skills and require humility and recognizing mistakes quickly while having grace for our own failures. I don't think science and faith are mutually exclusive, because I believe that if there is a mistake, it is mine. Who am I to stand opposed to the wisdom of the ages (religion), or to reject the findings of those whose intellect far surpasses mine (science)?

Water is real, and so is love, but they are not comparable because they are real in two different contexts that are unrelated. That's how I view faith and science.

Just my perspective...

RingOfFire · Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on which concepts.

For example, many people assume that the scientific theory of evolution is at odds with the theory of creation by a God.

But why couldn't it be that God created creatures, including human beings, and then those creatures evolved in a way that can be explained by science?

I'm not a religious person but I deeply resent the arrogance of much of the scientific community. I think it's very safe to say that there is much more that we don't know than that we know. There is no such thing as "settled science." The very definition of science incorporates the concept that everything is always open to question, revision, and even admission that we do not know.

We do not know what created life. Scientists have yet to create a single living thing. Yes I know, every year since I was born and well before that they have been saying that we are very close to creating life. That was 70 years ago and they still have not done it.

Nor can they explain the creation of the universe. Yes I know there was a lot of razzle dazzle involved, big bang theories, bla bla bla... but in the end they cannot explain it.

So to summarily rule out that these things are the result of an all-powerful force of some sort that we cannot comprehend is despicable to me. But maybe even worse it is unscientific because it is irrational to rule something out that you cannot and do not know.

Skinhead-1979 · Accepted Answer

No, I don't think it is contradictory; Religion has been created by humans.

I do not deny the existence of a God, or maybe even Gods; but it wasn't God who wrote the plethora of religions... that was humans.

If the narrative of Moses going to Mount Sinai is correct, God gave Moses the 10 Commandments; not a whole Bible nor Torah (Judaism didn't even exist at that time).

Same with Allah and Muhammad; Allah gave Muhammad instructions. Muhammad didn't write the Qur'an, Muhammad was illiterate... Abu Bakr wrote the Qur'an, and it took a couple of decades to finish. The Qur'an alone is not enough, that's why the many Hadiths have been written... by humans.

Now lets assume God/ Allah has given us Religion... Why are there so many variations?

(Please... whomever reads this and feel the need to comment... don't go down the line of 'my religion is right; others are false'. That's nonsense of course).

Klandestina · Answer

No. Many people don't like to accept it but many of the greatest scientists were actually religious people. You mentioned about big bang theory, which was actually introduced by Georges Lemaitre who was a Catholic priest. The father of genetics was also a Christian priest, Gregor Mendel. When it comes to evolution there are religious people who accept it and also irreligious people who deny it. So, it's not really contradictory in my opinion.

I agree with user @TheRealPepperPotts she has explained it much better than me.

Damaged00 · Answer

It is very contradictory. I'm not trying to belittle anyone's beliefs. But the Bible states that we all came from Adam and Eve but that can't be scientifically correct. Incest breeds deformities and genetic diseases. Also the immaculate conception of Jesus isn't scientifically possible either. There are a lot more examples I could give where science contradicts certain beliefs. I believe people just tend to pick and choose what fits for them. And that's completely OK. Anyone can have there own sets of beliefs and it doesn't mean they are wrong. I was just stating that religion and science do contradict each other.

CheeseMonster · Answer

It can be, but doesn't have to be. There's lots of different peices from both of those areas in most people's worldviews.

Some big/controversial ones even fall into nice labeled categories. For example someone who believes a god created the universe over the course of millenia instead of just a few days, that's "old-earth creationism." I don't think that one in particular is self-contradicting.

Dargil · Answer

G0d created science. The more we learn, the more they converge.

ohsheeT · Answer

Well I don't have a degree in anything and I believe that the Earth is even older than that I believe in higher power I believe in a Creator I believe in God I believe in Jesus I believe that we are all energy and our major goal is to become one myself one with others and one with this universe to tie us all together

sawno · Answer

No not at all, evolution exists at least to some extent. But that doesn't rule out this world was created. Like we humans created the game spore and it has evolution as a game mechanic. So the dimension in the game was created by Humans, yet evolution exists. To me science is more about figuring out the rules of this world.

