Relation Between Science and Religion

Autor razmatra odnos nauke i religije dajući odgovor na četiri pitanja: 1. Ako je religija izraz neznanja, kako to da napredak u naučnom saznanju ne potisne religiju kao neznanje? Ako su religijski iskazi naučno neistiniti, zašto ogromna većina ljudi u njih ipak veruje? 2. Ako su religijski iskazi naučno neistiniti, da li su oni i besmisleni? 3. Ako je religija stvarno iluzija, da li je moguća stvarnost kojoj iluzije nisu potrebne? 4. Ako je vera protivna razumu, kako to da većina umnih glava iz nauke nije nalazila opreke između razuma i vere? Autor zaključuje da su nauka i religija relativno različiti, nezavisni i zatvoreni sistemi ideja, verovanja i prakse, te predstavljaju dva različita puta kojima čovjek korača prema istini o sebi i svetu. One pri tom zadovoljavaju različite ljudske potrebe: prva — potrebu za racionalnim saznanjem; a druga — van-saznajne potrebe (za krajnjim smislom života, utehom, spasenjem...).Author considers relation between science and religion giving answers to four questions: 1. If religion is an expression of ignorance, how is it that the development of scientific knowledge does not suppress religion? If religious statements are scientifically untrue, why majority of people believe in them? 2. If religious statements are scientifically untrue, are they at the same time senseless? 3. If religion is really an illusion, is it possible a reality to exist which does not needs illusions? 4. If religion is in contradiction with reason, how is it that many reasonable men of science did not find contradictions between reason and religion? Author concludes that science and religion are relatively different, independent and closed systems of ideas, beliefs and practice and that they represent two different ways at which man looks for the truth about himself and the world. Science and religion fulfill different human needs: the first one — the need for rational knowledge, and the second one — need for meaning of life, consolation, salvation..