Will religious conflicts threaten the president's new science initiatives?

It's shocking that so many really bright christians reject evolution because it doesn't fit with what it says in the bible.
I can't think of a better reason to dump the bible, religion too. Religion prevents us from seeing what actually is, in favor of what we want to believe, no matter how ridiculous. It's tragic really.

So, the logic is that because what science finds may conflict with what I believe, we shouldn't find it.

I think that many who say science finds things that conflict with faith are not necessarily saying the science should stop. Perhaps they are just verifying that the conflict exists.

I fear a reduction in basic research into genetics and into basic physics could put us at a decided disadvantage economically. So what if genetics tells me that my ability to speak and a bird's ability to sing are both tied to the same gene. I am no less God's because of it. It just means the birds are closer to God than I had previously known.

Germany became the "go to" country for solar panels because the German government invested heavily in that research. That is what happened here with all the government research that led to computers and all that came out of NASA and military investments. It was not government businesses that took that basic research and made thousands of practical applications - it was entreprenaurs. We need that again.

"The only "observers" would would think something like this are athiests. Walking into a church does not require leaving your brain at the door. Contrary to what these "ovservers" would have you believe, science DOES NOT AND CANNOT disprove the existance of God."

However there is a huge conflict between many religious writings and science. When one part is invalidated by being incongruent with the testable world, the rest is put to question. Many finesse this problem by invoking the "allegorical language" defense. But doesn't that make the rest of text allegorical as well. Perhaps even the concept of "God" is allegory for that which we cannot currently explain?

@DAVIVMAN,

“Contrary to what these "ovservers" would have you believe, science DOES NOT AND CANNOT disprove the existance of God.”

“However, most Christians can read the book of Genesis and immediately realize that it is written with poetic language. Like all poetry, the "truth" it contains is not necissarily the plain meaning of the words.”

If I imagine something and affirm that what I imagined is true, nobody can prove that this imaginary thing doesn't exist. So you are right, science DOES NOT AND CANNOT disprove whatever you believe in. But it shouldn't worry the believers because they have faith, which precisely is something without evidence and not not necessarily a truth -whatever this word means or not means.

Poetry is build with imagination. Genesis author(s) used a lot of imagination. If from there you extract some reality, then you need to present evidence that can be prove false, but still stands. This means that you need to apply critical reasoning, and in some cases rigorous scientific method.

This article states: "Many observers have thought the rise of science presents religious believers an unavoidable, stark choice: intellectual integrity or intellectual sacrifice."

The only "observers" would would think something like this are athiests. Walking into a church does not require leaving your brain at the door. Contrary to what these "ovservers" would have you believe, science DOES NOT AND CANNOT disprove the existance of God.

Evolution is only scary to creationists. However, most Christians can read the book of Genesis and immediately realize that it is written with poetic language. Like all poetry, the "truth" it contains is not necissarily the plain meaning of the words.

Yonkers, New York
28 January 2011

The alleged conflict between Science and Religion in America at the present time is terribly exaggerated.

As far as the role of Science in creating innovation and breakthroughs in basic research, in medicine, and in technology is concerned--all of which improve the quality of lives of all Americans as well as make it possible for America to continue to be the Leader in this field, in general it is not seen to be in conflict with those who believe in Religion.

Eventually, it is quite possible that America will go the way of Europe where, for several centuries running now, Religion in general has increasingly but steadily been losing the hold it has had on Mankind since the Middle Ages till the beginning of the Industrial Revolution when Science began to assert its capacity to offer alternative avenues of thought to certain fundamental issues of Nature.

Mariano Patalinjug

People who believe in god and religion have always been an obstacle to scientific progress. Sadly, science has yet to come up with a cure for ignorance. I would imagine that the first scientists were killed when they denied that fire came from some god. It often seems that little has changed.

Looking at the inarticulate ramblings of Wiki-Truth (could there be a more oxymoronic User ID) I think it is time that there was an option below the "report offensive comment" where we can REPORT RIDICULOUS COMMENT

Has John Derbyshire ever been accurate when he made claims about what liberals want?

-
Ameennnnnn...

Ommmmmmm...

Aummmmmm...

Vahhhhhhhhh... AND now Sing

EKLAHhhhht-iON...
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.................... | .|. . |. . |. . |._.|
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.