ShadesVow · Answer

Well one relies purely on faith or belief while the other relies purely on facts, evidence and logic. Seems fairly contradictory but who cares. Look religion isn't my thing but everyone copes with death and misfortune in their own way. Some believe it via the effect of a fairy or a leprechaun others look at the facts. How you approach it is your choice it is your life. Believe what you want. Just don't force your beliefs on others and you'll do just fine

Andrewsmith14 · Answer

No, most pioneers in the field of technology tend to be spiritual in an esoteric way and it has been this way for thousands of years.

HaveNoName · Answer

If a scientific fact agrees with what religion tells you clearly, then there is nothing wrong with it. If however, science is in contradiction to what religion says, then you simply say that perhaps more has to be known and at some point, science and religion will come an meet. It does not necessarily have to happen in your life.

OfDeath · Answer

Yes and the root of the contradiction is in why they believe the specific things they do. For example they believe a particular scientific fact due to verifiable evidence and don’t believe an unproven hypothesis due to a lack thereof. Yet they blindly believe fantastical nonsense from religion.

Clear contradiction

AviatorTom · Answer

Not at all. Even The Vatican, center of the Roman Catholic Church, has a well-recognized science group, including an observatory.

behnam1999 · Answer

Belief in God does not contradict science at all. Natural sciences do not explain whether God exists or not. So, considering religion and science as polar opposites of each other does not make any sense at all.

sean1234 · Answer

only if the science contradicts the word of God. There is MUCH scientific proof that the bible is true, ironically you have to have eyes to even see it and ears to hear it.

idonotlikeyou · Answer

It's extreme stupidity to base your beliefs on the opinions of people on this forum.

OtterMan68 · Answer

there are many Catholic universities with robust science departments. The Vatican has a science department and its own astronomy department.

DaBiggestBird · Answer

No just don’t be stupid enough to believe an explosion, something that ONLY destroys, created existence. Science is incredible, but it can’t answer everything

Crazzyyworld · Answer

Yes it’s kind of odd because they contrast. I am a Christian and used to believe evolution but now I am skeptical. If we evolved from monkey why monkeys are still around?

strateguy632 · Answer

Not contradictory. Faith in a mary miracle adds to biology not reject biology.

on_my_knees · Answer

Scientific concepts are based on facts, not beliefs. Therefore this question is nonsense.

DishLady · Answer

Nope. Nice pic by the way.

Anonymous · Answer

No, God created science and all natural laws of the Universe. Science is merely proof of his creation.

genericname85 · Answer

i think so. because the method to learn religion and the method to learn science are exactly opposite.

Unit1 · Answer

More Yes than no. Depends which part of religion is taken e. g. there are less contradictions in Buddhism than in Christianity and islam

Ladsin2 · Answer

Some things, others may not be in conflict. Also depends on their particular brand of belief. Some believe the Bible is literally true, others believe it’s only metaphorically true.

Phoenix98 · Answer

No I think you can be both I am personally a man of both science and God.

handsomelad70 · Answer

The two can go hand-in-hand, unlike religious and secular/scientific extremists believe.

thecosmos · Answer

Kesinlikle hayır. İslam bize ilim öğrenmeyi teşvik ediyor.

Pohjolan · Answer

The scientific method doesn't require believing.

thenerdone · Answer

Not at all. Religion and science cover entirely separate domains.

lightbulb27 · Answer

No i think all fits together.

Tim2nice · Answer

Of course it is

LiamJHayden · Answer

It depends upon which concepts.

Reliable · Answer

No, don't confuse the finger for the Moon.

Do you think it's contradictory to believe in both religious and scientific concepts?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Do you think that Science and Religion are incompatible?

Do you think it's contradictory to believe in both religious and scientific concepts?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Do you think that Science and Religion are incompatible?

We're glad to see you liked this post.