Last night and this morning I had a brief conversation with someone on Twitter concerning the relationship between religion and science. I’ll leave you, the reader, to decide if I was insulting in any way. I will also add the caveat, as always, that I do not consider everyone of every faith to be in the same place regarding their views. All things exist on a spectrum.
The original tweet…
@startrekcbs thank you. Just finished Episode 2. The best episode to date. A true Trek story. My only question. Why does science have to supersede religion? Why can't they walk hand in hand? @zoidberg95 @TrekCore @TrekGeekBill @JustStarTrek
— Chefzilla (@Chefzilla72) January 25, 2019
My first reply.
Because all too often organised religion has sought to stifle science.
— Ben Berwick (@darth_timon) January 28, 2019
And how long ago was that? Still holding a grudge?
— Chefzilla (@Chefzilla72) January 28, 2019
It continues to try and do so even now.
— Ben Berwick (@darth_timon) January 28, 2019
How?
— Chefzilla (@Chefzilla72) January 28, 2019
Just the other day I was in a discussion with someone who argued faith healing is a perfectly viable alternative to ‘secular medical practices’. Flat earthward undermine science with religion-based arguments on a routine basis.
— Ben Berwick (@darth_timon) January 28, 2019
Your bias is showing. That's not organized religion stifling science. Those are examples of a fringe belief. Maybe we should talk about Georges Lemaitre.
— Chefzilla (@Chefzilla72) January 28, 2019
It’s not bias, it’s symptomatic of a wider, ongoing problem that’s existed throughout history.
— Ben Berwick (@darth_timon) January 28, 2019
Travis makes an accusation…
That only exists because people won't let it go and I've seen your Twitter feed. It is bias.
— Chefzilla (@Chefzilla72) January 28, 2019
*shrug* you haven’t offered anything to refute my claim and are now moving to vague assertions, why?
— Ben Berwick (@darth_timon) January 28, 2019
Actually you proved my point for me and there's nothing vague. My belief is that Science and Religion work hand in hand. You're the one who never refuted my claim. I brought up the Catholic priest that proposed the Big Bang theory. You mentioned Faith Healing…
— Chefzilla (@Chefzilla72) January 28, 2019
If you believe science and religion work hand in hand and the statements of one priest serves as proof, it’s you who is being vague. 38% of Americans believe in creationism, that’s over a third. 72% believe prayer can cure disease.
— Ben Berwick (@darth_timon) January 28, 2019
This sort of ignorance is damaging.
— Ben Berwick (@darth_timon) January 28, 2019
And typical. We resort to name calling. Be well.
— Chefzilla (@Chefzilla72) January 28, 2019
Can anyone actually spot the name-calling? Or is that a means of evading further discussion?
What name calling? I did not call you ignorant, I merely highlighted examples of it. *You* referred to *me* as biased first remember?
— Ben Berwick (@darth_timon) January 28, 2019
This is where the conversation ends. I can gladly provide links to the claims about 38% of Americans believing in creationism (and we’re speaking of Young Earth Creationism here), as well as 72% believing prayer can cure disease (including ones incurable by current medical science). These are symptoms of the way in which some portions of organised religion continue to undermine science. In the case of medical situations, this can have deadly consequences.