• Question: do you see religion as a hindrance to scientific progress?

    Asked by anon-223297 to Valerio, Sreejita, Sam, Kate, Anastasia, Adam on 19 Nov 2019.
    • Photo: Anastasia Aliferi

      Anastasia Aliferi answered on 19 Nov 2019:


      I think science and religion have had problems with each other in the past, but I don’t think religion is blocking scientific progress in the recent days. There might be cases when young people are not taught science properly because of religious issues though, and that’s a big shame since science could be losing some very bright minds!

    • Photo: Adam Wootton

      Adam Wootton answered on 19 Nov 2019:


      I don’t think so at all. Some of the greatest scientists of all time have had very strong religious beliefs.

    • Photo: Sreejita Ghosh

      Sreejita Ghosh answered on 20 Nov 2019:


      It shouldn’t. In fact shouldn’t religion or faith supposed to help us be fair and kind towards others? Religion, if not exercised as the extremists, should actually make us think how our research would bring peace and improve life in the long run. It should help us make the right decisions wrt using nuclear resources for electricity and power grids, or treatment of cancer, rather than building weapons. But religious leaders tend to be extremists and thus we are at a point when we think science is only hindered by religion. That and what Anastasia mentioned about religious principles hindering proper science teaching. Religion and Science are two different things. Just like you should not use the medicine for malaria to treat typhoid, you shouldn’t use religious studies to “explain” science.

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