Can religious and scientific teachings coexist?
From Newsday
The Rev. Ledyard Baxtor, pastor, Old Steeple Community Church, Aquebogue:
We need to promote the idea that they coexist. I'm distressed that the continuing attempts on the part of some to divide science from faith. There are at least four ways that historically, faith and science have been related through conflict, independence, dialogue and integration. ... Even Galileo said something to the effect that the Bible teaches us how to go to heaven and science teaches us how the heavens go. More recently [geologist] Stephen Gould had a clever saying: Faith is about the rock of ages and geology as a science is about the age of rocks. ... In a one-room schoolhouse, you would teach math and English, but you wouldn't teach them out of the same textbook. ... God created [heaven and Earth] and I believe that with all my heart and mind. But that's not science. Science is more about how the universe works, so there really need not be any conflict.
Richard Visconti, pastor, Caroline Church, Setauket:
The more we understand and the more we know about our world, the better off we are. ... Religion is an understanding of our relationship to God and how we understand our dependency upon God. And so there are two understandings ... we believe God created the world and he created us, and he gave us the minds that we have to investigate and to learn more about our environment. And, hopefully, others will benefit from our knowledge.
The Rev. Richard Anderson, pastor, Holding Out Hope Church, Middle Island:
We live in a secular society that's going to teach science, that we evolved, and obviously, I'm not for that and don't believe that's how we were created. And I know there was talk for a while about intelligent design and bringing that into play with understanding creation. I'm not for teaching evolution in school for our children, but the burden falls on parents. While we're forced to have our schools where they don't teach biblical principles, it's up to parents to know the word of God and the Bible and teach their children at home. ... I believe God gives tremendous knowledge to doctors and those in the medical field, with breakthrough cures and medicine that can absolutely change a person's life and give them great quality of life. ... As a pastor, I don't tell people not to see a doctor or get medication, but I do tell them that everything you do, you must do through prayer.
Rabbi Michael L. Kramer, Temple Judea, Massapequa:
The Torah consists of the historical narrative of our people, moral teachings and what God desires of us. And it's not a scientific text, and it's not interested in science. Therefore, there is no contradiction between religion and science and, furthermore, science only increases our wonder and amazement about God's universe. Reform Judaism is supportive of advancements made by science in the public good. I see no conflict because I don't believe it was the purpose of the Torah to give us any scientific knowledge. It's more interested in teaching us how to respond to the universe and what God demands of us.
Prakash Shukla, priest, Hindu Community Center, Hicksville:
Religion and science work together. With each and every thing, religion depends on science. Every 11th day of the Hindu month is fast day. Same thing with science. Resting your stomach makes your stomach healthy. ... Religion is one type of science. There is a coin. One side is science and one side is astrology. Science can't control everything. Science can't control a storm or an earthquake, but something's there. It's God. Until now, science couldn't make blood. What makes this? This is God. Some natural things just can't have been done by science.
The Rev. Mark Billington, pastor, Bellerose Baptist Church, Bellerose:
For the most part, I believe that religion can inform our views of science and provide ethical guidelines for our understanding of scientific procedures. Religion provides ethical guidelines such as that of mankind being created in the image of God as well as other guidelines. ... But any of those ethical understandings can help us in better determining where science goes too far. Religion informs values every day [on] topics such as abortion, euthanasia, genetics and even evolution. Because [you have a] religious understanding does not necessarily mean you cannot have a scientific mindset as well.