1) Inhale 'E' (sounds like HE/SHE slightly)

2) Exhale 'KLAH' (use 't' for stop-gap in 'time') pause in a Mini Second, THEN

3) Inhale 'i' (sounds like hiii).
.
PEACE, PAZ, SHALOM, SALAAM, MIR, ZHINGYU, AHIMSA, SHANTi, ONKAR, …
.
Credits "JJ" http://onwapo.wordpress.com/

E E Z M A M A T A etal:

Apocalypticily Speakething (nay PreApocalyptic): Sometimes WORDS are Not adequate enough to Describe REALITY or a Heart Felt, Gut FeltHolyi FEELINGs. Yet

the Words "EC{LAT" (Not the Perfume, Not The Music Band et al) is FRENCHily Pronounced "EKLAH" which amazingly is a "FRENCH" word meaning or describing

"... A BRiLLIANCE BURSTING FORTH..." of "SOURCE-ONE" {EK, EC, ONE, UNO, ADJEEN, AHOD...."IT"} WE [i} COM'th [HERE] in Miracle-Birth-Awareness from Thee HISTORY" of "IT"!. THEREFORE,

THERE was/is the "Brilliance Bursting Forth {EC{LAT, EKLAH & By Manymany Names} via the EKLAHti-ON's Holyi "FOUR-4 + 1 SEQUENCEiNITIATES Phenomena-Ons ot DUE-TO-BE Stages: i.e., "IT" said:

LET THERE BE (letitbe) P-H-O-T-O-N! From "IT"s:

1st) >i>VIBRATIONALS Then

2nd) FLASH Then

3rd) BANGBIG/SOUND and Then

4th) DUE-TO-BE again (Via thee Holyi NEBULATION of the MAGMAPERCOLATION Then

5) Out of the "OCEANIC-MEGAPLUME-WOMB" effects or [OUR] MIRACLE. [Similar].

Note: This Apocalyptari-ON's DISPENSATION awareness is All Pre-Written in our O.U.R. [O.ne U.niversal R.eligion], aka ULTRAPARATESTAMENT of the NEW SONG (Philosophy) Which Superseded our SUPREMEPARATESTAMENT booklets! Aye? So,

WELCOME To The Religion Of Everything Before The Science Of Everything on S.pace S.hip Earth(s). A HOlyi COsmic FEeler's FAith [HO-CO-FE-FA] System of Beliefs; And So,

our O.U.R. UNIVERSE (IT's Universe is Our CONSTITUTION for US and IT's CLAUSES are IT's LAWS OF NATURE for US Eklahtarians) is Ours to DISCOVER and thus "IT" allow Us FREEEEEDOM to Go B-E-Y-O-N-D the dark forests of YeYo Minds/INTELL, let alone of Scriptures Past! [Similar].

There are Only 2-TWO TTYPES of Persons on This PLANET (of many).

A) APOCALYPTARIAN(s) aka EKLAHt-i-ON's and

B) PREAPOCALYPTARIANS aka EKLAHti-OFF's.

iMPORTANTO: APOCALYPTAIRIANS are "Naturally Selected" and are considered HU{MATE(s) or Just HUUMATEs. But PREApocalypraians are "G-d(s) Chosen" and HUMANs. Hence:

The Fight/Struggle between The "G-ds Chosen Humans VS. The "NATURALLY SELECTED" HUE{MATES. Hence

PREApocalyptic (Believing/thinking) Scientists/Doctors VS. The APOCalyptic (thinking/Feeling) Scientists/Doctors/Lat-Mans etc..

Pleazzzza. Go Ask'th MR. Richard Dawkins or Stephen Hawking & Co; If i[WE] art MAGOG'd (Delusional) instead of GOG'd {Non Delusional)!? Note: YeYo can Also ask'th Sir HITCHENS or and HARRIS et al. And Pleazza, Forget Deepak CHOPRA & HINDUTVAs!

It's not the rabid fundamentalists we have to worry about here, it's the everyday believer trying to maintain the carefully cherished delusions against the onslaught of reality.

They have been able to fit their god into the gaps, "god of the gaps" as the saying goes. But those gaps are getting smaller and smaller at an accelerating rate.

Evolution is almost a straw man in this argument, it's a favorite dog they can kick. Their preachers, pastors, whatever other name you call the parasites who make a living off the beliefs of the believers -- these people are the ones fighting the hardest against science. It is actually they that have the most to lose.

According To the "AMERICAN-[HIDDEN]-PROPHET" aka Dr. Harry {SHiLOM} W. Theriault et al: THAT

ALL SCHOOLS (Private & Public; Secular and or Religious) and All COURTS and ALL HOMES...

Must Uphold, Magnify and Make Honorable the "TEN FiATS" Of The 'New Song' (Born'th From all Our Old of course): So Here "IT" is For This/That-Purpose [Going APOCALYPTIC [Governing] in GRIDARIAN-DEMOCRACY" [via VOTARY ASSOCIATION]; Which i[WE] will REVEAL/explain the 'Mechanic's of The New 'EKLAHt-iON' SYSTEM here a little and there a lot]: So Here goes THE TEN FIATS (plus the 3 Supplements):

___

1) “Let there be NO Worship of JEALOUSY as a G_D/G-d/ALLAH/iSHVARA et al!”

