Science and Religion: Are They Complimentary or in Conflict?

Author(s): Graham Nicholson

Science and religion are seen by many as being in opposition such that they cannot be reconciled. The modern rise of science and scientific materialism have been accompanied by a decline in religious belief, particularly in the West. Religious believers, especially those in religious orders, have always had a tendency to descend into dogmatism in the assertion of what they perceive to be absolute spiritual truth. This was most severely challenged by the rise of science in the Renaissance. This led to the development of a healthy skepticism about many religious claims, especially as religion had at that time descended to a considerable degree into states of corruption, self-interest, literalism and superstition, at odds with the original teachings of the founder. This approach was further advanced by the Darwinian theories of evolution, in opposition to the ‘once only’ view of Divine creation. But the debate has since moved on to a developing, new understanding of the relationship between science and religion, as illustrated in the Baha’i teachings.