John Polkinghorne - Why Science and Religion Think Differently

Science and religion—each pursues large truths and offers total solutions. Science works; that's for sure. Religion? Not so sure. What are the thought processes, the ways of thinking, of science and religion? How do the 'scientific method' and the 'religious method' compare and contrast? Moreover, how to develop trust in the separate truths of science and religion?



The Rev. John Charlton Polkinghorne was an English theoretical physicist, theologian, and writer. He was professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Cambridge, and he resigned his chair to become an ordained Anglican priest.


Closer to Truth, hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn and directed by Peter Getzels, presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[steliosfaitakis]

🙏🏻🙏🏻 congratulations for your incredible work! ❤️

[Dialogos]

I’ve regained an interest and respect for the religious approach. Even though the methodologies are diametrically opposed to each other, I believe science and religion MUST coexist with each other and check each other to maintain a healthy society.

[-by-_Publishing_LLC]

(7:20) *JP: **_"I can look with the eye of science and look with the eye of religion, and I will see more with that binocular vision than I will with either eye on its own."_* ... Exactly! That is a most eloquent way of stating everything I've been forwarding. Aside from theism's _God_ and Big Bang's _singularity_ establishing endpoints on the "spectrum of Conceivability, " science and religion offer two different perspectives regarding our existence, ... which at their very core are _complimentary._

Science seeks to answer the question, *"How?"*
Religion seeks to answer the question, *"Why?"*

Neuroscience seeks to answer the question, *"How?"*
Philosophy seeks to answer the question, *"Why?"*

Mathematics seeks to answer the question, *"How?"*
Art seeks to answer the question, *"Why?"*

The most difficult intellectual journey someone can take is to _remove_ themself from the equation and view everything from an outsider's perspective. It is only after you've shoved every information-gathering tool humanity has into a blender that the truth is revealed.

[supremegalacticcommander]

I am always amused when reading the comments from any YouTube video that delves into "science vs. God". The people who are believers or at least, act as if they believe, are generally humble, polite and respectful, while the atheists are typically condescending, snarky, and generally rude. It reminds me of the quote from Bertrand Russell (and yes, I know he was an atheist, that's why it makes me using it in this context ironic), "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts". Great interview, Mr. Polkinghorne seems like he was a true gentleman.

[andreasplosky]

"Why Science and Religion Think Differently"
Because the scientific method cares about practical truth, while religion cares about comforting fantasy.

[SRAVALM]

Long as we argue from a stance of ignorance never is there resolution. The teaching is you have to put your ego to death so the Spirit is resurrected -- your material beliefs, partiality, bias, favoritism. We all have a subjective philosophy we think is right, we apply our own subjective thinking of Reason so feeling justified In our beliefs and actions -- we have to over come that.
If God had a religion it would be Philosophy; people have religions and there's war -- how close to God really are we long as we act like dictators and tyrants, expecting people to hear what we think is the word of God while disregarding everybody's else's word of God -- this is ego, which many worship thinking it to be God.

Whatever book you like I respect. Do not outlaw the book I like. If you seek to discredit my book with lies, ignorance, selfish affixations only indicates that you have not an understanding or compassionate heart, thus you have no Wisdom and Wisfom is the lotus body of the Soul.

Krishna, Christ, Horus, Thoth, Buddha, Zoroaster, Muhammad, Zeus, Apollo etc.
The only reason we cannot see the relation and Oneness of this metaphysical meaning or Spirit is because of the worldly eyes or ego we have and look through -- separation, division, difference. The only value we know of something to be is the level of understanding we have of it. And if you value division, separation, lies, ego, selfishness then that is no value, but rather you are a negation of what value is and cannot come to know meaning thus never attain value yourself.

Nature works as one, the eco system, she's tough even harsh, but she doesn't lie or manipulate, if anything she once brought us together, to fight off the darkness the hunger, to work together for food and unity, together to bring meaning and arises purpose.

[jamesruscheinski]

How to test / experiment interpersonal experience in religion, or something different for interpersonal experience?

[business]

Religion looks at a perception which has been preserved through stories. Religion holds fast to explaining the concious enigma as the soul.(so I am, so it must be). Science reveals an occurrence – what influenced it and in turn what it influenced. "I think therefore I am." They think differently because one is an interpretation and the other is a method of observation.

[jamesruscheinski]

Is there interpersonal or interagency agreement, or something different for interagency experience?

[jamesruscheinski]

Religion about interpersonal or interagency experience, contrast with science person experience of physical reality / nature?

[blackbearbear]

Your right one is wrong and the other is right you figure out who is right remember to choose wisely your internal life matters on it

[sciencefirst]

30 seconds in and he is wrong!
Science seeks to answer questions...religion says it knows the answers.
DON'T MIX SCIENCE AND RELIGION YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH IT!

[esorse]

If god is omnipotent, accessible exclusively by faith and you have faith, how can you be sure that you are obtaining information by either perception, or reason, when doing science?

[grixessedraxis]

Religion has to listen to science but science does not have to listen to religion.

[stephenzhao]

Thanks be to God for you guys talking on science and religion, John & Bob, I do appreciate your insights a lot! Shalom,

[jamesruscheinski]

Could time be measure of interagency experience, quality and quantity?

[jamesruscheinski]

Maybe science more about quantity, religion more about quality? What investigates religious quality the way science investigates physical quantity?

[ivanpokupec]

Comments are ridiculous... Some ppl here didn't even listen to the interview. 🙄

[pedroporto]

One is about reallity and the others is about fantasy.

[MrSanford]

Religion worships the simplicity of life, science worships the complexity, in my opinion sometimes complex only by contradictions. I myself believe as human beings the truth of life is meant to be simple, for why would the truth want to hide itself ?