2) “Let there be NO Abuse of LOVE to forgive UNCORRECTED-SIN(s)!”

3) “Let there be NO Hassling over a NAME for G-d!”

4) “Let there be NO Denial of Freedom of the O.ne U.niversal R.eligion et al!”

5) “Let there be NO Dishonoring of HONORABLE Parents!”

6) “Let there be NO Unjustifiable HOMICIDE or HURTING!”

7) “Let there be NO Sex with Non-CONSENTERS or BEASTS!”

8) “Let there be NO Theft from NON-Thieves or Non-USURER’S!”

9) “Let there be NO False WITNESSING or Un-JUST Judging!”

0) “Let there be NO Envy of HU{MATES or HUMANS Who Honor These Holyi 13-Fiats!”

11 “Let there be NO Denial of the Holyi TETRA-NEEDS (Food, Shelter, Love & Clothes)!”

12 “Let there be NO Procrastination or Laziness!”

13 “Let there Be NO Denial To Self Nor Others whom Contemplate REALITY via their Own Cosmic “TRANS{FiNiTY, a Miracle, Zero Sin or Curse, in Holyi-Motion !”

Note: Even though these Fiats are "MADE IN AMERICA" for Americans 1st, and the others 2nd that, Without These 13-Fiats (10 +3) Then There Can NEVER-BE [Genuine] PEACE On S.S. Earth (Public and in Private) let alone for GRIDARIAN-DEMOCRACY.
___

So, YEYO see Now? WE [i] HUUMATE(s) of S.S. TELLUSng something art bless'th via the amazing Grace of our O.U.R. "TEN-FiATS of The NEW-SONG + "IT"s 3/THREE Alternate COMMANDMENTS!.

SO, The Old-time TEN COMMANDMENTS is classed as being 'Old Time Religion' now. Soo, Better think & DO via the TEN FIATS + 3 (13 COMMANDMENTS) of "IT" {Nay a HE nor a SHE} that's justly being "iTSELF" (Eponymous EKLAHtiON) in and out of US ALL".

Think "ETERNITY AVOIDING LONLINESS". Hint: Because that's What "IT" DOes! AND

Best of All, "IT" Can NEVER (NO) Break IT's Own LAWS! Only YeYo HUMANs (as if 'God's Chosen) DO that Nonsense (Even in YeYo ScripTURES; but NOt US-HUE{MATES (Naturally Select'd) a/k/a HU{MATE(s) or HUUMATE(s) of {NEBULA-BUILT} S.pace-S.hip EARTH(of manymanymany)! WE [i] art No Longer HUMAN(s)!

iNCAMERA (Opposite REVEALation): WE [i] art Always DUE-TO-BE!" Believe YeYo, or Perish.

Praise The HOLYI NO MON/WOM! Praise "IT"! i.e.,

"In 'IT' WE[i] TRUST!" FUTURE-BOUND & SPACE-FORTH Ready!

.

Not surprise about the findings regarding the science education for those in the south. That region places a premium on ignorance or so it seems.

Perhaps it is time for religions to follow what the Dalai Lama said about Buddhism and science:

If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality. By learning from science about aspects of reality where its understanding may be more advanced, I believe that Buddhism enriches its own worldview.

It would be nice if it was just evolution.

But there's a whole host of closely related issues that I suspect America will be too afraid to tackle scientifically because of the likelihood to tread on cherished ideological views. John Derbyshire wrote a column recently speculating that China will pass us in the area of genomic research, because Americans would be too afraid of its potentially successful uses:

1) Conservatives fear that genetic testing of fetuses would help inform decisions to abort

2) Liberals fear it would expose the genetic component of IQ, or predisposition of crime or social pathologies, as correlated with ethnicity.

http://takimag.com/article/genomics_chinas_new_killer_app

On a somewhat related issue, the National Assessment of Education Progressed released test results on Tuesday, showing how low American elementary pupils proficiency in science was. The least proficient were African-Americans and the least proficient whites were those living in the South:
http://nationsreportcard.gov/science_2009/g8_state.asp?subtab_id=Tab_4&tab_id=tab1#tabsContainer

The fact that these two groups have come to define the ends of our political spectrum, is part of the reason that science has fewer champions among politicians than it should. (i.e. No matter what politicians may advocate science, it always has to be tempered to the particular concerns of either the Religious Right or African-American community.)