• Question: does religous belief affect science

    Asked by thaw520mugs on 13 Mar 2025.
    • Photo: Robbie Lynch

      Robbie Lynch answered on 13 Mar 2025:

      Religious belief can impact science. For example religious arguments have been used to restrict research. Sometimes a scientist may decide not to be involved with a project if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. On the other side though it is important to know that many scientists are religious and they do not allow their beliefs to impact the work in a negative way. They may see their faith as separate from their work.

    • Photo: Chigozie Onuba

      Chigozie Onuba answered on 21 Mar 2025:

      It depends on how religious the person is and their belief. I don’t necessarily think that it does.

    • Photo: Paul Wiggins

      Paul Wiggins answered on 11 Apr 2025:

      Religious belief and science do not need to be in conflict; many religious people appreciate the amazing things that science discovers, and the laws of nature which underpin the whole universe. I don’t think religious people need to leave their religion at home when they come to work, and many people would say their faith enhances their work.

Comments

  • Photo: Andrew M

    Andrew M commented on :

    To add to Robbie’s answer, I’ve a number of colleagues who are firm in a number of faiths and see no contradiction between thier faith and their work. In some cases it’s their faith that has driven them towards science, a desire to explore the majesty, beauty and wonder of creation, to better understand it and draw closer to the Divine by doing so. The same desire drove many of the early philosophers and scientists. Universities started off as religious institutions and organisations like the Vatican Observatory continue to do excellent scientific work to this day.

  • Photo: melissau

    melissau commented on :

    As a vet the only time I’ve come across religious belief affecting science is when talking about what happens when animals are killed for food. Some beliefs want animals to be conscious at the time they’re killed, which is different from the ‘typical’ practice in this country which requires the animal to be rendered unconscious (what we called pre-stunned) immediately before they’re killed.