God vs. Atheism or Religion vs. Science

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday April 12, 2008 · 3:43 PM PDT

2008/04/12 · 15:43

I recently listened to Thom Hartmann talking to Chris Hedges

While the show implied that atheism and science were the same, they are not. Also God and religion are not the same. In particular science may lead to a belief in God and a religion does not necessarily have to have a belief in God.

The issues are more complex.

Religion is one or more beliefs that at least one person believes is absolutely true. The beliefs are believed not because they have been observed or tested; but rather only because someone of authority says them or they are written in a manuscript that is said to be in authority.

Science is very similar from the respect that people in authority state their scientific beliefs and many scientific beliefs are written down. The difference is that scientific beliefs come from observation and testing; and therefore may change over time as new observations and tests are performed. Religious beliefs do not change in response to observation and testing.

A big difference between science and religion is that unless something such as God is observed or has been tested, then at best science can say that the belief may or may not be valid. Many statements in the Christian bible can be tested and many such as beliefs about creation have been found not to be valid scientific beliefs; i.e. observations and tests have shown the beliefs to be false. This is part of what made Hucklebee's lack of belief in evolution so hilarious. New life in the form of viruses evolve all the time.

When Hillary Clinton and John McCain attack Barack Obama for statements involving observation of behavior

they are making a big mistake. Obama is more likely right with the observations he makes

the observations only need to be tested.

This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member.

Make YOUR voice heard!

Comments are closed on this story.