Science historian Robert Crease evaluated responses to a 2008  Physics World survey that asked, “Which of the following reflects your views on science and religion?” He found he could place them in this matrix.

(via Science and Religion Today)

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First of all, it's a not necessarily a question of science and religion, but science and spirituality. Religions consist of dogma and ideologies wrapped around and therefore obscure the important common spiritual core found within all religions and philosophies. Over the years there have been a number of prominent physicists and members of the spiritual community who have pointed out where science and spirituality can and do co-exist, as well as reinforce one another through the knowledge of quantum physics. From the physicists' perspective, all forms of matter, broken down past the atomic and sub-atomic particles, are simply nothing more than energy. From the spiritual perspective, this energy is intelligent, conscious energy that is also referred to as consciousness or spirit. This somewhat correlates with the Big Bang theory when there was no time or space until the conscious 'I' wished to know itself experientially, and so the statement, 'I am', generated the start of the space/time continuum, which lends to are relative human experience.

Your understanding of science is horrifyingly lacking.

you obviously have not experienced deep compassion and the connection to our creator, energy is the force which can lead us in which ever direction we choose. It is toward our creator, when we dismiss our ego, live in the moment, have compassion for all, you can experience awesome wonders that I can not explain, you have a lot to look forward to and it is science and spirituality coming together as one. Our thoughts have great power, just as Jesus expressed.

What's yours?

Science is not a set of beliefs, as much as its misunderstanding detractors would have us believe. There is no such thing as a scientific fact. Science is a process of investigation.

If religion is treated as a set of beliefs, e.g., blind faith in an afterlife, religion and science can coexist nicely, even if the religious beliefs never change. If the religious beliefs start to be seen as facts, problems can arise. I think religion as process to understand humanity's depth offers potential of growth.

I believe the designations (the colors) in the table should be rotated 90 degrees clockwise.

Not all religions have set beliefs. A similar scientific perspective is promoted by the Buddha. I seems that what you are talking about is specifically a problem related to religion/science split that began with Descartes and the persecution of science at its beginning. Here is an example of how Buddhist approach the world:



Also, Einstein's perspective agreed:


The matrix is correct. The sad thing is that there are way too many people who not only do not understand science but they also do not understand religion and thus they end up in something other than the bottom left corner.

Belief is one's cache of his/her process. And the process should never stop.


Science deals with the physical world and natural laws. The many physical constants in the universe could not be more or less, otherwise life could not exist. Religion deals with the spiritual world and declares that Self-existing Supreme Being holds everything together in science and in religion. The Second Law of Thermodynamics could be seen both in the universe and in the life of people. Hence, the physical constants in the universe are not the result of the Big Bang theory. Science is derived from the Latin word Scientia, which means knowledge. The question then becomes, how does one gain knowledge? One can gain knowledge by learning, experiential, observation, investigation, and experimentation. Scientists and Biblical scholars use all five senses. In the beginning God... (Genesis 1:1). And he is before all things, and in him all things consists (Colossians 1:17). And finally the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom... ( Psalms 111:10).

I concur. This is well stated. I believe in the origin of the Universe as coming from one place. In the Bible the angels of God (before Satan and 1/3 fell) gathered around the Throne of God. There was nothing in our plane of existence - the physical world. God and the angels are spirit, eternal. The universe we know was barren, empty - just space. The angels, created by God, joined together - led by their chief musician Lucifer - they worshiped God. The Cherubim (special angels that are always before God worshiping/honoring God) flew back and forth before the Throne crying "Holy (perfect), Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty". The host of angels (millions, perhaps billions) joined in with the cherubim in unity. A cloud of glory (bright shining radiant cloud - probably the Holy Spirit of God holding all power to create - the Cloud that led ted the Israelite s out of Egypt) appeared Then the Son of God stepped into the cloud of ultimate power and spoke all we call the physical universe into existence.

The point is, God had a starter point probably. Some Scientists call it the big bang, claiming only gasses and dust spread out to form planets, solar systems, etc.Instead of big bang I call it big Creation. The Word became flesh to save Adam's race from separation from the Creator due to disobedience. The Word was called Jesus, Jeshua. The only thing Jesus created Hands on, not spoken into existence and formed by the Holy Spirit, was Adam and Eve - from the dust of the earth. Then He breathed His eternal life into the body formed and life for Adam's race began. Even the angels were spoken into existence, man was to be in the Image of God and was godlike in nature. Rebellion and not taking responsibility for actions - blaming mate and God - separated them from God but God quickly promised He would send the Savior, Himself.

Intelligent design is reflected all through creation, especially in DNA. Some add more and more billions of years to the equation to justify their thinking all life came from nothing. Others look to ET. Are there extra-terrestrials? Big universe but a balanced one that sets up earth to have and sustain life. Much we do not know. This I know, in the beginning -God. That you can count on. Everything is held together by His existence and will - look at atoms with electrons flying near the speed of light, yet never leave the shells of orbit without much help. We are so smart yet there is so much we don't know!