Are science and christiaity allies or adversaries?

Question

Back in 1896 the president of cornell university,Andrew Dickson White, published a book titled "A history of the warfare of science with theology in christendom" Under White's influence,the metaphor of warfare to describe the relations between science and the christian faith became widespread during the first half of the twentieth century. The culturally dominant veiw in our society_even among christians_came to be that sceince and christianity are not allies in the search of truth,but adveraries. What happened however during the second half of the twentieth century was that historians and philosphers of science came to realize that this supposed history of warfare is a myth. As Charles Thaxton and Nancy Pearcey point out in their book "The soul of science", for more than three hundred years between the raise of modern science in the 1500s and the late 1800s, the relationship between science and religion can best be described as an alliance.

Update:

Whites book is now regarded as something of a bad joke,a one-sided and distorted piece of propaganda. Today it is cited only as an example of how NOT to do history of science.

amanda w · Accepted Answer

I don't about anyone else, but I have this saying which I kind of took from a movie. I really think it fits especially here.

Science only takes you so far and then comes God

29 characters to work with...... · Answer

The idea of a difference existing between faith and reason is a creation of enlightenment philosophers.

What does this have to do with the question?, 
Everything, because without this change in thinking you question makes no sense.  There are many things science can't, and probibly will never, explain.  The conflict between religion and science isn't universal, and in many circumstances science affirms or justifies Christian ideas.  Regretably many people use science to try and debunk religion, which doesn't make sense if they think the two are totally seperate.  Science is a powerful tool, like all tools it can be used however the users intends.

Many fundamentalists abuse Biblical verses, and attach meanings to them which the Biblical writer never intended, or only intended do to his limited understanding of the world.  (Flat Earth Theory for example)

Taking an objective look at science shows that it to requires faith to believe many things it presents as fact.  No one can actually prove geological events which happened eons ago, they can only take an educated guess.  Science is often used politically, resulting in distortion of reality which can take decades to fix.(social darwinism)

smilindave1 · Answer

Science & Christianity can agree on some things but it has been at best an adversarial relationship for hundreds of years. The intractibility of Fundamentalists perpetuates that adversity. The reason there was an "alliance" of sorts between science & religion during the 1500s to 1800s is that most centers of learning were of a religious nature. A glaring example of the adversity between the two was the excomunication of Galileo by the Catholic Church for insisting he was right about his discoveries in astronomy.

defOf · Answer

Let's put it this way. In the matter of the dimension of TIME, one of our greatest scientists Stephen Hawking says that TIME has no beginning and no end. However is it possible that he cannot just reach back and look behind the curtain when Time too was non-existent. Because God does say in the Bible, I AM the beginning and the end. 

The question is how far can science peer into the mind of God ? How much knowledge can scientists claim to know ? Are there things they cannot know no matter how much they try ?

aidan402 · Answer

Depends on what you are trying to prove I guess. Actually, I don't find a case for alliance or for adversity between the two. One is pure faith the other pure fact. Politics is what has made the case for both sides....politics and the church...now theres a real case of adversaries and alliances!

psycho-cook · Answer

Real science is real science.  It's just what people choose to report on etc that causes the "wars".  An example of real scientists using real science to support their religious beliefs can be found at www.answersingenesis.org.  It is an astonishing site, full of incredibly well documented material.  It has to be to support the "crazy" ideas it supports.

tchem75 · Answer

Religion is based on faith and Science is based on facts. They shouldnt even be talked about together. Part of the problem is that they territories have overlapped and now we have things like "Creation Science."

genest · Answer

Adversaries, for my area. faith has consistently seen technology as of project as far back using fact the medical Revolution; faith has finished despite it may to suppress technology using fact technology promotes loose thinking and that's something the church does not like as nicely as self sustaining thinking

Its not me Its u · Answer

We atheists are not the enemy of christians and other theists. Our quarrel is with irrationality, wishful thinking, superstitions, intellectual dishonesty, and all other forms of thinking that keep mankind mired in darkness, ignorance and hate.

boatworker · Answer

There's a church down the road full of christian scientists.I'm guessing they get along OK

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Are science and christiaity allies or adversaries?

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